Category: News

Jeddah – Saudi Arabia, March 4, 2018: MITEF Saudi Arabia, part of the MITEF global network, has announced the winning teams at the finals of the MITEF Saudi Startup Competition.

Participants were competing in three tracks – Startup track, Social Enterprise track, and Ideas track. The winners were:

• In the Start-up track, first prize went to Quantum Solutions, with Avokado taking second prize and Ironix third. Quantum Solutions received SR 100,000, with second place receiving SR 25,000, and third SR 15,000.
• Labayh took first prize in the Social Enterprise track, with Aquaponica second and Blooming Bs third. The first prize winners received SR 100,000, SR 25,000 for second place, and third place SR 15,000.
• In the Ideas track, first place was awarded to Duleb, with Cucumber second and Qisma third. The first prize winner received SR 20,000, with second and third taking SR 15,000 and SR 10,000 respectively.

The nine top-placing participants have now won the right to participate in the 11th MITEF Pan Arab competition, which will be held in Oman in April, where the best entrepreneurial ideas from across the region will be showcased.

During her welcoming speech, Dr Sarah Ghaleb, Senior General Manager of education and entrepreneurship initiatives at Community Jameel, expressed her delight to host a selection of national and international guests, investors and entrepreneurs at the final event of the MITEF Saudi Arabia. She said this is the third year a new generation of Saudi Arabian entrepreneurs have shown their work in the field of Ideas, Startups and Social Enterprise, and wished them good luck in their future ventures.

The Saudi StartSmart conference was also held as part of the finals event, where distinguished speakers such as Her Royal Highness Princess Banderi AlFaisal, Chief Executive Officer of King Khalid organisation, encouraged local entrepreneurs to keep developing successful social and commercial ideas and projects.

The MITEF Saudi Startup Competition is staged by MITEF in partnership with Bab Rizq Jameel – the Community Jameel initiative, Zain KSA, and Dulani Business Centre.

The closing ceremony was held in Riyadh on March 3. The event was attended by His Excellency Dr Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi, Minister of Commerce and Investment, as well as prominent Saudi Arabian and Arab figures, investors, entrepreneurs, and media representatives.

Dr Ibrahim Badawood, Managing Director at Community Jameel, said: “Year after year, the MITEF Saudi Arabia Startup Competition continues to grow and develop in its mission to explore, present, and support young entrepreneurial talent. The third edition of the competition saw over 2,500 submissions – an increase of 14% on the previous year. During the last three competitions, we have been proud to uncover great potential in our young people and show the remarkable creativity and ambition of young Saudi Arabian entrepreneurs. This new generation of entrepreneurs will undoubtedly play an active role in supporting the economic and development movement in Saudi Arabia and contribute to the country’s progression towards a brighter future.”

Sultan Al-Shahrani, Chief Human Resources and Communications Officer at Zain Saudi Arabia said: “We are delighted to be the strategic partner of MITEF Saudi Startup Competition for the second consecutive year. We are once again celebrating a new generation of Saudi entrepreneurs who will play a fundamental role in supporting the Saudi economy, now and in the future. We work closely with our partners each year to attract talent and support innovation through the MITEF Saudi Startup Competition, as we believe that entrepreneurship is the backbone of economic growth in developed countries.”

Eng. Ali Sayyar, General Manager of Dulani Business Centre, congratulated the winners and all those who participated in the success of the event, saying: “We are proud to support the MITEF Saudi Startup Competition, which adopts the same core objectives of the Dulani Business Centre – to provide a range of non-financial services and ideas to enterprise owners. These services include training, counselling, and mentorship to help SMEs to achieve their goals and overcome the challenges they may face.”

