500 Startups goal is to bring the best industry knowledge and mentoring from their Silicon Valley-based global network to the programs in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region.
The MENA Dojo program is part of a continued partnership with Qatar Science & Technology Park which was launched in the MENA region 2 years ago. Ahli United Bank in Kuwait is a new strategic partner in this year’s program alongside Zain as gold partner. Other partners include Niu, KAFO and Sirdab Labs.
The MENA Dojo program selects applicants from the region with significant traction that are on pace to raise a Series A within 6-9 months, the program consists of 4 weeks of intense growth sessions run by global mentors.
Startups from all across the MENA region have attended previous programs, including the current cohort, which consists of 14 startups headquartered in Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar, Jordan, and Kuwait.
The companies in the Batch 3 MENA Dojo extend across a number of industries. 3 Fintech Startups made it into the program, they come from Egypt, Qatar and Kuwait.
Startups participating in the MENA Dojo receive an investment of $150,000 from the MENA focused fund, 500 Falcons. With the addition of these 14 startups, the fund has also committed to invest in over 100 regional companies to-date since launching in 2017. The 500 Falcons fund recently announced an oversubscribed final closing at US $33 million.
14 MENA Dojo Startups 2019
ADGS COMPUTER SYSTEM (QATAR)
Sector: IT Solutions // B2B
Founders: Hassan Al Ansari, Christophe Billiottet
ADGS Computer System is an R&D company working in the fields of behavioral biometrics, artificial intelligence applied to human language, and emergent behavior applied to biomedical simulations. It has developed STROKK, a revolutionary software that makes stolen passwords useless to hackers by recognizing how you type.
AJAR ONLINE (KUWAIT)
Sector: FinTech, Real Estate // B2B, B2B2C
Founders: Shaheen Al Khudhari
Ajar Online is a cloud service providing efficient property management tools including quick and simplified online rent payment and collection processes for landlords to improve collection performance, understand their financial position instantly, and help make the right decisions.
ALGODRIVEN (DUBAI)
Sector: Transport // B2B
Founders: Glenn Harwood, Jaron Crossland
AlgoDriven helps car dealers, finance teams and insurance companies accurately price cars by providing comprehensive, accurate and actionable vehicle identification and pricing data.
BUSEET (EGYPT)
Sector: Transport // B2C, B2B
Founders: Amr Elsawy
Buseet is an app allowing busy commuters to share a bus with others from a convenient pickup point nearby.
CODED (KUWAIT)
Sector: EdTech // B2B, B2C, B2G
Founders: Ahmad Marafi and Hashim Bahbahani
CODED is an educational company that helps young Arabs get high-paying jobs and become tech founders by teaching them how to code, offline or online, Arabic.
DAILYMEALZ (SAUDI ARABIA)
Sector: FoodTech // B2B,B2B2C
Founders: Mohamed ElZalabany, Abdelrahman Said, Abdallah Mohamed, Motaz AbuOnq
Dailymealz is a food subscription app to help employees save time and eat healthier by delivering fresh healthy meals to their offices every day.
FATORA.IO (QATAR)
Sector: FinTech, E-Commerce // B2B,B2B2C
Founders: Waleed Alyafie
Fatora.io is a smart online invoicing platform that streamlines online payments between merchants and their clients in the MENA region, powered by AI.
GARMENT IO (EGYPT)
Sector: IoT // B2B
Founders: Ahmed Nounou, Mahmoud Sabae
Garment IO is a plug and play software/hardware solution providing garment factory managers and owners a complete overview of production processes, labor performances and cost calculations and helps boost the productivity of garment factories via IoT.
KEEPFACE (DUBAI)
Sector: Advertising & Marketing // B2B
Founders: Vagif Abbasov, Elshad Yusifli, Emin Valiyev
Keepface is a marketplace to help brands collaborating with influencers to boost marketing ROI in emerging markets. With over 18,000 registered influencers, Keepface allows brands to reach an audience of 1.7 billion.
JOBEDU (KUWAIT)
Sector: E-Commerce // B2C, B2B2C
Founders: Tamer AlMasri
Jobedu is a streetwear brand that allows youth to express themselves through creative, original and locally-relevant designs. With partners such as Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, DC, Warner Bros, Universal Studios, Viacom and an army of super cool designers, Jobedu aims to be the go-to pop culture e-commerce destination.
MAGNITT (DUBAI)
Sector: Network & Community // Platform
Founders: Philip Bahoshy
MAGNiTT is the most comprehensive data platform that connects investors to startups and provides access to localized tools and research. With over, 10,000 startups from across the Middle East, MAGNiTT is the go-to online platform for the MENA startup ecosystem.
MOODFIT (LEBANON)
Sector: Consumer Service // B2B2C, B2C
Founders: Tarek Jaroudi, Ghassan Abi Fadel, Mohamad Sabouneh
Moodfit is the 1st online marketplace in the MENA region that matches young professionals with the right interior designer to help them furnish and decorate their spaces.
TRIPDIZER (EGYPT)
Sector: TravelTech // B2C
Founders: Ziad Eladawy, Hatem Ayoub, Yara Yehia, Mohamed Mostafa
Tripdizer is a Travel Tech company that enables millennial travelers to instantly plan and book personalized travel itineraries by learning about their personality and taste.
VAPULUS (EGYPT)
Sector: FinTech // B2B, B2C
Founders: Abdelrahman Elsharawy
Vapulus is a global leading payment gateway that grants you access to customers through its customer acquisition and loyalty tools and enables businesses to monetize, grow and analyze.
