I, alongside other aspiring entrepreneurs and changemakers, competed in Pakathon to search for the answer to this daunting question of -- What is the next big idea in Pakistan? This was Pakathon’s third year hosting a competition which brought together all of the “do gooders” from major cities all over the world from DC to Lahore.
Pakathon Global culminated in Toronto. It gathered winners from each participating city to compete over the course of a weekend to put forward sustainable and effective ideas for Pakistan’s development challenges. The winner of the competition received $10,000 which would go towards funding their organization and access to over 80 mentors who aid the winning team in executing their ideas after the competition. This year’s DC winning team was Khayaal, which is a virtual community for young Pakistani women, sharing personal stories, thoughts, and insights on the topics that matter most to women.
Our team targeted our strengths to create and implement team roles. As Khayaal’s Data Analytics Lead, I focused on analysis and problem solving. Throughout the process, I found guidance from the building, measuring and learning methodology utilized in the Lean Startup. We only had 1 month to get our product out the door and tested, which meant we had to move fast under such a tight deadline. Even though we didn’t walk away with the grand prize,we were honored with second place and an unforgettable opportunity to pitch for change.
What’s our product all about? Check it out here.
Team Photo
By: Malena Lopez, Project Manager