The event also hosted the Saudi StartSmart Forum which focused on a range of topics including a talk on ‘The 10 Promising Technologies’ presented by Antoinette Matthews, executive director of the MIT Enterprise Forum Global. Among other topics were the future of social entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia and its role in Vision 2030. The session was headed by Her Royal Highness Princess Banderi AlFaisal, Chief Executive Officer of the King Khalid organisation, and Sofana Dahlan, founder and CEO at Tashkeil Global Company. The programme also included a panel discussion on the challenges facing entrepreneurs such as systems and policies. Additional speakers included Salah Alghamdi General Manager, Digital and Analytics at Zain KSA; Eng. Ali Alsayyar, General Manager of Dulani Business Center; and a wide range of specialists, investors, entrepreneurs and representatives of companies supporting entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia.

Partners in this year’s competition were: governmental – Ministry of Commerce and Investment; strategic – Zain KSA and Dulani Business Center; social entrepreneurship – King Khaled Foundation; financial awareness – SEDCO Holdings; media – Eye of Riyadh and MIT Technology Review; regional – MITEF Pan Arab; entrepreneurship awareness – Wamda; technological – IRO; service – KAUST, Olou, Qotuf and Jain KSA.

Mentors guide 45 first-stage qualifying teams

Jeddah – Saudi Arabia, February 7, 2018: Under the guidance of selected consultants and mentors, mentorship sessions supporting MITEF Saudi Startup Competition are under way.

In partnership with Olou, the permanent partner for guidance and consulting for the competition, the first session was in Riyadh and hosted by Dulani Business Center, one of the key Social Development Bank programmes, supporting and advising the 45 teams who have qualified for the first stage of the competition.

Following the Riyadh leg of the orientation, the programme moved on to the Abdul Latif Jameel Center for Continuous Learning in Jeddah yesterday and will go to the Aramco Center for Entrepreneurship in Dammam on February 19 to continue supporting entrants.

The programme focuses on a range of topics pertinent to any individual or company seeking to begin a business. Each team has been provided with mentors and guides specialising in all aspects of entrepreneurship and cover topics including the art of brainstorming, how to design business models, customer discovery, and marketing and financing. Entrepreneurs also study unique business models and inspiring entrepreneurship stories.

“Olou is happy for the ongoing partnership with MITEF Saudi Startup competition and Bab Rizq Jameel, we also thank all the mentors who volunteered their time and great experience to mentor and guide the entrepreneurs,” said CEO, Faris Alshareef. “Olou’s main mission is to develop people to be more successful whether as individuals, as a part of a corporation, or part of an organisation. We are always looking for opportunities to design and implement capability development programmes as they contribute to the creation of entrepreneurs – empowering practical skills and enhancing the quality of projects and ideas.

“This phase of the MITEF Saudi Startup competition is very important as it helps prepare the entrants for what is to come, and hopefully increases their chances of excelling and advancing to the next phase of the competition, winning over the judges, and succeeding long after the competition has ended.”

Olou presents ‘Rizq Entrepreneurship Programme’ which is based on a practical methodology built on a scientific basis and experience, from which entrepreneurs benefit from direct advisory and specialised development programmes.

Mohammed Yahia Hakami, executive director, International Operations and Business Development at Community Jameel, said: “We thank Olou for continued support, and recognise its commitment to the MITEF Saudi Startup competition in providing access to its network of consultants and mentors. One of Olou’s guiding principles is its commitment to building the capacity and understanding of entrepreneurs, by teaching concepts and mechanisms that are vital to the development of individuals and startups, encouraging the application of concepts important to professional development.”

The 2018 MITEF Saudi Startup competition, in partnership with Zain Saudi Arabia and Dulani Business Center, is under the theme ‘Create your Tomorrow’ and has attracted a record number of entries.

The 45 teams qualifying in three categories – Ideas, Startups, and Social Enterprise – will face the second round of judging later this month when the 27 finalists will be announced. The winners will be announced on Saturday, March 3, 2018 in Riyadh at a function in honour of HE Dr Majid Bin Abdullah Al Qasabi, Minister of Commerce and Investment.

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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:

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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To watch the activities of the second MITEF Saudi Startup Competition, click here:

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:

Aquaponica Corporation, winner of the ‘ideas’ category in the MIT Enterprise Forum Saudi Arabia, has a concept with the potential to ensure food security for years to come by developing sustainable agricultural practices in even the most challenging environments.

