GirlHacks 2025 Discovers Their 'Inner Goddess'
Girlhacks 2025 continued its legacy of providing a place for women and non-binary students in technology to take the lead in bringing ideation to realization through its annual 24-hour Major League Hacking (MLH) sanctioned hackathon where everyone — including the men — are invited to compete.
The competition, hosted by NJIT’s Women in Computing Society (WiCS) chapter, is designed to empower female and non-binary students in STEM with a passion, not only for technology, but the desire to support their growing community of like-minded people who wish to make their mark on a better future.
It was no coincidence then that this year’s theme centered upon gaining strength, wisdom and inspiration from the mighty Greek Goddesses themselves.
WiCS President Xitaly Prado said, “I loved how the theme represented power and strength, which are qualities that reflect our members and participants perfectly. One participant told me that ‘it was an amazing hackathon that really helped me get my foot in the door.’ That really meant a lot.”
She also pointed to the learning experience of planning and organizing the hackathon, applying lessons from her internship, such as team management strategies and software tools. “Using those same tools, I was able to manage our team of 13 efficiently.”
NJIT students Nandika Karnik, Marcela Moura, Assaf Izhar and Nidhi Sakpal won first place for helping women “discover your inner goddess” through their Gaia – Goddess-Guided Mentorship app. Gaia, the source of all life, is an AI chatbot designed to support women on campus by connecting them with resources, guidance and community. She then connects you with the goddess you need most: Athena for wisdom and academics, Artemis for mentorship and independence, Aphrodite for confidence and empowerment, and Tyche for scholarship. Gaia is also there for general support. Each goddess searches the web for relevant answers and resources on everything from Highlander events and services on campus to exploring research opportunities. The team states: “We created this platform to make sure no woman feels alone.”
LazyZeuzy, created by Nandan Hemanth alias Solo Clutch! from Steven’s Institute of Technology, took second place honors for creating “the world’s first document-to-game AI system” that transforms any document into personalized, accessible and individually adaptable experiences for diverse learners, using AI-generated flash cards, quizzes, and interactive maze games.
The ancient wisdom of the Greeks got a second modern power boost from AI in Athena’s Journal, along with some divine intervention by NJIT students Om Rana, Shivansh Dutta and Garima Thapa, who earned third place for their vision.
Athena and Google Gemini AI joined forces to guide greater emotional intelligence and self-understanding through interactive journaling that provides personalized counseling based on your emotional state. It’s a mental health companion that understands not just what you say, but how you say it.
View the complete list of all winners and participants.
Despite the hard work and dedication of the WiCS organizers, the event would not have been possible without the support of the company sponsors.
Olympian Sponsor ADP has championed GirlHacks since its inception in 2019, and Director of Project Management Avni Shah has been there every step of the way.
“Everything has grown: greater participation, more challenges, and technology that keeps NJIT on top.” She said.
According to her, ADP places great importance on supporting more opportunities for women in STEM as a matter of social responsibility – and good business. “We recognize that bringing diverse perspectives to problem solving for our clients allows us to provide the best possible products and services,” she added.
Valentin Guerin, client lead for Titan Sponsor Avanade, is in his second year as a GirlHacks sponsor. NJIT, however, has been Avanade’s partner for 10 years. In that time, the company has sponsored 19 students through STEM scholarships, one of which is Prado, and is currently mentoring 25 students.
“Our impact extends beyond the competition to coaching, networking and helping to prepare for job interviews,” he said.
As with ADP, Avanade also recognizes the value that NJIT students, particularly women, add to the modern tech ecosystem.
NJIT and WiCS also thank Titan Sponsor Cloudflare; Oracle Sponsors Fiserv, ISACA, Nokia Bell Labs and Valley; and Muse Sponsor Merck.
