She’s Next Hackathon 2025 Grand Finale: Three winners received $20,000 to develop their businesses

Tbilisi, October 13, 2025 – Visa, a global leader in digital payments, together with its partner Reinvantage, hosted the Grand Finale of the first international She’s Next Hackathon 2025 on October 3.

The program united 1750 participants from 17 countries to sharpen entrepreneurial skills with the support from seasoned business exports. After nearly a month of intensive learning and mentorship, 10 female-led teams presented their projects before a panel of professional judges and a live audience spanning Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.

This high-impact Grand Finale resonated across the entire region, drawing attention not only to innovative business ideas but also to the broader role of women as drivers of economic growth and social transformation. By spotlighting women-led ventures, the She’s Next Hackathon 2025 underscored the importance of equal opportunities in entrepreneurship, helping to dismantle barriers and inspire future generations of female leaders.

Three teams were crowned winners of the program.

Altogether, a company from Azerbaijan, led by Bahar Nadir Ramazanova, which provides AI-powered legal and commercial tools, compliance audits, and support resources to improve accessibility for people with disabilities worldwide, was selected as the Main Winner, receiving the $10,000 grand prize.

The Most Innovative team — PressShield from Albania, led by Inva Hasanaliaj— was awarded a grant of $5,000 in recognition of its creative approach and groundbreaking solution. It is a mobile-first platform offering journalists mental health support, legal aid, secure peer communities, and training resources to promote safety, resilience, and informed reporting.

The winner in the Best Social Impact category, Unfold, led by Karine Hambaryan, received $5,000 for addressing critical social challenges and driving positive change in communities. Its mission is to support women aged 50+ through a hybrid community platform offering social, mental, and creative activities that foster empowerment, well-being, and intergenerational connection in Armenia, with plans to expand further.

“The She’s Next Hackathon was a powerful program that took the regional impact of She’s Next Empowered by Visa to new heights. It created not only a platform for skill-building and expert guidance but also a space where women across the region could exchange experiences, collaborate, and challenge each other to aim bigger. I wish the very best to the winners, finalists, and all participants. Visa remains committed to supporting female entrepreneurs and amplifying women’s voices in business,” said Cristina Doros, Visa Senior Vice President, Group Country Manager for Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.

In addition to financial grants totaling $20,000, the winning teams will benefit from a three-month mentorship program with industry leaders, extended visibility across Visa and Reinvantage platforms, opportunities to showcase their work at future events, and ongoing promotion within the She’s Next community.

“I was proud to be part of the jury and to witness the impressive range of projects that took the virtual stage at the Grand Finale. The finalist teams presented bold and groundbreaking ideas, and the three winners stood out with future-proof solutions of great potential. The creativity, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit I observed give me full confidence that these businesses will continue to grow and make a lasting impact on their industries and communities,” commented Natalia Voitovych, Visa Senior Director, Head of Merchant Sales and Acquiring for Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.

“The real result of the She’s Next Hackathon 2025 isn’t just new ideas—it’s new confidence. When women support each other, they don’t just build businesses; they build a culture of reinvention that moves entire economies forward. She’s Next is proof that when women collaborate, they don’t compete for space—they create more of it. The confidence and reinvention we’ve seen here will echo far beyond this hackathon,” noted Andrew Wrobel, Chief Reinvention Officer, Reinvantage.

The She’s Next Hackathon was held under the She’s Next Empowered by Visa global initiative, which supports female entrepreneurs in scaling and advancing their businesses.

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at visa.com.ge.

About Reinvantage

Reinvantage is a strategic reinvention firm that helps people and organisations anticipate change, stay relevant, and design what comes next. It combines tailored advisory with forward-looking insight to support reinvention at every level—from mindset to strategy. Reinvantage also runs Emerging Europe, a long-standing initiative focused on innovation and sustainable growth in the region. Through Emerging Europe, Reinvantage powers the She’s Next platform. This integrated model ensures that every programme, partnership, or initiative is grounded in real-world relevance and long-term impact. Learn more at: reinvantage.org

Media Contacts

Mariam Gvaradze
Press Office of Visa in Georgia
Noblet Media Eastern Partnership
+99555449965
[email protected]