The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry is set to announce the winners of the second cycle of the Dubai Smartpreneur Competition on May 17th, during the closing ceremony of the ArabNet Digital Summit 2017.
Participants presented their ideas at ArabNet, where 10 ideas have been shortlisted for the final round of the competition.
The top 10 submissions are: Drivu, mobile application that enables any restaurant or coffee shop to have a drive thru facility; FriendyCar, for car sharing service; Nester, mobile based parking rental platform that connects parking owners with people looking for place to park; CorporateStack, web-based solution that is designed to manage and improve business processes; TruKKer Technologies, for trucking and shipping business; Smart School Solutions, an app used by teachers, students and parents to learn and track progress; WYN, for innovative learning solutions including digital business training games; Big History Adventures, an interactive idea for next generation for history learning experience; YallaShip, an app for cargo shipping; NOW Money, app based current accounts for people earning less than 5,000.
The Chamber initially received more than 700 innovative ideas in the competition’s current cycle, an increase of 100 percent compared to the 350 submitted last year. These were narrowed down to 50 and the top 10 candidates later qualified for the final round. An expert panel of judges from Dubai’s entrepreneurship community is tasked with evaluating shortlisted ideas and selecting the winners.
The top three winners will receive cash prizes and access to training, and support, which is designed to help them turn their business ideas into a reality. The competition, open to all UAE-based entrepreneurs, required participants to submit ideas that support one of the Smart Dubai dimensions, namely smart economy, smart living, smart mobility, smart governance, smart environment, smart people, and smart ICT infrastructure.
The competition, launched in cooperation with the Smart Dubai Office, aims to strengthen the role of entrepreneurs in contributing to Dubai’s Smart City vision. Applications for the Dubai Smartpreneur Competition are evaluated based on the following criteria: the specific problem addressed by the business idea, the idea’s value proposition, customers’ need for the product or service, and the idea’s ability to support one of the Smart Dubai dimensions.
Essa Al Zaabi, senior vice president, Institutional Support Sector, Dubai Chamber and General Coordinator of Tejar Dubai, said the high number of promising submissions this year reflects the strong innovative culture of Dubai’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, adding that many of ideas can support Dubai’s Smart City transformation.
Joining this year’s panel are: Hans Henrik Christensen, Director, Dubai Technology Entrepreneurship Centre, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, Saoud Mohammed Al Jassem, Division Head – Head – Government Banking Division, DNE, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Sulaf Saleh Al-Zu’bi, CEO of INJAZ UAE, Tarek Ghobar, Startup Manager, 1776 Dubai, Fahad Al Bannai, CEO of Axiom, Rekha Setpal, Head of Community Services, DIC and In5, Marwan Salem Abu Nawas Al Mheiri, Head of Business Banking, Emirates Islamic Bank, Saif Al Shafar, Chairman of Tejar Dubai Youth Council, Nadine Halabi, Business Development Manager, Dubai Business Women Council, Mohammed Mahgoub, Administration Director, Dubai Chamber, Wael Abu Shadi, Finance Director, Dubai Chamber, Talal Al Mazrooei, Senior Vice President Head of Distribution, Liabilities and Wealth Management, EmiratesNBD, and Dr. Abdul Kareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation.
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