2025 Winner: Technovation
Technovation’s mission is to empower girls and young women worldwide to learn and apply the skills needed to solve real-world problems through technology and entrepreneurship. By fostering a culture of innovation, Technovation seeks to create a more inclusive future where women contribute significantly to solving global challenges through STEM.
What does Technovation do?
What social challenge are they addressing?
The gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields is a significant global challenge, with women representing less than 20% of the STEM workforce—and even lower in many regions. This underrepresentation significantly hampers innovation, perpetuates economic and social inequalities, and limits the diversity of perspectives necessary for solving complex problems.
More
Systemic barriers such as cultural norms discouraging girls from STEM, inadequate educational resources, and a lack of female role models contribute to the issue. The absence of female role models in STEM diminishes girls’ aspirations and confidence in their ability to succeed in these fields. Economic constraints further hinder progress, particularly in low-income and under-resourced communities where barriers to STEM education and opportunities are most pronounced.
What is their solution?
Technovation is closing the gender gap in STEM fields by providing girls aged 8-18 with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to pursue careers in engineering, software development, and AI. Their approach combines education, mentorship, real-world problem-solving, and a competitive element to empower girls and prepare them for success in these fields.
More
Technovation engages 100+ local partners (educators, schools, local governments, NGOs) in 50+ countries to involve~20,000 girls each season. Their 12-week project-based curriculum teaches coding, AI, entrepreneurship, problem-solving, teamwork and other essential skills that culminate in a team competition with a pitch and demo. Technovation leverages a decentralized network of over 15,000 volunteers as mentors, ambassadors, coaches, and competition judges, ensuring cultural relevance and inclusivity.
What is their impact?
Over the last 15 years, Technovation has trained 150,000 young women who have built 10,000+ tech-based solutions to community problems. 76% of Technovation alumnae pursue a STEM degree (compared to 21% of female undergraduates who received STEM-related degrees in 2012), and 60% of Technovation alumnae work in STEM-related positions (compared to the 29% national average in 2013). 50% of alumnae are leading change in their communities.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
How is Technovation aligned with the Lipman Family Prize’s four key criteria?
Leadership
Technovation is leading in the field of STEM education and gender equality due to its holistic and evidence-based approach, global reach, strong emphasis on real-world problem-solving, and mentorship.
Impact
Technovation has consistently achieved meaningful and positive change in the lives of their participants, significantly contributing to closing the gender gap in STEM.
Innovation
Technovation’s curriculum is grounded in project-based learning and evidence-based strategies that ensure girls not only learn techinical skills but also build confidence and develop a sense of belonging in the STEM community.
Transferability
Technovation’s open-access curriculum, adaptable delivery model, and strategic partnerships enable transferability across diverse geographies and educational contexts.
2025 Winners
BleagLee focuses on improving waste management in underserved and marginalized communities.…Read More
Barbershop Books’ mission is to inspire Black boys and other vulnerable children to read for fun through child-centered, culturally responsive, and community-based programming and content.…Read More