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Team ButterFly founder, Alaa Mohammed Abdulrahem, has soared to new heights and hopes to nail further competition success.
After winning Microsoft Imagine Cup’s best innovative project in the Pan-Arab semi-finals staged in Qatar she is ready to represent the kingdom and take on the world next month.
The 24-year-old University of Bahrain student first wowed the Bahrain judges with her creative Nail Polish Mixer and did it all over again, dazzling in Doha.
Alaa said: “I still can’t believe that my project went up against the best in the region and won first prize! Now, I will be representing Bahrain in the Imagine Cup Finals in Seattle, Microsoft’s home town!”
Qatar hosted the Pan-Arab session of the global contest for the first time and it featured more than 140 students, mentors and judges from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the UAE.
After two rigorous days of qualification rounds in Doha, with Qatar’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology attending the final deliberations, Alaa was announced the winner in the Innovation category.
Her mixer is a mobile and PC application designed to control an electronic ‘Nail Polish mixer machine’ by its users. It also allows them to share photos, find salons nearby, hold discussions and everything about fashion.
It can also create any colour selected within seconds in matte, glitter or regular shade. Alaa has plans to take the project further by making it a one-stop shop for trendy women everywhere.
The computer engineering student is thrilled to be presenting her project to an expert panel in Seattle, Washington in the Worldwide Finals on July 29. She will be competing against 35 teams for top prizes and support for their ideas through special competitions, including the Facebook Creativity Award and Skype Award.
The top team in each category at the Worldwide Finals will be given the opportunity to take part in the Imagine Cup Boot Camp, during which they will each receive hands-on mentorship and project development support from Microsoft and industry experts.
Alaa added: “I’m going to work so hard to bring the Cup to Bahrain. My family are happy and proud. They have been fantastic, supporting me in facing all odds and staying on the right track.
“I would like to thank my mum, dad, grandmother and grandfather, siblings and uncles too. They have supported me financially alongside Bahrain Development Board and Tamkeen. I am blessed to have them in my life and inshallah will make them even prouder in Seattle.”
The first place prizes in the Worldwide Finals for the World Citizenship, Games and Innovation categories will each be a staggering $50,000 (BD18,850); the second prize $10,000 (BD3,770) and the third prize $5,000 (BD1,885).
