Sara Wahedi (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]
Biography
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]
Accolades
Wahedi was recognized as one of TIME Magazine's Next Generation Leaders in 2021.[15]