Dealing with ever-changing and ever-challenging climate shifts is a truly global problem that does not respect borders or cultures.

It is particularly threatening to food security, potentially leading to large-scale difficulties in the Middle East.

Although there is a strong agricultural tradition across the region, it is vastly underused and underdeveloped. The World Bank reports that as much as 80 percent of all food available in Saudi Arabia is imported and as high as 97 percent in some GCC neighbours.

It is clear that this needs to change – not an easy task in a naturally arid country such as Saudi Arabia. But Aquaponica Corporation hopes to lead that change by using technology and developing innovative, efficient, and climate-specific agricultural techniques that increase the quality and quantity of sustainable arable land.

Founded by Dr Amin Majdi in the Western region of Saudi Arabia, Aquaponica’s primary focus is on the design and implementation of temperature-controlled greenhouses and aquaponic agriculture on a commercial scale.

Dr Majdi received the King Abdullah Scholarship and qualified in the USA with master’s and PhD degrees in energy-efficiency and renewable energy. While in the USA, Dr Majdi was introduced to the concepts of energy efficiency in buildings.

“During my studies, I was introduced to many energy-efficient residential, commercial, and industrial building designs,” he says. “I found the ‘Passive House’ building principle fascinating. Passive houses have incredibly stringent energy-efficiency standards that can reduce energy consumption by up to 90 percent and make renewable energy economically appealing.

“For my PhD research I wanted to take the principles of the passive house and apply them to greenhouses – which typically follow no energy codes whatsoever.”

Dr Majdi used his expertise in energy efficiency to enhance his designs, helped by the latest computer software and smart algorithms. He was drawn to aquaponics in his search for efficient and sustainable farming methods that eliminated the need for conventional cooling/heating and were also practical and economically feasible.

“After I discovered the benefits of aquaponics, I read and researched extensively to broaden my understanding, attending many aquaponic workshops in the US to get more hands-on experience and build relationships with scientists, experts, and leading companies in the field.”

Now, having received his PhD and achieved his aim of creating a new standard of energy efficiency in greenhouses, Dr Majid is bringing his technology to the real world. This means agriculture can flourish in incredibly challenging environments such as in Saudi Arabia.

“I think that Aquaponica is a turning point in the agriculture sector. It saves energy, water and materials, requires no conventional heating or cooling systems, enhances renewable energy systems efficiencies, and produces two fresh premium products – fish and plants – that are free of pesticides and chemicals.”

But taking a concept to market requires business knowledge and marketing and public relations skills, which MITEF Saudi Arabia has provided to Dr Majdi as a part of its competition programme.

“When it came to business, I was trying everything almost for the first time – from talking to the media, to standing in front of the judges. But the guidance I received from MITEF staff was incredibly helpful and I had the opportunity to learn while simultaneously networking and having access to decision-makers.

“This experience has given me valuable perspective. Previously I was a purely technical thinker, but now I have invaluable business skills which will allow me to build my business and adapt my concept for the real world.”

Winner of the 2017 MIT Enterprise Forum Saudi Arabia in the Startup segment, Madad Services LLC, offers an e-commerce platform facilitating supply and demand in the HoReCa (hotel /restaurant/café) sector.

Increasingly, the service industry is looking to further leverage technology, capitalising on the growing strength of the globalised digital marketplace. Nowhere is this more clearly demonstrated than in connectivity.

By reducing the distance between stakeholders, the service industry can meet the needs of their customers faster and more efficiently, while simultaneously building on real-time client satisfaction.

This is the area in which Madad Services LLC has come into its own. The company was founded in 2016 with the aim of providing businesses in the hotel, restaurant, and café segment with an online platform to improve their connectivity with suppliers of goods and services to across Saudi Arabia. It is the first company of its kind within the country.

“Our concept is simple; we don’t sell products, instead, we offer a web platform that facilitates the exchange of goods. Our goal is to digitise the regional trading market and help businesses grow through internet technology”, said Faisal Alshareef
CEO, Madad Services.

