Two Waterloo Region high school student teams are celebrating landmark achievements in the 2026 Technovation Girls competition. For the first time in the Waterloo chapter’s history, a team has advanced to the Technovation Girls World Summit, while another team has been recognized as the second-ranked intermediate-level team in North America.

Technovation Girls launched its global technology entrepreneurship challenge in 2014, connecting participants and mentors through local chapters and clubs around the world. In 2018, Professor Jo Atlee founded the Waterloo Technovation Girls chapter through the Women in Computer Science initiative at the Cheriton School of Computer Science. Each year since, the free 12-week Waterloo program has equipped girls and gender-diverse youth ages 8 to 18 with the skills to become tech entrepreneurs and leaders.

These achievements make 2026 the most successful competition year in the Waterloo chapter’s history.

Team Power Puck Girls, comprised of Allie H and Victoria S, earned them a place at the Technovation Girls World Summit, becoming the first Waterloo team to advance to the global finals. The students will travel to Bengaluru, India, in October to present their app, CareCompass, and compete against the top student teams across the globe in the senior division at the 2026 Technovation World Summit.

“More than 3,600 apps were submitted worldwide in April,” Professor Atlee said. “These submissions have undergone two levels of judging that winnowed the competition to 15 finalists, with five beginner level teams, five intermediate level teams, and five senior level teams. Making it to the finals is a huge accomplishment.”

Power Puck Girls developed an app inspired by their experience as hockey players and the challenges families face when seeking medical care during tournaments. When injuries happen away from home, players, parents and trainers can struggle to find the most appropriate hospital or clinic for quick care.

CareCompass helps users find and compare nearby healthcare options based on emergency department wait times, travel time and available services, including whether diagnostic imaging is available. The students developed the app by interviewing teammates, coaches, athletes and frequent travellers to better understand the information people need when seeking medical care away from home.

“All finalist teams will receive free travel and accommodations to attend the 2026 Technovation World Summit, including meals and networking opportunities worth about $10,000 per team,” said WiCS Outreach Coordinator Samantha Jewett, who oversees the Technovation Girls Waterloo chapter. “Finalist teams will also receive an unrestricted $500 educational stipend that can be used to support their learning.”

Despite having no previous app development experience, Allie and Victoria taught themselves Swift and C++ programming, business planning and entrepreneurship through online courses, mentorship from the local Waterloo Technovation chapter, and guidance from healthcare professionals. They also used official Ontario government health data and verified hospital capabilities by directly contacting hospitals.

“The Waterloo Technovation Girls chapter also celebrated another outstanding achievement this year,” Professor Atlee said. “The Stellar Squad, an intermediate division team, was selected as a regional honouree, placing second in their category in North America.”

Comprised of Kavira M R G, Madeline R, Lydia R-Y and Zara A, the Stellar Squad developed an app called Community Care Loop that helps older adults maintain their independence. Using a low-cost motion sensor, the app detects potential concerns and notifies family members and volunteer neighbours if unusual inactivity is observed.

The Stellar Squad was ranked the No. 2 intermediate-level team in North America, earning regional honours and a $250 educational stipend for each team member.

“We are extremely proud of this year’s Technovation Girls Waterloo participants and congratulate the winning teams,” Professor Atlee said. “We also congratulate Waterloo Technovation alumna Kira Dattani, who was recognized as one of this year’s Student Ambassador Award winners. Kira has participated in the local competition every year since 2022. This recognition reflects her commitment to mentoring and encouraging the next generation of participants.”

Learn more about the Waterloo teams and their submissions on the Women in Computer Science Technovation blog.