FEATURE | women in tech TALKING TECH Technology is all around, improving our lives with new developments daily. We caught up with three innovative women who are putting it to work. June 2019 www.womanthismonth.com 20 Briefly, what does Butterfly Technology do? Butterfly Technology is a Bahraini company that specialises in manufacturing new innovative technological ideas that are not available in the market yet and developing software applications. In addition, the company incubates fresh innovative ideas and provides full technical support which includes consultation, support in the planning, implementation and providing guidance throughout the process. Add to that, supporting creative minds with opportunities such as attending competitions, exhibitions and more. What we do: - Manufacturing innovative products - Turning ideas to inventions - Building invention prototypes -Doing scientific researches and studies -Consultations -Training and courses -Events and speeches How did you become involved in the technology sector? I have loved science and technology since I was a kid. My parents did science projects with us at home. Then they registered me at the Science Center when I was in primary school. I started taking courses in Science and programming, attending scientific affairs and conferences in and out of Bahrain and planning and managing scientific events. When I graduated [high school], I got a scholarship in computer engineering at the University of Bahrain. And, for my graduation project, I decided to do something new – something that did not exist, something for ladies and something useful for the public. So, I invented a machine that can [mix and] produce any colour of nail polish in less than 60 seconds, controlled by a mobile App to allow the user to choose the colour and the type of mixer. This machine won the Best Graduation Project Award in the college. Moreover, it won first place in a Microsoft competition locally, first place in the pan-Arab semi-final of the same competition and third place globally – Bahrain was the first Arab country to win a prize since the competition started in 2003. There were also many other global awards. Because of all the hard work, I received the Efficacy Honour from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Bahrain National Day that year. After graduation, I decided to start a Bahraini company, Butterfly Technology, that turns great ideas into inventions and then to final products that are ‘made in Bahrain’. Also, we help anyone who has an idea offering courses and consultation sessions to teach people and students how to develop their own inventions. What is the biggest challenge you have faced and how did you overcome it? Well, in each phase there are many challenges. For example, the first challenge I had was in building a full invention by myself, learning how to do it, searching for the necessary components et cetera. Then, after graduation, the financial challenge came to find capital for my business. Actually, the challenges never stop, they become bigger and bigger. But this is how you jump to the next level in your game. What’s your proudest achievement to date? Definitely receiving the Efficacy Honour from HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Any advice for other women interested in joining the industry? If you have a dream, go and fight for it. Set out a plan with small steps to reach it and never stop trying. I know it is not an easy path, but achieving your dream is worth it! Alaa Abdulraheem is the founder and GM of Butterfly Technology. Her mission is making inventors’ dreams a reality. THE INVENTOR
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