Category 14
Rising Star of the Year
Under-30 technologists from any domain — the wildcard category for the next generation of Pakistani tech leaders.
Opens Sunday, September 13, 2026 ← All categories
Who should apply
- Under-30 technologists showing exceptional promise
- Early-career professionals with outsized impact
- Students or recent graduates building impressive projects
- Open-source contributors with growing communities
- Hackathon winners turning ideas into products
What judges look for
- Depth of technical skill relative to career stage
- Projects or contributions with real-world usage
- Learning velocity and ability to pick up complex domains
- Community involvement (mentoring peers, open-source, talks)
- Potential for continued growth and leadership
Eligibility
Universal criteria
Experience & leadership
3–5+ years in technology, mid-tier (non-CXO) roles, proven leadership and impact.
Innovation & creativity
Demonstrated problem-solving and creative solutions within your field.
Growth & mentorship
Continuous learning plus developing others through mentorship or training.
Adaptability & resilience
Proven resilience through crises or significant organizational change.
Ethics & responsibility
High ethical standards, diversity & inclusion, community and sustainability work.
Candidates
Nominees in Rising Star of the Year
Showing 36 of 237 applicants
Attka Tabassum Sheikh
🏆 WinnerAyesha Arif Quraishi
NomineeAzmeen Gadit
NomineeBISMA FARHAN
NomineeCh Naseer Ahmed Hussain
⭐ FinalistDania Mukhtar
NomineeDanish Naeem Siddiqui
NomineeDaniyal Hussain
NomineeDawar Shakeel
NomineeDayaan Zameer
NomineeDeleted user #3404
NomineeDeleted user #3725
NomineeDeleted user #4129
NomineeDeleted user #4491
NomineeDeleted user #5488
NomineeDeleted user #5908
NomineeDR MIAN MUHAMMAD WAQAS
NomineeEman Zahid
NomineeEsha Khan
NomineeFabiha Zafar
NomineeFahad
NomineeFaheem ur Rehman
NomineeFaiz Muhammad Shah
NomineeFaizan Wahid
NomineeFaqeha Noor
NomineeFareeha fatima khokhar
NomineeFareha Mahmood
🏆 WinnerFarhana yousuf
NomineeFarheen Fatima
NomineeFariyah Faheem
NomineeGeeta Kumari
NomineeHafsa Kanwal
NomineeHafsa Sultan
NomineeHammad Khan
NomineeHamza Rehman
NomineeHaniya Ali
NomineeCommon questions
FAQ
I am exactly 30 — am I eligible?
The cutoff is under 30 at the time of application. If you turn 30 before the ceremony, you are not eligible for this category but can apply to any other.
Applications open Sunday, September 13, 2026
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