Like so many great ideas, the inspiration for Madad Services was came from a chance conversation between friends. After deciding to look into the hospitality sector for potential business opportunities, Faisal Alshareef shadowed his friend – a restaurateur in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, to see where there could be room for a new idea.

“A few weeks into the process, I began to notice the agony that my friend seemed to go through every time he set about ordering his restaurant supplies. These issues ranged from the inconsistent pricing, the wasted time and effort in searching for a good price, stock unavailability, and overall limitations in access to suppliers.

“One day, a stock check alerted him that he was running out of cooking cream. He called his supplier to order more only to find out that he too was out of stock. He then called the backup supplier and the backup of the backup to find that they too had no supply. At this point he had exhausted the options available to him, as those were the only suppliers he knew. The result of this was that he had to drop five of the best-selling items from his menus for a few months. This affected his revenue severely.

“This got me thinking about creating a platform that connects suppliers and manufacturers with hotels, restaurants, and cafés where our aim was to empower buyers by offering them a competitive marketplace where the lowest possible price could be achieved. The platform could be a place where convenience is prioritised and customers could find a wide range of suppliers with the broadest selection of products.”
However the company does not simply target improving the supply chain on behalf of the customers. “Our aim is also to add value to our partner suppliers. Our platform also services them by introducing them to the online marketplace, while increasing their market exposure and access, and reducing their operation costs,” Faisal Alshareef added.

Since its launch, Madad Services has aimed to offer a “seductively convenient” client-centric business-to-business experience that will effectively digitise what has traditionally been a face-to-face transaction. So successful was this model that Madad Services took first prize in the second annual MITEF Saudi Arabia Startup Competition, earning SR 100,000 in the process, and public exposure that has resulted in a wave of investment offers.

“It was a great honour to win such a prestigious competition and it was a privilege to meet like-minded people; entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors who are trying to revolutionise our ecosystem,” said Faisal Alshareef. “The knowledge that we gained in such a short time has been unbelievable. We now look to the future making sure to inspire others by making Madad Services a real success story for everyone.”

Increasingly, new businesses concepts are looking to leverage innovative technology – particularly on smart devices, to access their marketplace. Mobile devices and smart technology have connected the world like never before, and offer a seamlessly managed interaction between vendor and customer. The mobile device and smart apps provide a mobile shop front; easily accessed, anytime, anywhere. But the longer we live with smart technology as part of our day-to-day lives, the clearer it becomes that we are only scratching the surface of its overwhelming potential. When applied to higher-minded ideas, smart technology can have real world impacts that exceed convenience or commercial value.

The runner up in the 2017 MITEF Saudi award in the startup track does just that. Using innovative technology, the iBOAT smart app is making Saudi waters safer for boaters – with the added benefit of protecting the environment at the same time. iBOAT harnesses the power of the ‘internet of things’ (IOT) to sync the marine Automatic Identification System (AIS) to create an identity for every boat, integrating the boat’s existing AIS with a mobile app.

The Smart Navigational Captain System enables users to capitalise on the GPS technology in their smartphones, constantly reporting their position and status – making search and rescue much simpler should the need arise. iBOAT has also created a sea lovers’ platform where all can share their trip’s records, with pictures, reviews, and a rating system for boat-owners and end-users of rented boats. iBOAT is now working on a prototype ‘smart’ boat using a single on-board computer that connect the boat’s marine devices to the cloud using international IOT simcards, Sigfox, and Lora technologies.

Environmental protection will be enhanced by some of the smart boats having water sensors to measure sea pollution, ion levels, temperature, and pH – data that will be invaluable in monitoring and regulating marine resources. The business began in 2013 as the iDiveTeam, based on the founders’ love of the sea and marine activities since childhood – swimming, fishing, snorkelling, and scuba diving.

Mohnnad A. Babaeer CEO iBOAT said; “In the beginning we used to go with friends or sometimes rent and plan a fishing trip among ourselves. “After finishing college abroad, I came back home and saw the huge increase in the number of diving shops, divers, and diving instructors. What really interested me was seeing the number of enthusiasts in my home city of Jeddah, so in 2013 we decided to establish a small boating agency.

