Her perspective powers innovation

The project won the hackathon's Best Problem Definition Award.

Several teams developed apps focused on mood tracking and emotional support. One standout was "Mood Trip", created by Lu Feiyu and her teammates. The app features a playful interface built around a pink pig character that lives its own life, while also remaining ready to listen, provide companionship, and act as a friend.

"Emotional struggles aren't exclusive to women — men experience them too," Lu said. "However, men are often taught to suppress their feelings, while women are encouraged to express them. That difference can make women more sensitive when designing emotional support tools."

Lu, an environmental design student, said the hackathon helped her connect with women from varied fields.

"I had so many ideas, but I didn't know how to turn them into something real in such a homogeneous environment," she said. "Now I'm working with teammates in product, visual design, engineering, and other fields — and I finally feel that I'm equipped to bring my ideas to life."

In fact, both organizers and participants came from diverse academic backgrounds, including many liberal arts majors. One organizer, Liu Siyi, studied gender and media communication and believes liberal arts students have a unique advantage in the AI era.

"In a world driven by speed and anxiety, the humanistic spirit and critical judgment of liberal arts are invaluable," she said. "Technical skills need the perspective and aesthetics that the liberal arts bring."

Following the event's success, the organizing team is now planning an even larger women's hackathon this summer, with more than 1,000 participants.

Ni Zhen, founder of She Nicest, recalled a common perception she encountered while fundraising: in the world of capital, women's issues are often treated as "frosting on the cake" — nice to have, but never the main course.

She rejected that framing. Looking ahead, she envisions a bigger future for women in tech. "I've done many small and beautiful projects, but I'm tired of being limited to just that. Why can't women have grand narratives and pursue ambitious goals?" she said.