MITEF Saudi Startup Competition Semi-Finalists Nominated

Judges choose 45 from 2,500 entries

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – January 18, 2018: The 45 semi-finalists for the 2018 MIT Enterprise Forum (MITEF) Saudi Arabia Startup competition have been chosen from more than 2,500 entries.

The judging panel of 60 business experts and academics from Saudi Arabia and the Arab world assessed applicants’ business models, particularly creativity, potential to expand beyond local markets, long-term financial sustainability and making a positive impact on society.

The competition, now in its third year, is in three categories – startups, social enterprise, and ideas. The 15 semi-finalists in each category are:

Startups – Sihatech.com, Quantum Solutions, Ranam, Fixtag, Upositive, Majalisapp.com, Maharah, Hadiya Registry, Shakl 3D Printing Service and Marketplace, Juleb, Ironix Comix, Avocado, Fasil, Twetso, Live the Adventure.

Social enterprise – Mathaq, Red Sea Channel, Blooming Bs, Rofoof, Aquaponica, Maya Clinic, I have a dream, Labayh, Fun time center for children’s hospitality, perfection & selection, Qout, Farmer shop, The Vid Platform for Poverty Treatment, Bassmatna initiative, Mutajamie T.

Ideas – Electronic cafeteria, Dulab, Pro Care, Osta, Money Cloud, Qisma, Cucumber, Derma now application, Leo’s Lounge, Parking, Bank You So Much.com, AGS Co. Ltd, The Lawyer, Bihob Nara’ahoum initiative, and an electronic control system to help kidney patients.

The second round of judging will take place in February when the 27 finalist teams will be chosen. The winners will be announced in Riyadh on March 3, after the third round of judging. The closing ceremony will be in the honour of HE Dr Majid Bin Abdullah Al Qasabi, Saudi Arabia’s minister of commerce and investment.

MITEF Saudi Startup Competition is organised by between Community Jameel’s Bab Rizq Jameel initiative in partnership with Zain Saudi Arabia and Dulani Business Centre, under the theme ‘Create your Tomorrow’.

Engineer Mohammed Yahia Hakami. Executive Director, International initiatives and Business Development at Community Jameel, said: “Announcement of semi-finalists is a definitive stage of the competition, which has become one of the most important events in Saudi Arabia in its impact on spreading the culture of entrepreneurship and innovation in Saudi and across the entire Middle East region.”

Sultan AlShahrani, Chief Human Resources and Communication Officer at Zain Saudi Arabia, said: “The judging panel comprises business experts, specialists, and academics in the most advanced fields to assess project concepts and ideas and seeking to convert these to real projects for a better future.”

Engineer Ali Sayyar, General Manager of Dulani Business Centre, said: “This competition is an important platform for the future of the entrepreneurship and innovation sector in the KSA and goes beyond this to benefit the economy and the labour market, as demonstrated by the volume and quality entries from talented youth.”

The MITEF Startups Competition is supported by the Ministry of Commerce and Investment (government partner), Zain Saudi Arabia and Dulani Business Centre (strategic), Dulani Business Centre and King Khalid Foundation (social entrepreneurship), SEDCO Holding (financial awareness), Eye of Riyadh and MIT Technology Review (media), MITEF Pan Arab (regional), Wamda (entrepreneurship awareness), and IRO (technical). Service partners include KAUST, Olow, Qutuf, and Jain KSA.

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MITEF Saudi Arabia, part of the MITEF global network of chapters dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship and innovation worldwide, and to provide knowledge, communication, and training for entrepreneurs, enabling them to quickly turn ideas into world-changing companies.

MITEF Saudi Startup Competition was established in 2015 dedicated to promoting and enriching entrepreneurship in the KSA with a view to supporting and celebrating all Saudi Arabia startup companies and entrepreneurs through the companies, startup and social enterprises tracks.

MITEF Saudi Startup Competition includes three categories: ideas, startup, and social enterprise. The competition offers cash prizes worth up to SR 325,000 and gives entrants access to guidance, workshops, and training by experts and across all commercial and social sectors. Participants who advance to the final stages of the competition will have the opportunity to participate in the Saudi StartSmart Forum – a MITEF programme that aims to encourage, motivate, and guide entrepreneurs to achieve success. This programme supports idea creation and commercial and social enterprises through workshops and seminars that are directly relevant to technology and innovation. Nine of the winners will also be invited to participate in the MITEF Pan Arab competition seeking the best ideas, startups and social enterprise concepts across the Arab world.