“We started with one boat that we bought and operated ourselves. We made money and bought the second boat. After that, we thought we didn’t just want to keep on buying boats. “Why not change our business model and make a partnership with every boat in the MENA region by creating the perfect smartphone app that would solve all the problems of boating and renting?

“Our GPS-based app enables boat owners to make money by operating rental trips and tours – a shared economy model that helps sea lovers who always rent boats to go fishing, diving, or even just for cruising so that they can find the best boat for their weekend’s trip. “We start when roads end – always providing our users with high-quality trips. The app has Smart Blue Charts (sea maps) in unique machine-learning algorithms that give the navigational captain guidance on where to go for the best fishing or diving according to the season. “As a Saudi-based company, the iBoat team has worked hard to overcome the challenges presented to it. Tertiary service-based industry, particularly in terms of home-grown technology concepts, is often difficult to develop. Access to market, and creating brand awareness, can be challenging obstacles to overcome in-country without support.

“We have grown through word of mouth, promotion on social media, and using free trending e-commerce websites that relates to our industry. Our success is very much due to my amazing team – I believe in them and vice versa. And because we enjoy doing what we do, no one could be better at it than us.
“We always have a strong will to take the right steps to fulfil our vision and our commitment to innovation.”

Like so many other entrants, iBOAT has benefited from the guidance, mentorship, and support provided by MITEF. Mohnnad A. Babaeer describes his experience with MITEF Saudi as “incredibly amazing – we have learned so much and networked with such inspiring people in the ultimate ecosystem to support entrepreneurs in the Kingdom and all over the world.

“The experience will definitely benefit our success. The expert feedback has made us stronger as we now advance to the MITEF Pan-Arab competition. We will continue developing the app, building strong infrastructure, increasing sales, and making sure iBOAT is the best tool for all sea lovers. “I would recommend all fellow entrepreneurs to get involved with MITEF Saudi and advise them that if they want to be winners they must dream big and follow that with hard work to build sales by making their product to the very best standards of quality.”

MIT Enterprise Forum (MITEF) Saudi Arabia announced the winners of the three tracks in the MITEF Saudi Arabia competition, during the final ceremony of the competition held on Saturday. The winners were:

Startup track first place winner Madad Services LLC who received SAR 100,000; runner-up iBoat received SAR 25,000; and third place Nushmi Services received SAR 15,000.

Social Enterprise first place winner Tadweer who received SAR 100,000; runner-up Banafsajeel received SAR 25,000; and third place Ketaby Lak Application received SAR 15,000.

Ideas first place winner Aquaponica wins SAR 20,000; runner-up Stitches False Wall, who received SAR 15,000; and third place Packageha who won SAR 10,000.

All nine teams will now advance to the 10th MITEF Pan Arab competition – which will be held in Bahrain next month – where the best entrepreneurial ideas from across the Arab world will be showcased.

The winners were selected from the semi-finalists announced last month, with a total of 2,200 entrants this year. The judging panel of business experts and academics from Saudi Arabia and beyond assessed their business models according to the contest criteria. This included innovative solutions used to answer a concept-based, entrepreneurial, or social need; ability to expand beyond the competition itself; and making a positive impact on society.

The criteria included:

• In the Startup track, judges examined each entrant’s capabilities and whether they had the potential to become effective-impact entrepreneurs with strong teams, broad experience and crucially, an expandable and promotable idea.
• In the ideas track, the entry criteria targeted creative, promotable, and expandable ideas with the potential to provide effective social and commercial solutions.
• In the social track, entrants were asked to show their profitable social enterprise model that measures impact in the communities they serve.

MITEF Saudi Arabia was established in 2015, 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. Now in its second year, is organised in partnership between Community Jameel’s Bab Rizq Jameel initiative and Zain Saudi Arabia.

