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Nida Yousaf, a Pakistani entrepreneur and founder of H2O Technologies, distinguished herself among 3,000 applicants, becoming one of the 11 finalists for the Unlock Her Future Prize 2025, awarded by The Bicester Collection. In an update shared with Techjuice, H2O Technologies announced that she is the only woman from Pakistan to win this prestigious award in South Asia.
Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford has also joined hands with The Bicester Collection to offer executive education to the prize recipients. The winners were announced at a glamorous awards ceremony held in London on November 19, 2025.
The six awardees are
- Nishat Palka – Mommy Kidz (Bangladesh): A safe and affordable community platform that allows parents to access health information without stigma.
- Amritha Krishnamoorthy – Stepping Stones (India): Providing education and therapy for children with autism and developmental disabilities.
- Yangchen Dorji – LEAD+ (Bhutan): Supporting grassroots, women-led, and marginalized businesses through funding, mentorship, and market opportunities.
- Sophiya Tamang – Idea to Impact (Nepal): Transforming surplus produce into nutritious meals for children.
- Jhillika Trisal – Cognitii (India): Making quality education more accessible for children with special educational needs.
- Nida Sheikh – H2O Technologies (Pakistan): Delivering clean water solutions, including technology that converts air humidity into safe drinking water.
Nida Yousaf, the founder of H2O Technologies, stood out among 3,000 applicants and 11 finalists. Sharing this information with Techjuice, H2O Technologies stated that she is the only winner from Pakistan of the Unlock Her Future™️ Prize 2025 South Asia, awarded by The Bicester Collection.
Several of the founders delivered heartfelt speeches about their entrepreneurial journeys, while judges and previous winners shared valuable advice, especially the reminder to stay connected to the original purpose that inspired them to start their ventures.
These six exceptional women were selected from more than 2,000 applicants across Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
A tailored executive education experience
As the academic partner of the prize, Oxford Saïd will offer the winners a customised executive education program, along with personalised leadership coaching, to support their professional and personal growth.
Kathy Harvey, Associate Dean for Global Networks and Innovation, led a bootcamp for the shortlisted candidates at the business school and also delivered a keynote speech at a press summit in Bicester Village the day before the final. She shared:
“What I really appreciate about this competition is its long-term, global vision. It’s not just focused on one year, it’s built around sustained support and business ideas that can create meaningful impact in many forms.
The women are all remarkable and fascinating. I’m always curious about what drives a founder to push forward. Most businesses do fail, but every participant will gain invaluable lessons that they can pass on, and some of these ventures could grow into multi-million-pound companies. I’m very optimistic.”
Keble College dinner and bootcamp reflections
Earlier in November, the eleven finalists visited Oxford Saïd for a bootcamp and later attended a dinner at Keble College.
Simone Koo Ishikawa, Programme Lead for the Unlock Her Future Prize and an Entrepreneurship Expert at Oxford Saïd, conducted a debriefing session with the winners and received incredibly positive feedback from them about their time at the University. She shared:
“Many of the winners said their experience with Oxford Saïd was unforgettable, especially the wonderful dinner at Keble College, which truly showcased warm hospitality.
Launched in 2022, the Unlock Her Future Prize is part of The Bicester Collection’s DO GOOD philanthropic initiative. Its mission is to celebrate, support, and equip women social entrepreneurs across the globe with the recognition, funding, and resources they need to grow their impact.
