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
Muhammad Usman Ali
NomineeMuhammad Waqar Anwar
NomineeMuhammad Waqas Kandawala
NomineeMUHAMMAD YASEEN
NomineeMuhammad Yusuf
NomineeMuhammed Abdul Wassay Azad
NomineeMurtaza Ahmed
NomineeNaba Naeem Siddiqui
NomineeNasreen Fahim
NomineeNeha Fahim
🏆 WinnerNida K. Qureshi
NomineeNida Kashif
NomineeNoma Tariq
NomineeNoman Khan
NomineeNoman Tariq
NomineeOmar Zafar Ansari
NomineeOwais Ahmed
NomineePooja Bai
NomineeQurat ul Ain
NomineeRabia Abdullah
NomineeRafat Zehra
NomineeRaja Abdul Wahab
NomineeRashid hussain
NomineeResha Khalid
NomineeRida Naz
NomineeSaadkhan Sherani
Nomineesaba abdullah
NomineeSabeerah Khurram
NomineeSabeerah Khurram
NomineeSaif Ali
Nomineesajida
NomineeSajjad UpworkWala
NomineeSAMMAR FAZIL
NomineeSammer Abbasi
NomineeSana Siddiqui
NomineeSanam Baloch
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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