The closing ceremony was hosted by King Abdullah Economic City under the auspices of the Small and Medium Enterprises Authority (SMEA), and was attended by Sofana Dahlan ‏Vice Governor of Entrepreneurship Advancement at SMEA, Mr. Fahd Al-Rasheed Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Prince Mohamed Bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Mr. Sultan AlShahrani Chief Human Resources Officer at Zain Saudi Arabia, and Mr. Hassan Mohammed Jameel, President of Community Jameel domestic.

Dr Sarah Ghaleb, Senior General Manager, Education and Entrepreneurship initiatives at Community Jameel, and project manager of the program, praised the role of government organizations and private companies in accelerating development in entrepreneurship, saying: “The slogan of MITEF Saudi Arabia is ‘You are Tomorrow’ because when we create new entrepreneurs we contribute to developing the solid foundation for tomorrow’s economy – a strong economy that is based on new innovative ideas, discovering new resources, creating jobs, and trying to provide innovative technology, industries, and products.”

Sultan bin Mohammed Al Shahrani, Chief Human Resources Officer at Zain Saudi Arabia, praised the number of teams and the level of innovation and competition shown, saying: “Zain believes in the importance of investing in young entrepreneurs, and being a strategic partner in the MIT Enterprise Forum Startup Competition is strong proof of that. We are committed to playing our part in delivering Saudi Vision 2030 by providing the latest services in telecommunications, as well as investing in Saudi talent.”

This year’s contest culminated in agreements between Bab Rizq Jameel and some of the companies that are considered leaders in entrepreneurship; and between Bab Rizq Jameel and Prince Mohammed bin Salman College through which three scholarships will be provided as well as training programs for this year’s winners. This is to recognize their efforts during the competition stages, and allow them to act as examples for other young entrepreneurs.

Participants who made it to the finals had the opportunity to participate in the Saudi StartSmart Forum, a MITEF program that aims to encourage, motivate, and guide entrepreneurs to achieve success.

MITEF Saudi Arabia is organised with the support of backers and partners including Zain (strategic partner), Small and Medium Size Enterprises Authority (government partner), Prince Mohammed bin Salman College (cognitive partner), King Abdullah Economic City (co-host), MIT Technology Review Magazine (media partner), MITEF Pan Arab (regional partner), Wadi Makkah Company (innovation partner), King Khalid Foundation (social entrepreneurship partner), and Sedco Holding (financial awareness partner). In addition to Badir Program (technical incubators partner), Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Center ‘Wa’ed’ (promising partner), and Saudi Investment Bank (investment partner).

Further support was provided by Microsoft, Oracle, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Olou Company, Qotuf, Al Mosa’don Company, Tech Wadi, and Market links.

More than 2,200 entrants in the 2017 MIT Enterprise Forum (MITEF) Saudi Startup Competition have been whittled down to 45 semi-finalists, then to 27 finalists last Thursday by a panel of business experts and academics from Saudi Arabia and beyond.

The event, now in its second year, is organised in partnership between Community Jameel’s Bab Rizq Jameel initiative and Zain Saudi Arabia. It has three categories: startup, social enterprise, and ideas. The nine finalists in each track are:

• Startup – Shayala App, Ajeer App, Mrsool App, Nashmi Services, Float, Gofrah, iBoat, Zayer, and Madad Services
• Social enterprise – Tadweer, Banafsajeel, Scientific Saudi, OmCare, D. Sin Project, Axor, University Market, Ketaby Lak application, and Kararat.
• Ideas – More than a 100 Years, Morshed, Smart Booking App, Health and comfort, Aquaponica, Wahidoon App, Packageha, Stitches, and Sense.

The top three in each track will be announced on March 18 at the final celebration of this year’s contest at King Abdullah Economic City. They will share prizes totaling SAR 265,000 and benefit from high-level training, expert mentorship, and media exposure.

The 27 finalists that were chosen out of 45 teams by a panel of business experts and academics from Saudi Arabia and beyond who assessed applicants’ business models according to the contest criteria. This included the creativity used to answer a concept-based, entrepreneurial, or social need; ability to expand beyond the competition itself; and making a positive impact on society.