For more information, please contact:

Abir Ben Bechir
Community Jameel International
Mobile:
Email:

• The competition is in partnership with Zain Saudi Arabia and Dulani Business Centre
• Semi-finalists to be announced in January 2018
• Winners to be announced on March 3 at an awards ceremony in Riyadh

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – December 25, 2017: MIT Enterprise Forum Saudi Arabia’s annual Startup competition has attracted 2,536 entries for 2018 – up 14 percent on the previous year.

Under the theme ‘‘Create your tomorrow’’, the competition has three categories – ideas, startup, and social enterprise.

‘Startup’ has shown the biggest growth at 45 percent, followed by ‘ideas’ at 27 percent and ‘social entrepreneurship’ at 14 percent.

Teams qualifying for the semi-finals will be announced on January 15, 2018. They will receive intensive guidance and training over the next two months, with the winners to be announced on March 3 at an awards ceremony in Riyadh where the guest of honour will be HE Dr Majid Bin Abdullah Al Qasabi, Saudi Arabia’s minister of commerce and investment.

The competition is organised by Bab Rizq Jameel, the Community Jameel initiative that provides sustainable jobs, training, and education for Saudi Arabian citizens in partnership with Zain Saudi Arabia and Dulani Business Centre. The 2018 competition is the third in the series.

Mohammed Yahia Hakami. Executive Director, International Operations and Business Development at Community Jameel commended the continuous support provided by private businesses and government organisations and stressed that the entrepreneurship environment is integral and needs support by all concerned parties to expand and flourish.

MITEF Saudi commended the continuous support provided by private businesses and government organisations and stressed that the entrepreneurship environment is integral and needs support by all concerned parties to expand and flourish.

Sultan bin Mohammed AlShahrani, Chief Human Resources and Communication Officer at Zain Saudi Arabia said: “We are pleased to support MITEF Saudi Startup Competition for the second successive year, affirming the role of such competitions in providing opportunities to Saudi young talents to join the entrepreneurship community, which in return supports the vision of the Kingdom 2030, the ambitious vision that we all must work to achieve its goals and programmes. The strong competition in previous editions, and the number and level of candidates this year, promises a bright future for innovation and entrepreneurship in the Kingdom.”

Engineer Ali Sayyar, General Manager of Dulani Business Centre, said: “Our participation comes as part of Dulani’s policy to communicate and collaborate with various entities to support and develop entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia. Dulani is the first centre in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East to provide a comprehensive set of non-financial services free for small business owners. Through this participation, we aim to provide training, guidance, and consulting that the participating creative talents need.”

This year, MITEF Saudi Startup Competition is partnered by a number of key government and non-government organisations: the Ministry of Commerce and Investment (government partner), Zain Saudi Arabia and Dulani Business Centre (strategic), King Khalid Foundation (social entrepreneurship), SEDCO Holding (financial awareness, Eye of Riyadh and MIT Technology Review (media partners), MITEF Pan Arab (regional partner), Wamda (entrepreneurship awareness) partner, and IRO (technical). Service partners include KAUST, Olow, Qutuf, and Jain KSA.

Ends

MITEF Saudi Arabia, part of the MITEF global network of chapters dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship and innovation worldwide, and to provide knowledge, communication, and training for entrepreneurs, enabling them to quickly turn ideas into world-changing companies.

MITEF Saudi Startup Competition was established in 2015 dedicated to promoting and enriching entrepreneurship in the KSA with a view to supporting and celebrating all Saudi Arabia startup companies and entrepreneurs through the companies, startup and social enterprises tracks.

MITEF Saudi Startup Competition includes three categories: ideas, startup, and social enterprise. The competition offers cash prizes worth up to SR 325,000 and gives entrants access to guidance, workshops, and training by experts and across all commercial and social sectors. Participants who advance to the final stages of the competition will have the opportunity to participate in the Saudi StartSmart Forum – a MITEF programme that aims to encourage, motivate, and guide entrepreneurs to achieve success. This programme supports idea creation and commercial and social enterprises through workshops and seminars that are directly relevant to technology and innovation. Nine of the winners will also be invited to participate in the MITEF Pan Arab competition seeking the best ideas, startups and social enterprise concepts across the Arab world.

For more information, please contact:

Abir Ben Bechir
Community Jameel International
Mobile:
Email: