DUBAI, UAE:The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced on Tuesday, May 1st,the top three winners of the 3rdcycle of the Dubai Smartpreneur Competition during the closing ceremony at theArabNet Digital Summit 2018 in Dubai.
WakeCapTech FZ LLC,a safety and tracking device for construction workers providing real-time and cloud-based visibility, claimed the first-place prize. Intuito, an artificial intelligence-based startup specialising in solving global and local mobility challenges,was named the second place winner, while third place went to Teledoc, a comprehensive telemedicine and patient-centric platform using artificial intelligence.
The top three winners received a total of AED 150,000 in combined cash prizes and access to training and support, while the winners will also get the chance to participate in other entrepreneurship-focused programmes and initiatives offered by Dubai Startup Hub.
H.E. Hisham Abdullah Al Shirawi, 2nd Vice Chairman at Dubai Chamber,andYounus Al Nasser, Assistant Director General of Smart DubaiOffice, presented the winners with their prizes in the presence of business leaders and representatives from Dubai’s entrepreneurial community.
During his welcome speech, H.E. Al Shirawipraised all of the finalists and participants of the competition for their hard work, and thanked the panel of expert judges for their time and valuable support.
“We could not have been more impressed with the high volume of impressive business ideasrelated to blockchain, artificial intelligence and digital transformation which were submitted and presented over the last few months. These unique concepts greatly support Dubai’s Smart City vision, while they are also a reflection of the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of Dubai’s business community,” said H.E. Al Shirawi.
Dubai Chamber’s 2nd Vice Chairman added the Dubai Smartpreneur Competition greatly supports Dubai Chamber’s strategy which puts a major focus on nurturing and developing Dubai’s entrepreneurial eco-system.
Following the announcement,WakeCapCo-Founder IshitaSoodthanked Dubai Chamber for its support and explained that she was able to benefit greatly from the resources provided throughoutthe competition, as well as networking opportunities.
WaliedAlbasheer, Founder & CEO of Intuito, said the competition provided an ideal platform to showcase his business concept, test out products in the market, and receive valuable feedback from investors, mentors and fellow contestants.
Huda Somer, CEO & Founder of Teledoc, said her participation in the competition enabled her to reach out to potential customers, and gain exposure in the market, adding that the experience also boosted her confidence in the product developed by her team.
Dubai Chamber received more than 300 innovative ideas during the third cycle of the Dubai Smartpreneur Competition which fell into three specific categories, namely Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation. A total of 50 submissions were originally shortlisted by an expert panel of judges, and the top 10 finalists pitched their ideas during the final round at ArabNet 2018.
Joining the panel of judges were Kushal Shah, Managing Partner – ME, Roland Berger; PelinSahin, COO of Startupbootcamp; Hussain Ali, CEO of Ejadah; Sebastian Stefan, CEO of LoadME; Fahad Al Bannai, CEO of Axiom Telecom; Yousef Al Assaf, President of RIT Dubai; Karim Qassoud, Associate, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing; Hans Christensen, Director of Dubai Technology Entrepreneurship Center – DSO; Alia Al Mazrouei, COO of Almazrouie Investment; AndriyRadchenko, Senior Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Co.; RekhaSetpal, Head of Community Services at in5 & Dubai Internet City; Anna-LiisaGoogs, COO of Consult and Coach for a Cause; Saif Al Shafar, Vice Chairman of Al Shafar Investment; and Khalid Al Fahim, Director of Business Development, Dubai World Trade Centre.
Other contenders which qualified for the final round wereAirspace Blockchain Co., a blockchain-based digital logbooks for aircraft maintenance engineers; BYKRIDERS.com LLC, a platform providing instant delivery solutions; Grape Technology, a provider of blockchain applications for businesses and government entities; Tuitify, a multimedia digital platform designed to capture and share relevant knowledge and information; Wajbati, a social enterprise aiming to reduce food waste; Yanzo, an on-demand personal assistant using automation and human interfaces; and YoRipe, a digital platform designed to improve food supply chain efficiency.
The third edition of the Dubai Smartpreneur Competition was organised under Dubai Startup Hub in cooperation with Smart Dubai. The annual competition gives startups and entrepreneurs in the UAE an opportunity to become part of the Dubai Government’s strategy to elevate the city into a global platform for innovation-focused businesses.
