We’re kicking off Startup Battlefield MENA right here in Beirut, the place 15 startups will probably be taking the stage, together with audio system from Facebook (our accomplice on the occasion by way of its FB Begin program), Instabug, Eventus, Wuzzuf, Careem and Myki.
For these of you who can’t be right here in particular person, test again on TechSwitch later as we speak, the place we’ll be sharing movies and different highlights from the occasion. And naturally, saying the winner!
For the primary time, TechSwitch is holding Startup Battlefield MENA in partnership with FB Begin. After scouring does dozens of nations, sifting by way of lots of and lots of of extraordinarily gifted startups, TechSwitch chosen 15 elite firms throughout the area to compete in prestigious international Startup Battlefield competitors for $25,000 equity-free prize, a visit for two to TechSwitch Disrupt San Francisco 2019 and the coveted title of “Center East & North Africa’s Favourite Startup”.
After weeks of intense teaching from the TC crew, these startups are primed for worldwide launch. For the semi-final spherical, every founder will pitch for six minutes, with a reside demo on stage, adopted by 6 minutes of Q&A with our knowledgeable panel of judges. After, our judges will deliberate and 5 groups will probably be chosen to compete within the last spherical of Startup Battlefield – similar pitch, however with an much more intense Q&A.
So, who’re these chosen few? From creating new types of quick setting concrete to rapidly construct homes in areas recovering from pure disasters to agricultural monitoring expertise stopping water-related battle, this batch of firms is really altering the world. Corporations additionally embrace monetary funding AI platforms, edible insect based mostly protein powder, to culturally related courting apps. Founders within the automotive trade are poised to alter all the pieces from how we choose the automobiles we need to purchase to how we optimize their upkeep. From improvements to hydroponic gardens, instructional tutoring platforms to modernizing expertise for resort chains, Startup Battlefield MENA is ready to spotlight the areas most promising startups. Movies from the occasion will probably be posted on TechSwitch.com after the occasion. Keep tuned!
Session 1: 9:30am – 10:30am
Buildink, Harmonica, MaterialSolved, MoneyFellows, Neotic AI
Session 2: 11:10am – 12:10am
Naturansa, Seabex by IT Grapes, IN2, Seez, Autotell
Session three: 1:40pm – 2:40pm
Synkers, Verboze, Makerbrane, Argineering, PureHarvest
Welcome Remarks
9:05 am – 9:25 am
Infrastructure and Connectivity: A Regional Perspective with Imad Kreidieh (Ogero Telecom) and Ari Kesisoglu (Fb)
Entry to the web and connectivity is the driving pressure for the 4th industrial revolution. Be part of a dialog about how the Telco trade is altering in Lebanon and the area, and what meaning for companies and shoppers. Sponsored by Fb
9:25 am – 10:30 am
Startup Battlefield Competitors – Flight #1
TechSwitch’s iconic startup competitors is right here and for the primary time in MENA, as entrepreneurs from across the area pitch knowledgeable judges and vie for US$25,000 no-equity money prize and a visit for 2 to compete within the Startup Battlefield at TechSwitch Disrupt in 2019.
10:30 am – 10:50 am
BREAK
10:50 am – 11:10 am
Jennifer Fong (Fb)
Hear from Fb’s head of the Developer Circles Program about their work with builders, startups and companies to construct, develop, measure, and monetize utilizing Fb and Messenger platform merchandise. Sponsored by Fb
11:10 am – 12:10 am
Startup Battlefield Competitors – Flight #2
TechSwitch’s iconic startup competitors is right here and for the primary time in MENA, as entrepreneurs from across the area pitch knowledgeable judges and vie for US$25,000 no-equity money prize and a visit for 2 to compete within the Startup Battlefield at TechSwitch Disrupt in 2019.
12:10 pm – 1:10 pm
BREAK
12:15 pm – 1:15 pm
Workshop: Automated Driving Mobility in MENA with Mandali Khalesi (Toyota)
Toyota’s World Head of Automated Driving Mobility and Innovation will share Toyota’s newest automated driving analysis findings and its plans for the long run. There will probably be 30 minutes put aside for session, the place the viewers could have the chance to advise Toyota on each the way it ought to go about creating automated driving mobility for MENA, in addition to how finest to work along with entrepreneurs within the area.
1:15 pm – 1:40 pm
Classes 10 Years On with Omar Gabr (Instabug), Nour Al Hassan (Tarjama), Mai Medhat (Eventtus) and Ameer Sherif (Wuzzuf) – Moderated by Editor at Massive Mike Butcher
Ten years in the past the Center East and North Africa’s tech ecosystem was value maybe tens of hundreds of thousands of . At this time it’s within the lots of of hundreds of thousands, and past. A decade in the past the societal panorama was very totally different from as we speak. Let’s focus on the large adjustments which have occurred and challenges and alternatives forward.
1:40 pm – 2:40 pm
Startup Battlefield Competitors – Flight #three
TechSwitch’s iconic startup competitors is right here and for the primary time in MENA, as entrepreneurs from across the area pitch knowledgeable judges and vie for US$25,000 no-equity money prize and a visit for 2 to compete within the Startup Battlefield at TechSwitch Disrupt in 2019.
2:40 pm – three:00 pm
Fireplace Chat with Magnus Olsson (Careem) – Moderated by Managing Editor Matt Burns
How do you scale a giant startup in MENA? We hear from Magnus Olsson, founder and Managing Director of ride-hailing large Careem on how they joined the unicorn membership with Lyft and Uber.
three:00 pm – three:25 pm
The place Will the Exits Come From with Henri Asseliy (Leap Ventures), Priscilla Elora Sharuk (Myki), and Kenza Lahlou (Outlierz Ventures) – Moderated by Information Editor Ingrid Lunden
Each VCs and startups in MENA alike are furiously constructing the businesses of the long run. However you possibly can’t have a startup with out an acquisition or IPO, so the place are they going to return from? We’ll hear from each the founder and investor views.
three:25 pm – four:40 pm
Startup Battlefield Competitors – Closing Spherical
TechSwitch’s iconic startup competitors is right here and for the primary time in MENA, as entrepreneurs from across the area pitch knowledgeable judges and vie for US$25,000 no-equity money prize and a visit for 2 to compete within the Startup Battlefield at TechSwitch Disrupt in 2019.
four:40 pm – four:55 pm
BREAK
four:55 pm – 5:20 pm
MENA Content material Performs with Paul Chucrallah (BeryTech Fund), Hussam Hammo (Tamatem) and Rami Al Qawasmi (Mawdoo3) – Moderated by Information Editor Ingrid Lunden
A bit-known reality concerning the MENA market is the sheer lack of Arabic language content material on-line for shoppers, whether or not or not it’s media, music, video games or occasions. Arabic-specific websites have appeared, tailored to the market. We’ll get the angle of key entrepreneurs on this house.
5:20 pm – 5:35 pm
Startup Battlefield Closing Awards Ceremony
Watch the crowning of the newest winner of the Startup Battlefield