Archika Dogra

23-year-old Archika Dogra is an inspiring young entrepreneur who won the Congressional App Challenge in Washington’s 9th District in 2017. She went on to found Innoverge, a youth-led nonprofit that helps students discover their passion for STEM and encourages innovation across disciplines. Today, Archika works as an AI product manager, continuing to bridge the gap between technology and meaningful social impact. What I find most interesting about her story is how it connects with what we’ve been learning in class about innovation. In an interview with the Congressional App Challenge, Archika discussed how she pushed herself to practice zero-to-one innovation, creating something entirely new rather than just improving existing ideas. Hearing a real example of that concept in action was especially motivating, because it showed how classroom ideas can translate into real-world change. Another aspect that stood out to me was her desire to make a tangible difference through technology. One of her earliest projects, Vigilant, was an app she co-created to give women a discreet way to call for help in dangerous situations. Archika’s work reminds me that true innovation comes from empathy and courage, the drive to create solutions that improve people’s lives.