Visa, a global digital payments company listed on the NYSE under V, in collaboration with HBL, has announced the five winners of the 2026 edition of the She’s Next program in Pakistan. The winners were revealed at a finals pitch event and award ceremony held at the Pearl Continental Hotel in Karachi, concluding a three-month program that began in November 2025. This year’s edition also introduced a Sustainability Award for the first time, recognizing a business with a strong environmental focus.
Selected from nearly 3,500 applicants across Pakistan, the five women-led enterprises each received a USD10,000 grant along with a tailored training program, structured mentorship opportunities, and access to She’s Next Club resources. These include a workshop library and a community of entrepreneurs designed to support long-term growth and peer collaboration. The winning founders represent a range of sectors including education, waste management, gaming, beauty, healthcare, and food.
The 2026 winners are Aiman Shafique of EV Square, Anusha Fatima of TrashIt, who received the Sustainability Award, Fizza Hussain of Khaas Foodz Kitchen, Maira Siddiqui of Chiragh Education Technologies, and Meesha Baig of Goud. The independent jury evaluated applicants based on the evolution of their entrepreneurial journeys, strength of business metrics, digital presence, and demonstrated problem-solving capabilities.
The jury panel included Maya Inayat Ismail, Chairperson of HBL Microfinance Bank, Naz Khan, Principal Country Officer at IFC, Dan Baxter, Vice President Corporate Communications and Events at Visa CEMEA, Mubariz Siddiqui, Founding Partner of Carbon Law, and Ali Ladhubhai, Co-Founder of Abhi Microfinance Bank. Their assessment process focused on identifying scalable ventures with measurable traction and forward-looking digital strategies.
Leila Serhan, Vice President and Group Country Manager for North Africa, Levant and Pakistan at Visa, noted that this year’s program attracted significant interest, with 3,500 applicants competing for five slots. She highlighted that the initiative has expanded beyond financial support to include mentorship from Pakistani industry experts and increased market exposure. According to her, past participants have demonstrated measurable business expansion, improved operational efficiency, and stronger profitability after joining the program.
Serhan also referenced findings from the Visa Women SMB Digitization Index, which revealed that 87 percent of women-owned businesses in Pakistan report high levels of digitization in their operations. The research indicates that digitization is increasingly central to how women entrepreneurs build and market their ventures. Visa’s stated objective is to reinforce this trend through access to secure digital payment infrastructure, knowledge resources, and tools that enable market expansion.
Aamir Kureshi, Head of Products and Payments at HBL, said the clarity and resilience demonstrated by the winners reflect growing ambition among women entrepreneurs nationwide. He noted that the 2026 edition saw broader participation and deeper engagement compared to previous years. As these businesses scale, he emphasized the importance of access to financial products, payment systems, and advisory services that allow entrepreneurs to formalize operations and manage growth effectively.
Insights from the Women SMB Digitization Index further indicate that women-led businesses in Pakistan are actively adopting artificial intelligence tools. The survey found that 49 percent use natural language processing tools such as ChatGPT, 43 percent rely on data analytics and pattern recognition, and 43 percent deploy chatbots or virtual assistants. Additionally, 40 percent seek advice from business mentors or coaches. Financial independence was cited as a primary motivation by 39 percent of respondents, while 24 percent aimed to create supportive workplaces for women.
Through She’s Next, Visa and HBL continue to position digital enablement, mentorship, and targeted funding as key pillars in advancing women’s participation in Pakistan’s economic landscape.
Follow the PakBanker Whatsapp Channel for updates across Pakistan’s banking ecosystem.