Infosys-springboard Joins HopeWorks’ WitchHunt to Power Women-Led AI Innovation at National Scale

Bengaluru: India’s push toward inclusive and responsible artificial intelligence received a significant boost as Infosys-springboard joined the HopeWorks Foundation–led WitchHunt – Women in Technology Challenge as a Knowledge Accelerator, strengthening efforts to place women at the centre of the country’s emerging AI innovation ecosystem.

The collaboration brings together corporate-backed digital learning, grassroots social empowerment, and national AI capacity-building at a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping economies, governance, and social systems. Launched in partnership with AI4India, WitchHunt is positioned as one of India’s largest women-focused AI innovation platforms, aiming to democratise access to advanced technology and innovation opportunities.

A National Platform for Women-Led AI Solutions

WitchHunt is structured as a nationwide hackathon and innovation challenge that seeks to mobilise 5,000 women across 1,000 teams, bringing together students, professionals, first-generation learners, and women from underserved communities. The programme is designed to move beyond symbolic participation, ensuring meaningful collaboration and peer learning.

A distinctive feature of the initiative is the integration of girls from HopeWorks Foundation into every team. For each five-member group, one participant will be a girl from HopeWorks, paired with four other members from diverse educational and socio-economic backgrounds. Each team will include at least two women members, reinforcing the initiative’s emphasis on leadership, inclusion, and exposure.

The programme is scheduled to launch in January 2026, culminating in a national finale in May 2026, with participation expected from across India’s major and emerging technology hubs.

Bridging the AI Access Divide

While India has made rapid strides in AI adoption across enterprise and government, access to advanced AI learning and innovation opportunities remains uneven. Girls from marginalised communities often face structural barriers to higher education, digital exposure, and professional networks.

By onboarding Infosys-springboard as a Knowledge Accelerator, WitchHunt aims to bridge this gap by providing structured learning resources, mentorship, and exposure to real-world AI applications. Infosys-springboard’s role will focus on strengthening technical knowledge, fostering problem-solving capabilities, and enabling participants to translate ideas into scalable, socially relevant AI solutions.

“In a world transformed by technology, women must not just participate—they must lead,” said Chitra Gurjar, Chairperson of WitchHunt, describing the initiative as a large-scale intervention to create equitable spaces in technology innovation.

AI Innovation with a Social Purpose

Unlike conventional hackathons focused on commercial outcomes, WitchHunt is anchored in AI-for-good principles. Teams will work on solutions addressing sustainability, inclusion, education, healthcare, livelihoods, and community resilience, aligning technology innovation with social impact.

The initiative also builds on HopeWorks Foundation’s broader mission. Since its inception in 2020, the Foundation has reached over 50,000 girls from underserved backgrounds, focusing on digital literacy, leadership development, and career readiness. WitchHunt aligns with its recently launched #MissionAI, a national effort to expand AI literacy and awareness among women.

“WitchHunt is not just about coding or AI solutions; it’s about rewriting the narrative of who gets to innovate in India,” said Jacintha Jayachandran, Founder of HopeWorks Foundation. “When women are equipped with the tools of tomorrow, they don’t just build technology—they build futures.”

Building India’s Inclusive AI Future

The programme is supported by a volunteer-led national organising team, co-chaired by Varsha Verma and Neeraja Ganesh, and backed by ecosystem partners including Skills Café. Insights, mentoring, and evaluation frameworks are being designed to ensure both technical rigour and human-centred innovation.

As India positions itself as a global AI powerhouse, initiatives like WitchHunt signal a shift from technology adoption alone to who gets to shape innovation outcomes. By combining corporate knowledge platforms, civil society leadership, and grassroots participation, the programme seeks to create a pipeline of women AI innovators capable of influencing India’s digital future.

With Infosys-springboard’s involvement, WitchHunt moves closer to becoming a national movement—one that not only expands AI capabilities but also redefines inclusion, leadership, and opportunity in India’s technology landscape, according to a company statement.

For more information on the initiative, visit witchhunt.in