HopeWorks Foundation, in collaboration with AI4India, has announced the launch of WitchHunt – Women in Technology Challenge with an aim to encourage women in India to contribute to social innovation using artificial intelligence.

The hackathon is intended to bring together 5,000 women in 1,000 teams to develop solutions for sustainable development using artificial intelligence. The hackathon will target women aged 18 years and above from different backgrounds. Girls who are supported by HopeWorks Foundation and do not have access to higher education or technical training will also take part in the hackathon. Every team of five people will consist of four people from different backgrounds and one girl from HopeWorks. A minimum of two women is required in each team at the time of registration.

The event is set to begin in January 2026, with the final phase planned for May 2026. The event is being organized in collaboration with AI4India and Skills Cafe and is expected to attract women students and professionals from across India, including those from marginalised sections and first-generation learners. According to the organizers, the aim is to improve women’s representation in technology-based innovation.

Chitra Gurjar, the Chairperson of WitchHunt, said that the event is aimed at ensuring that women are well represented in technology-driven innovation processes and that girls from marginalised sections get an opportunity to interact with emerging technologies.

The initiative is based on the HopeWorks Foundation’s existing work in the education and skill-building space for girls from marginalized sections. Since its launch in March 2020, the Foundation has impacted more than 50,000 young girls across its initiatives related to digital literacy, leadership, and job readiness. The initiative is also a part of the Foundation’s newly launched #MissionAI initiative.

The initiative is being led by co-chairs Varsha Verma and Neeraja Ganesh, along with the help of volunteers from various organizations that are a part of the initiative’s management.

According to Jacintha Jayachandran, Founder of HopeWorks Foundation, “The initiative aims to increase access to technology education and innovation for women and girls and to encourage more women and girls to participate in AI-related initiatives.”

HopeWorks Foundation stated that the initiative aims to “encourage women to use artificial intelligence to solve real-world problems and to make a positive social impact.”