Two teams from Waterloo Region and UWaterloo WiCS’ Technovation program have been named top Junior Division semi-finalists in Canada in the 2024 Technovation Girls Challenge. Technovation Girls is an international 12-week program with regional chapters that equips girls and young women, including transgender, non-binary, and gender-fluid individuals ages 10 to 18 with problem-solving, leadership and coding skills to become the next generation of tech entrepreneurs and leaders.
We are overjoyed to announce that two of our junior Technovation teams from the Waterloo Chapter have not only made it to the semi-finals, but also tied for the top teams in Canada in their division! This is an incredible accomplishment out of 43 teams that submitted to the Junior division, and 5 teams that made it to the semi-finals from Canada. We are immensely proud of the girls in our program.
Our Semi-Finalist Teams
Team EJ and Team Harvest Heroes have tied for the Top 2 Junior Division Teams in Canada!
Team EJ
For the second year in a row, Team EJ won our Regional Pitch Event (RPE). Their project, Greener Parks, is an app that awards high school students volunteer hours when they clean up litter in their local parks. It holds the students accountable through before and after images, and a report sent to their community sponsor. The app also stores volunteering records to help students fill in the volunteer form. While the focus is on litter, the team believes their app structure could be used for other volunteer opportunities as well.
Team Harvest Heroes
Team Harvest Heroes developed Haystack, a pioneering digital marketplace that directly connects local farmers and consumers, streamlining the purchase of fresh, local produce. It allows farmers to showcase their offerings and engage with buyers, overcoming traditional hurdles of local food acquisition through flexible pickup arrangements. This platform ensures food waste reduction, improves fresh food security, and promotes a community-centric food ecosystem. Designed for ease of use and efficiency, Haystack is an indispensable tool for fostering mutual benefits for both farmers and consumers, reinforcing the sustainability of local agriculture.
This season, our journey has been nothing short of remarkable
Our Technovation Participants
Technovation Waterloo 2024 Senior Teams at the Live Regional Pitch Event
Technovation Waterloo 2024 Junior Teams at the Live Regional Pitch Event
Technovation Waterloo 2024 Junior Teams at the Live Regional Pitch Event
Looking Ahead
As our teams prepare for the Technovation Girls Finalists to be announced, we want to take a moment to celebrate their achievements so far. They have shown us that with passion, teamwork, and a willingness to learn, anything is possible. No matter the outcome of the semi-finals, they have made us incredibly proud.
About Technovation Girls Waterloo
Technovation Girls Waterloo, a local chapter in Waterloo Region, was established in 2018 by Jo Atlee, Professor and Director of Women in Computer Science at the Cheriton School of Computer Science, to help address the gender gap in tech. The program is managed by Hillary Matt, Women in Computer Science Outreach Coordinator.
Learn more about Technovation Girls and its Waterloo chapter.