Tag: competition

Winners Of The MIT Arab Business Plan Competition 08-09

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MIT Arab Business Plan CompetitionThe MIT Arab Business Plan Competition is a competition designed to encourage all entrepreneurs in the Arab world to start their own company and, ultimately, create a nest of leading firms in the Arab world.

The current version of the competition officially started on November 10th 2008, by opening up registrations. A few hours ago, the final round took place in Dubai, where the 10 finalists did oral presentations of their business plans to the jury panel, and the awards were handed out.

The winners of this edition of the MIT Arab Business Plan Competition are as follows:

First place: A tie between Syphir (Husain Al-Mohssen, Courtland Allen, Ghassan Fayad, Faisal Alibrahim [Saudi Arabia]) and HAYATI Healthcare LLC (Michael Matly, Tariq El-Titi, David Matly [United Arab Emirates])

Second place: Rice Straw Fertilizer Company (Ibrahim Khater Youssef, Ahmed El Dorghamy, Mohamed Abdel Raouf [Egypt])

Third place: Blog Souq (Ahmad Takatkah, Adey Salamin, Ammar Ibrahim [Jordan])

According to the terms of the competition, the winner of the competition should receive prize money of USD 50,000; which in the case of a tie will most probably be split in two. The members of the winning teams will also be given the opportunity to attend the MIT Global Startup Workshop (GSW).

The first and second runner-ups will receive a check of USD 10,000 and USD 5000 respectively.

Besides the financial reward, the winning teams will be provided with coaching/mentoring from the members and network of the MIT Enterprise Forum who will also help the winners get their businesses up and explore further funding opportunities by introducing them to business development centers, financing institutions, and similar organizations.

The 10 Finalists Of MIT Arab Business Plan Competition 08-09

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MIT Arab Business Plan CompetitionThe MIT Arab Business Plan Competition is a competition designed to encourage all entrepreneurs in the Arab world to start their own company and, ultimately, create a nest of leading firms in the Arab world.

The current version of the competition officially started on November 10th 2008, by opening up registrations. Now, after two rounds of selection, the following 10 finalists from around the Arab world have made it to the final round of the competition (in alphabetical order):

  • AqarMap.com: Amad Almsaodi, Mohamed Hareth, Redwan Mohamed (Yemen)
  • Blog Souq: Ahmad Takatkah, Adey Salamin, Ammar Ibrahim (Jordan)
  • Digital Security Innovations: Adel Bouhoula, Seifeddine Aloui, Amine Ben Khalifa, Mohamed Abid (Tunisia)
  • EnglEasy: AbdulAziz Ahmed Al-Sulaima, Ahmed Siddiqui, Ayman Makki Hoho (Saudi Arabia)
  • HAYATI Healthcare LLC: Michael Matly, Tariq El-Titi, David Matly (United Arab Emirates)
  • Rice Straw Fertilizer Company: Ibrahim Khater Youssef, Ahmed El Dorghamy, Mohamed Abdel Raouf (Egypt)
  • Syphir (GFMail): Husain Al-Mohssen, Courtland Allen, Ghassan Fayad, Faisal Alibrahim (Saudi Arabia)
  • Transterra Media: Irina Prentice, Hassan Ibrahim, Eli Andrews, Jonathan Giesen, Raya Mamarbachi (Egypt)
  • Vaxeal Therapeutics: Ahmed Bouzidi, Bernard Maillere, Giampietro Corradin, Wassim Chehadeh, Mohammed Bouziane, Francois Spertini (United Arab Emirates)
  • White Smile Whitening Boutique: Jomana Musmar, Lamis Maddur, Nigah M. Ajaj, Saoussen Besrour (United Arab Emirates)

The final round consists of oral presentations of the finalists’ business plans to the jury panel in Dubai, on June 11th 2009. The awards ceremony will take place the following day in Dubai, on June 12th 2009.

The winner of the competition will receive prize money of USD 50,000. The check will be issued in the name of the company. The members of the winning team will also be given the opportunity to attend the MIT Global Startup Workshop (GSW). 

The first and second runner-ups will receive a check of USD 10,000 and USD 5000 respectively. 

Besides the financial reward, the winning teams will be provided with coaching/mentoring from the members and network of the MIT Enterprise Forum who will also help the winners get their businesses up and explore further funding opportunities by introducing them to business development centers, financing institutions, and similar organizations. 

Social Entrepreneur of the Year Competition 2009 – Middle East & North Africa

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Schwab Foundation for Social EntrepreneurshipThe Schwab Foundation is running a competition, looking for the Social Entrepreneurs of the Year 2009 from the different regions of the world.

The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship is a not-for-profit, independent and neutral organization, founded in 1998, with the purpose to advance social entrepreneurship and to foster social entrepreneurs as an important catalyst for societal innovation and progress.

The most important criteria to be considered a finalist are:

  • An innovative product or service
  • An idea that has been sustained through a successful infrastructure
  • The implemented idea has a direct social impact
  • You were able to reach beyond the initial context
  • Your idea is applicable to other situations, regions and countries

The winners will be included in the Schwab Foundation network of social entrepreneurs. This includes access to a peer network of social entrepreneurs, special benefits such as pro-bono consulting services and scholarships to executive education courses at world-class institutions such as Harvard Business School, Stanford University and INSEAD.

The winners will also be invited to one regional meeting of the World Economic Forum.

Excellent finalists or winners under 40 will also be nominated to the Young Global Leaders network of the World Economic Forum. Worldclass social entrepreneurs will be invited to join the global social entrepreneur community, which includes the possibility to be invited to the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos and to contribute to the Global Agenda Councils of the Forum.

For more information on the competition and the detailed criteria to join, you can check out the competition site.

The deadline for submissions from the Middle East and North Africa is February 16th 2009, and you can apply online here.

MIT Arab Business Plan Competition 2008

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MIT Arab Business Plan CompetitionThe MIT Arab Business Plan Competition is a competition designed to encourage all entrepreneurs in the Arab world to start their own company and, ultimately, create a nest of leading firms in the Arab world. It also brings to the Arab world all the MIT expertise in entrepreneurship and in running such competitions.

The equivalent of the MIT Arab Business Plan Competition in Boston is called the MIT 100K Entrepreneurship Competition and has created a number of leading firms and thousands of jobs. 

Teams interested in joining the competition must register through the competition’s website. Registrations opened on November 10th, 2008. Users are required to fill the online application form consisting of 16 questions that summarize their business idea and the means of implementing it.
The deadline for submitting the applications is Thursday, January 8, 2009 at 23:59, Beirut time. 

The competition is open to all Arab nationals with a business idea, with the only requirement being to be part of a team, with each team comprising of minimum 3 individuals, of which at least 2 should be citizens of the Arab world. The business concept put forward by the team should also be implemented in a country within the Arab world.

The winner of the competition will receive prize money of USD 50,000. The check will be issued in the name of the company. The members of the winning team will also be given the opportunity to attend the MIT Global Startup Workshop (GSW). 

The first and second runner-ups will receive a check of USD 10,000 and USD 5000 respectively. 

Besides the financial reward, the winning teams will be provided with coaching/mentoring from the members and network of the MIT Enterprise Forum who will also help the winners get their businesses up and explore further funding opportunities by introducing them to business development centers, financing institutions, and similar organizations. 

All entrepreneurs interested can go to the competition’s website and Apply Now.

# MIT Arab Business Plan Competition

ASTF And Intel Launch 4th Arab Technology Business Plan Competition

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ASTFThe Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF), a regional and international non-profit NGO, in collaboration with Intel announced the launch of the 4th Arab Technology Business Plan Competition, and the start of the 2nd Made in the Arab World Competition, across more than ten Arab countries including the UAE, KSA, Jordan and Egypt.

ASTF was established in 2000 by Arab scientists and researchers in order to identify and support outstanding scientific achievement within the region. The Foundation also seeks to promote the advancement Arab entrepreneurship by acting as a mediator between up and coming companies and investors. 

Commenting on the announcement, Ferruh Gurtas, Corporate Affairs Group Director, Intel Middle East, Turkey and Africa said: ‘The Middle East is an exciting and dynamic region with a growing number of entrepreneurs – many of whom require initial funding to launch their projects. The 4th Arab Technology Business Plan Competition does just that. It is an opportunity for young, Arab entrepreneurs to map out and transform their ideas from a concept to a tangible working company. At Intel we believe entrepreneurship is a key driver for emerging Middle East economies. As the region begins to compete on an increasingly global scale, these skills, coupled with technological expertise will help local businesses to excel in an international marketplace.’

The Arab Technology Business Plan Competition strives to support and assist Arab entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into successful ventures by providing them with access to potential investors and venture capitalist that are willing to finance promising technology start-ups through the Arab Investment Forum, which is held annually in one of the participating Arab nations. 

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Ayna Organizes “Ya Hala Ramadan” Competition

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AynaOne of the main challenges Arab search engines face is driving users to try out their service and then convert them into regular users. With Ramadan just a couple of days away, Ayna is trying to lure Arab internet users to its search engine through a Ramadanesque competition.

During the holy month of Ramadan, “Ayna” is organizing a religious and cultural competition called “Ya Hala Ramadan”, and offering valuable prizes for winners.

Participants can search Ayna to find the answer for a multiple-choice question asked daily throughout the period of Ramadan. The competition is only available in Arabic language.

Participants in the competition should meet the following conditions:

  • Have a registered user account at “Ayna”.
  • Be a resident of one of the Arab countries.
  • Participate in the competition once daily and choose only one answer.

The winner of the competition is the one answering correctly the highest number of answers. In a multi-winner scenario, a draw will take place to choose the winner.

Valuable prizes will be awarded to winners; from round-trip plane tickets, to digital cameras and frames, to MP3 players and USB devices.

The competition begins on the first day of the month of Ramadan and lasts for the whole month; the names of the winners will be announced on the 8th of October 2008 and notified later by email.

Those wishing to participate have to visit “Ayna’s” competition page.

ShoofTV Sponsors New Mobile Phone IBDA’A Awards Category

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Shoof TVShoofTV.com, the User Generated Content (UGC) online platform, that is an Arab Media Group company, just announced that it will be sponsoring a brand new category at the Ibda’a Media Student Awards 2008, the region’s most recognized distinction for emerging industry talent, which is organized by the Dubai Media City.

For the first time, Mobile Films videos made with a mobile phone will take pride of place next to digital photography, animation, and filmmaking amongst 11 categories at the annual competition.

The brand-new Mobile Phone category will showcase the innovative narrative techniques and production methods made possible by mobile phones, according to Shooftv.com General Manager Khadeeja Al Marzooqi.

She said: “Our initiative comes out of our keenness to help Ibda’a recognize this new generation of pioneering artists. The restrictions placed on mobile phone video makers, from the size of the image to the possible length of takes, represent exciting new possibilities. Because every limitation spawns creative solutions, mobile phones are a cutting-edge way for people around the world to express themselves without resorting to the expense of hiring equipment and crew. So much can be done in post-production that there are truly limitless amounts of creative tampering that can take place, resulting in something that pushes the envelope in terms of story and format.”

“Since Shooftv.com is all about the unrestricted sharing of art and expression, we saw this category as a perfect fit. We have showcased mobile films since our inception and will continue to look for new and innovative visual storytelling formats to keep Shoof fresh and fun.”

Established in 2001 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Ibda’a awards invite undergraduate media students from around the world to enter their work in a range of formats.

Organized annually by Dubai Media City, a member of TECOM Investments, in partnership with the International Advertising Association (IAA), the competition will culminate in a celebration in Dubai in November 2008 that will showcase outstanding submissions to the awards and see winners walk away with attractive cash prizes, internships, and coveted equipment.

Queen Rania National Entrepreneurship Competition Nominated Teams Announced

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QRNEC Logo

The nominated teams have been announced for the third iteration of the Queen Rania National Entrepreneurship Competition (QRNEC), which aims to be a driving force for entrepreneurship and innovation in Jordan.

The following are the names of the nominated teams, who have successfully passed the first stage and will compete for the QRNEC awards for this year.

Academia Entrepreneurs:
– VStock Exchange
– Friends
– Genesis JO
– ELSIRAJ
– SAFEtech
– YAMAMA
– Mis
– biotechnology
– JUST team
– GREEN LIGHT POWER
– Jeeks
– ecgteam
– Innovational Team
– Human Heater		 Mature Entrepreneurs:
– Grooshat
– Populace Ads
– Talasim.com Team
– ProcHub
– TrueI
– Monitoring Systems
– F1 “Help at the Click of a Button”
– National Center for Electronic Care (NCEC)
– Royal Scientific Society & Dr.Farqad F.M.Saeed
– Energy & Environmental Technologies
– MIDA Technologies
– HubbleDesk
– Saba Fawzi Mohammad Al Nsairat
– Biomedical Engineer
– KEENWASH

These nominated teams will be receiving advanced training courses and mentorship.

# QRNEC Results

Queen Rania National Entrepreneurship Competition (3rd Edition)

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QRNEC LogoThe Queen Rania National Entrepreneurship Competition (QRNEC), which is in its 3rd year now, was created to be a platform to increase the interest of Jordanian entrepreneurs and innovators in designing a path to achieve their dreams.

It strives to advocate entrepreneurial skills as students and mature entrepreneurs coalesce their knowledge with their resources along with their competitive drive to create a business plan that is both practical and innovative.

The competition is now open for all Jordanian entrepreneurs, whether they are a university student or an aspiring entrepreneur, to enter for the opportunity to compete for US $70,000 in cash awards. They can submit their innovative business ideas in any discipline of science and technology to the Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship (QRCE) through its website www.qrce.org.

The vision of QRNEC is to evolve and expand into a comprehensive entrepreneurship enabler, involved in fostering creativity, incubating viable concepts, and facilitating the success of entrepreneurial ventures to a level that affects the cultural orientation of the Jordanian community.

The additional interesting points for this year are that Google is offering an additional cash award for the best online business plan, and that KADDB is offering another cash award for the best business plan for defense and security.

# Queen Rania National Entrepreneurship Competition (QRNEC)