Sara Wahedi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Sara Wahedi 23 January 1995 |
| Nationality | Afghan-Canadian |
| Education | Columbia University |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, Businesswoman |
Sara Wahedi (Pashto : سارا واحدي; born 23 January 1995) is an Afghan-Canadian tech entrepreneur and humanitarian. [1] She is the Chief Executive Officer of Civaam, [2] founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ehtesab, a civic technology startup in Kabul, Afghanistan. [3] [4]
Wahedi was born in Kabul. Wahedi and her family emigrated from Kabul and settled in Canada in 2005. [5] Wahedi founded Ehtesab in 2018. [6] [7] She started the company with $2,500 of her own savings and later attracted investment from a New York-based tech design entrepreneur, and Netlinks, one of Afghanistan's largest IT companies, which contributed an additional $40,000. [3] Ehtesab enables its users to report on local incidents, establishing it as Afghanistan's first citizen engagement platform. [8] It provides real-time security alerts and updates in three languages. [6] The app combats misinformation by providing real-time updates on Kabul's security, energy, and traffic situations. [9] In 2021, it proved especially valuable to residents during the bombings, roadblocks, and attacks that occurred as the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. At that time, the company employed 20 people. [10] The app is developing covert platforms to enable women to discreetly access healthcare, education, and employment services, thereby bypassing Taliban surveillance and restrictions. [8] [11]
In 2024, Wahedi earned a bachelor's degree in urban studies with a concentration in architecture from Columbia University. [12] She also serves on the board of Rukhshana Media, a news organization focused on women’s issues in Afghanistan. [13] She has also completed an internship with Apple, where she worked with teams specializing in artificial intelligence and machine learning. [14]