In the startup track, judges examined each entrant’s capabilities and whether they had the potential to become effective-impact entrepreneurs with strong teams, broad experience and crucially, an expandable and promotable idea.

In the ideas track, the entry criteria targeted creative, promotable, and expandable ideas with the potential to provide effective social and commercial solutions. In the social track, entrants were asked to show their profitable social enterprise concepts.

Throughout the contest and beyond, MITEF Saudi Arabia arranges workshops and orientation courses presented by specialist training entities to help participants develop and implement their projects. The most recent was a three-day training camp at the Prince Mohammed bin Salman College under the supervision of trainers from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology(KAUST).

Finalist teams continue to attend weekly training courses with experts assigned to work with them and help make their ideas and projects successful. Finalists will also participate in the Saudi StartSmart Forum, a MITEF program that guides and motivates local entrepreneurs.

The nine winners from Saudi Arabia will then take part in the 10th MITEF Pan Arab competition (to be held in Bahrain in April) where the best startup ideas from across the Arab world will be showcased.

Dr Sarah Ghaleb, Senior General Manager of Education and Entrepreneurship Initiatives at Community Jameel and the Project Manager of the 2nd MITEF Saudi Startup Competition, said: “We are looking forward to a key event in Saudi Arabia in terms of audience and influence in spreading the culture of entrepreneurship and creativity in the Kingdom and the region. This will culminate in a set of important agreements between BRJ and some leading players in this sector as well as between BRJ and a group of entrepreneurs.”

Sultan bin Mohammed AlShahrani, Chief Human Resources Officer in Zain Saudi Arabia congratulated the finalists, saying: “The level of competition we witnessed in this year’s contest, promises a bright future for entrepreneurship and innovation projects in Saudi Arabia.”

AlShahrani added: “Partnerships with startups in the field of Communications and Information Technology is a vital part of Zain’s strategy, as it enables us to play our role in the digital transformation initiatives indicated in the National Transformation Program 2020.”

MITEF Saudi Arabia is organised with the support of partners including the Small and Medium Size Enterprises Authority (government partner), MIT Technology Review Magazine (media), MITEF Pan Arab (regional), Wadi Makkah Company (innovation), King Khalid Foundation (social entrepreneurship), Sedco Holding (financial awareness).

Badir Program 9 (technical incubators), Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Center ‘Wa’ed’ (promising partner), Prince Mohammed bin Salman college (cognitive partner), King Abdullah Economic City, (co-host), and Saudi Investment Bank (investment partner), are also participating.

Further support is provided by Microsoft, Oracle, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Alwan Company, Qotuf Company, and Al Mosa’don Company.

MITEF Saudi Arabia is 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.

The Saudi Arabian chapter was established in 2015, with a view to promoting and enriching entrepreneurship. Its aim is to support and celebrate all startups and entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia through the three project categories.

The 45 semi-finalists for the 2017 MIT Enterprise Forum (MITEF) Saudi Arabia competition have been announced.

The event, now in its second year, has been organised in partnership between Community Jameel’s Bab Rizq Jameel initiative and Zain Saudi Arabia and has three categories: ideas, startup, and social enterprise.

The semi-finalists were chosen from more than 2,200 entrants by 100 business experts and academics from Saudi Arabia and beyond who assessed the applicants’ business models according to the contest criteria. This included the creativity used to answer a concept-based, entrepreneurial, or social need; ability to expand beyond the competition itself; and making a positive impact on society.

In the startup track, judges examined each entrant’s capabilities and whether they had the potential to become effective-impact entrepreneurs with strong teams, broad experience and crucially, an expandable and promotable idea.

In the ideas track, the entry criteria targeted creative promotable and expandable ideas with the potential to provide effective social and commercial solutions and in the social track, entrants were asked to show their profitable social enterprise business.

The second round of judging will take place later this month and the panel will announce the names of the 27 finalist teams.

The overall winners will be announced on March 11 after which the top three in each track will be invited to participate in the 10th MITEF Pan Arab competition (to be held in Bahrain in April) where the best startup ideas from across the Arab world are recognised and rewarded.

