Two Pakistani teens, Mahroosh Umer and Maryam Farhan, have claimed top honours at the International Women’s Day Global Techathon 2025 (IWD2025), emerging as winners for their innovative AI solution addressing menopause-related challenges.
Competing under the banner of Team Futuristan in the "Teens in AI" category, the duo designed Menova, an AI-powered platform tailored to support women going through menopause. The project stood out for its culturally inclusive design and personalised approach, tackling the often-overlooked stigma surrounding menopause in many communities.
"Menova bridges the knowledge gap and provides personalised AI-driven support for women experiencing symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances — all while respecting cultural sensitivities," the teens said during their pitch.
The platform was created in response to alarming global data showing that while 80% of women experience menopausal symptoms, 60% receive little to no medical guidance, severely impacting their health and daily productivity.
The IWD2025 Techathon drew nearly 2,000 participants from over 150 cities across six continents. Organised by Sage Foundation and Red Hat under the Teens in AI initiative, the event encouraged youths aged 12–18 to build AI solutions for real-world challenges.
Girls represented 55% of the participants — a significant step forward for gender inclusion in the fields of AI, data science, and design thinking.
Team Futuristan was mentored by Noorulain Zafer, CEO and founder of Mind Works International. With her guidance, Mahroosh and Maryam refined their project through several stages, eventually becoming the first team from Pakistan to secure a win at this global level.
This year’s Techathon featured workshops in AI ethics, design thinking, and pitching, delivered in four major languages and executed across 41 countries in 24 regional languages — dramatically broadening access to technical education for youth worldwide.
“It’s not just about technology; it’s about using innovation to uplift underserved voices and solve challenges that transcend borders,” said a spokesperson from the Teens in AI initiative.
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