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 21 of 237 applicants
Tahir Qadeer
NomineeTahreem Fatima
NomineeTalha Usman
NomineeTariq Jameel
NomineeTaskeen Nadeem
NomineeTehami Rehmani
NomineeTehzeeb
NomineeUbaid Ullah Qureshi
NomineeUmar J. Qureshi
NomineeUmme Habiba
NomineeUnosha Naved
Nomineeurooba mohsin
NomineeUrooj Fatima Awan
NomineeUsama
NomineeUsama javed
NomineeUsama Sulaiman Mayat
NomineeUsman Upworkwala
NomineeYasir Nawaz
NomineeYumna Shahid
🏆 WinnerYusra Anum
NomineeZuhaib Ahmed
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
Know someone who deserves this?
Urge them to apply or nominate someone you know
Help us find the best talent. Apply yourself or nominate a colleague — every great candidate starts with someone who believes in them.
Share this category and help us discover more amazing candidates.