Meantime, participants who have reached this stage of the Saudi Arabia competition are now eligible to participate in the Saudi StartSmart Forum, a MITEF programme which is organised with the aim of encouraging, motivating, and guiding local entrepreneurs to achieve success across social and commercial and idea-based projects. The programme hosts workshops directly related to technology and innovation.

Dr Sarah Ghaleb, Senior General Manager of Education and Entrepreneurship Initiatives, said: “Since the launch of the contest, MITEF Saudi Arabia has developed a rich and thorough programme designed to help prepare and encourage participants to start implementing their small and medium projects. With cash prizes worth up to SAR 265,000, workshops and orientation sessions available throughout the contest period, MITEF Saudi Arabia plays an important role in supporting the development of a knowledge-based economy and an entrepreneurial spirit within Saudi Arabia. We are proud to be involved in such an important endeavour.”

Since the beginning of this year’s competition, MITEF has sought to promote the values and benefits of the contest by organising a series of educational tours in Saudi Arabia. Our aim is also to seek out talent and encourage entrepreneurs from various disciplines to participate.

These tours included extensive visits to universities, colleges, and entities concerned with entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia who helped us not only spread awareness of MITEF and the competition in general, but actively encouraged and inspired young men and women to create and instigate their own entrepreneurial concepts.”

Saad Al-Ahmari, Media Relations Manager at Zain Saudi Arabia, expressed his pleasure in seeing the variety of innovative ideas and businesses. He said: “The initial stages of the contest, across all the tracks, proved the ability of the participating teams to continue providing added value to the local business landscape as an extension of what the previous edition of MITEF Saudi Arabia provided.”

Al-Ahamri added: “Zain Saudi Arabia partnership comes within its sustainability initiatives and support to the local start-ups. Supporting innovation and technology entrepreneurship is essential in the country’s transformation to the knowledge based economy.”

He added that Zain’s partnership in the contest comes within its sustainability initiatives and in encouraging national entrepreneurship projects, since simulation of innovation and supporting startup technical projects are within the national strategic objectives in supporting Saudi Arabia’s transition to a knowledge-based economy.

MITEF Saudi Arabia is organised with the support of backers and partners including the Small and Medium Size Enterprises Authority (government partner), MIT Technology Review Magazine (media partner), MITEF Pan Arab (regional partner), Wadi Makkah Company (innovation partner), King Khalid Foundation (social entrepreneurship partner), Sedco Holding (financial awareness partner). Badir Program 9 (technical incubators), Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Centre ‘Wa’ed’ (promising partner), and Saudi Investment Bank (investment partner), are also participating.

Further support is provided by Microsoft, Oracle, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Alwan Company, Qotuf Company, and Al Mosa’don Company.

MITEF Saudi Arabia is 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.

The Saudi Arabian chapter was established in 2015, with a view to promoting and enriching entrepreneurship. Its aim is to support and celebrate all startups and entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia through the contest of startups, ideas, and social projects.

 

MITEF SAUDI ARABIA 2017 SEMI FINALISTS

 

IDEAS TRACK	STARTUP TRACK	SOCIAL TRACK
More than 100 Years	Shayyala App	Mohami Platform
Morshid	Ajeer App	Qararat Istisharat; Ta’zeem Al Athar
Wursha.com	Mrsool App	Oukuluna
SpeedPharm	Salah-ha App	Hayate Suker
Smart Booking App	7aratna App	Tadweer
Seha we Raha team	Sihatech.com	Tawasoli
Aquaponica	Nashmi Services	Banafsajeel
Inks	Float	Scientific Saudi
Nav & Info App for Blinds	Gofrah	Mahabba Project
Packageha	Warsha Plus	Qatarat
Easier	iBoat	Om Car
MR Aerospace	Aman	D. Sin Project
ConCoating	Zayer	Oxor
Stitches False Wall project	Venus Platform	University Market
Wahedun	Madad Services	Ketabi luk