The 7th edition of the Algeria Startup Challenge (ASC) has concluded its final “Startup Battle Pitch,” announcing the grand prize winners across five distinct open innovation challenges. The program saw impressive engagement, with over 375 innovative startups and projects applying this year, leading to 16 of Algeria’s most promising ventures advancing to the final stage. These winners have not only secured the Grand Prize in their respective categories but have also unlocked crucial opportunities for collaboration with ASC’s prestigious corporate partners.
Grand Prize Winners by Challenge Category
The Algeria Startup Challenge structured its 7th edition around five key industry and impact areas, partnering with major corporations to drive targeted innovation. The five grand prize winners represent some of the most cutting-edge solutions emerging from the Algerian tech ecosystem.
- Impact Challenge (in partnership with Djezzy): Tahwissa
- An inclusive e-tourism platform that assists tourist operators in digitizing their offerings, making travel accessible to a broader range of travelers.
- Harm Reduction Initiative Award (in partnership with Philip Morris International): SanoX
- A medical triage chatbot powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) that analyzes patient symptoms to recommend the most suitable specialist, improving patient orientation and safety.
- Greentech Challenge (in collaboration with BNP Paribas El Djazaïr): Woven
- A sustainable solution that transforms wool and sheepskin into high-quality organic fertilizers, supporting regenerative agriculture practices.
- Smart Care Challenge (alongside FADERCO): CleanTrack
- An intelligent IoT solution coupled with a continuous monitoring platform that optimizes the real-time management of hygiene resources in public spaces.
- Innov & Insure Challenge (alongside Algerian Insurance Union members): SPASU MARTECE
- Martece: A connected buoy designed for the early detection of natural disasters to protect aquaculture farms and minimize loss. The challenge partners included CASH Assurances, GAM Assurances, COMPAGNIE ALGERIENNE DES ASSURANCES – CAAT, SAA Société Nationale d’Assurance, and CAAR – Compagnie Algérienne d’Assurance et de Réassurance.
Corporate Collaboration Drives Ecosystem Maturity
The success of the Algeria Startup Challenge relies heavily on the integration of corporate partners, offering startups direct pathways to market and essential resources. The open innovation model, where established companies like Djezzy, Philip Morris International, BNP Paribas El Djazaïr, FADERCO, and a consortium of leading insurance companies sponsor targeted challenges, ensures that the resulting innovations are market-relevant and poised for immediate pilot projects and commercialization. This model is vital for accelerating the growth and scaling potential of the winning ventures.
About Algeria Startup Challenge
The Algeria Startup Challenge (ASC) is the largest Algerian program creating opportunities for startups and ecosystem actors to develop future innovations. The ASC’s core mission is to bring together large companies and the innovative entrepreneurship ecosystem through a series of open innovation challenges. The program provides the selected startups, like the 16 finalists and the five Grand Prize winners from this 7th edition, with the necessary resources and platforms to boost their innovation and forge strong, strategic partnerships with key economic actors across various industries.
Source: Algeria Startup Challenge
