Among the remarkable list of finalists for The Bicester Collection’s Unlock Her Future Prize 2025, one Pakistani startup is attracting attention for its socially powerful tech: Mehfooz.ai.
Co-founded by Khushbakht Shah Jillani, Mehfooz.ai is a trauma-informed AI tool designed to help judges and lawyers handle domestic violence cases with more speed, fairness, and sensitivity.
The Unlock Her Future Prize
The Unlock Her Future Prize is an annual start-up competition for women social entrepreneurs, powered by The Bicester Collection as part of its “DO GOOD” philanthropic program. In its third year, the prize is focused on the South Asia region (including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives), where it received nearly 3,000 applications.
The initiative aims to support female founders in launching and scaling enterprises that create a positive social, economic, or environmental impact, particularly those aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The prize package for winners includes:
- Up to US$100,000 in grant funding
- An executive education program from Oxford University’s Saïd Business School
- Bespoke leadership coaching
- Mentorship from global experts and local guidance from the Ashoka network
- Global exposure through The Bicester Collection’s network
Pakistani Semifinalists
Five women from Pakistan have been named semi-finalists for the Unlock Her Future Prize 2025, an initiative that aims to “identify visionary women social entrepreneurs and support them to launch and scale system-changing startups.”
Khushbakht Shah Jillani – Founder of Mehfooz AI, a startup using generative AI to combat domestic violence.
Namra Khalid – Founder of Community Climate Design, focused on sustainable and climate-resilient communities.
Nida Yousaf Sheikh – Social entrepreneur behind H2O Technologies, working on clean water solutions.
Dr. Shaista Khalid – CEO of FitHer, promoting women’s health and fitness.
Aiza Salik – Founder of myHisaab, a platform empowering financial literacy and inclusion.
Solving Domestic Violence Case Challenges with AI
Domestic violence cases often suffer from delays, a lack of empathy in processing, and inconsistencies in reporting and assessment.
Mehfooz.ai aims to address these gaps by providing technology that understands trauma and integrates it into the legal process, helping legal professionals to make decisions that are not only efficient but also compassionate.
Moreover, the app is particularly important in South Asia, where legal systems are often stretched, and victims can wait for long periods for redress.
The Final Stretch
Mehfooz.ai has secured a spot among nearly a dozen female-led social enterprises selected as finalists. Organizers will announce the winner of the prize on Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, November 19, 2025, in London.
Being a finalist means Mehfoozz AI and its team can access critical networks, get mentorship, and some visibility. These are some elements that often matter just as much as funding for early-stage social enterprises.