Comeback CatZ: <build> confidence. </end sexism>.

Comeback CatZ: tackle everyday sexism with wit and a global community
Become part of the global CatZ movement to make sexism a thing of the past!
97% of young women have been sexually harassed (UN Women UK 2021)
Train witty comebacks to sexist comments and join a global community!

"You should smile more" Remember the last time you heard that comment? Were you stunned into silence later chastise yourself for not having spoken up? Or did you say something and then were told to “to lighten up as it’s just a joke”? Imagine an app that empowers you to clap back at sexist comments with confidence and style. We've got you covered!

Inspiration

Enter Comeback CatZ — a space where you can train witty comebacks to sexist comments, options to level up your confidence and a community that uplifts each other, all while having fun. It’s like Duolingo but for social injustices. Whether you’re facing sexism at work or battling the imposter syndrome, this app will help you tackle these challenges head-on. With a blend of gamification and AI-driven personalised tools, this app is not just useful, but fun and supportive. Comeback CatZ is inspired by a deep-rooted belief that everyone should have the tools to challenge gender biases and everyday sexism. Drawing from real-life experiences and the stories of countless individuals facing gender-based inequities, we saw an opportunity to create something truly impactful. We’ve developed a working prototype for this exciting Women in AI Hackathon by Google and we can’t wait to bring it to life with your support!

What it does

Comeback CatZ is a gamified, AI-powered app that provides users with tools to tackle everyday sexism with quick, witty responses. The app offers personalised guidance and everyday life scenarios, allowing users to train witty responses to sexist comments and tackle the imposter syndrome. All while part of a global community where individuals can share stories, celebrate wins, and encourage one another in their journey toward gender equity. Wait there's more! Take part in the global community ending sexism in a totally fun way through the app's fully gamified approach where you get sorted into Dragon Houses based on your character type, duel other houses, and grow your comeback kitten to a comeback dragon slaying sexism and the imposter syndrome everywhere you go!

How we built it

Alright, here’s the deal: Comeback CatZ is all about representing the powerful and diverse voices everywhere. We’re not just building an app—we’re building a movement. We want a space where anyone, from any background, can feel seen and supported. So, we got this amazing global team of volunteers together, each bringing their own unique vibes, to make sure every feature speaks to real experiences. Comeback CatZ isn’t just some confidence booster; it’s a safe space where women can be a part of a movement to voice and stand up against everyday sexism. Let’s face it together—stronger than ever.

Challenges we ran into

One major challenge was creating an AI that could understand the subtleties of gender-biased language and provide suitable responses that empower without escalating situations. Balancing assertiveness with empathy in our responses required extensive research and careful consideration. Additionally, building a community element that felt safe, supportive, and inclusive was a complex task that involved a lot of design thinking.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re incredibly proud of our global team and collaboration, literally from every corner of the world. We're proud that our founder's previous tech work has been recognised by multiple innovation awards, including from the President of Switzerland and recognised by MIT. The European Investment Bank even named her the "Most Impactful Entrepreneur" just last year! We are proud of building an AI-powered solution that not only addresses a critical social issue but does so in a way that’s fun, engaging, and accessible. Seeing users connect through shared experiences in the community and hearing feedback on how Comeback CatZ has helped them feel more confident and prepared to handle everyday sexism is immensely rewarding.

What we learned

Throughout this journey, we learnt the importance of empathy and user feedback in creating tools that serve real social needs. The project underscored how AI can be applied to tackle deeply ingrained social issues and the significance of building inclusive spaces for community support. We also learnt a lot about the technical complexities involved in NLP and machine learning, especially when working with subjective topics like bias and empowerment.

What's next for Comeback CatZ: confidence. .

At Comeback CatZ, we envision a vibrant, interactive platform that not only empowers users to tackle sexism with wit and confidence but also immerses them in a supportive, gamified experience. Our vision for the future includes the creation of dynamic gamification elements that make this mission engaging and transformative.

One of our most exciting developments is the introduction of personality-based Dragon Houses. Each user will take a personality quiz that sorts them into one of five Dragon Houses, creating communities within the larger Comeback CatZ community. These houses can compete in witty comeback battles to earn points, foster camaraderie, and support each other in building confidence and confronting everyday sexism. This structure provides users with both a global community and a close-knit group of like-minded individuals, amplifying a sense of belonging and shared purpose.

At the heart of the app’s gamification is a personalised avatar—a kitten companion that grows into a dragon as users engage with the platform and level up. This avatar is not only a visual representation of their progress but also an AI-powered mentor, evolving based on the user’s achievements and engagement within the app. This kitten-to-dragon transformation mirrors the user’s journey in building confidence and resilience, becoming a powerful symbol of their growth.

Looking ahead, our goal is to make Comeback CatZ a global community where each user feels they are part of something bigger. With gamification, personalised growth, and house-based camaraderie, we’re creating a safe, engaging, and empowering space to confidence and .y. With each new user, we move closer to our goal of creating a world where everyday sexism is challenged confidently and inclusivity is championed.