Zain Group, a leading telecommunications and digital services provider across the Middle East and Africa, recently hosted the culminating Demo Day for its flagship accelerator programme, Zain Great Idea (ZGI). The event provided a platform for 11 technology startups from six Arab countries to pitch their ventures to a curated audience of investors, business partners, and regional corporate leaders, opening pathways for investment and strategic partnerships.
The Demo Day, held in Kuwait, marked the conclusion of the latest ZGI edition, which has evolved into one of the region’s largest corporate accelerators. Founders from Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE showcased their business models and growth strategies after completing the intensive programme.
From Acceleration To Investment
Reflecting a strategic shift towards tangible commercial outcomes, Zain Ventures, the group’s investment arm, is actively exploring investment and partnership opportunities with the graduating cohort. This approach underscores Zain’s commitment to transforming its accelerator into a scalable pipeline for growth and funding.
Bader Al-Kharafi, Zain Vice Chairman and Group CEO, emphasized this vision during the event. “The final stop of this journey is where ideas turn into opportunities, and opportunities into real partnerships and investments. It is the moment of transformation that will take these ideas to the market.”
Al-Kharafi highlighted the programme’s evolution over its 15-year history from a local initiative to a comprehensive regional ecosystem. “We adopted, in this edition of ZGI, a clearer vision that reshapes traditional investment by building a platform that brings together technological momentum, support and guidance, and the flow of smart investments.”
This year’s programme integrated the capabilities of Zain Ventures for venture capital support with the advisory expertise and advanced technology solutions of ZainTECH, the company’s regional digital solutions provider specializing in AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.
A Pan-Regional Cohort
The Demo Day featured a diverse group of entrepreneurs addressing challenges across multiple sectors with scalable, tech-enabled solutions.
From Saudi Arabia, Maha and Leen Al-Rossais presented WePay, a fintech platform utilizing an escrow model to enhance transaction security for both individuals and businesses.
Bahrain was represented by Ghassan Esfahani, co-founder of Wajba, a platform that helps F&B businesses reduce food waste by selling surplus meals at discounted prices.
Representing Iraq, Khalid Al-Saady pitched Jaamila.com, an online platform designed to streamline supply chains and enable digital trade for buyers and sellers.
Ahmad Al-Saif from Jordan founded Alefredo EdTech, an AI-powered educational assistant that manages a student’s entire academic journey and recently expanded its reach by acquiring a UK-based tutoring platform.
From the UAE, Kausar Tahir showcased MeNOW Health, a femtech solution focused on providing empowering and informed health experiences for marginalized women.
The Kuwaiti cohort was the largest, featuring six startups: VEHAB, a VR rehabilitation platform; theQA, a market research platform; Tenmeya, a monetization tool for Arabic content creators; Playbook Kuwait, a booking platform for children’s parties; Outing, a booking platform for holiday homes; and Farah, a digital wedding planning destination.
Global Exposure And Recognition
Throughout the programme, participating founders underwent intensive bootcamps and mentorship sessions. A key milestone was the international accelerator experience in Silicon Valley, which enhanced the startups’ readiness through structured training and pitch refinement, culminating in a dedicated Demo Day in Palo Alto.
The programme’s impact has also gained international acclaim. ZGI was recently recognized as a “Corporate Rising Star” at the 2025 Corporate Startup Stars Awards in Paris, hosted at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) headquarters. The award highlights Zain’s longstanding commitment to fostering innovation and strengthening the region’s startup ecosystem.
About Zain Great Idea
Zain Great Idea (ZGI) is the flagship startup accelerator programme of Zain Group. With a legacy spanning over 15 years, it has evolved into a premier regional platform that connects entrepreneurial talent with opportunities for growth and investment. The programme operates across six of Zain’s markets, providing startups with mentorship, technological support, and access to a network of investors and corporate partners. ZGI aims to accelerate the transformation of innovative ideas into scalable companies that can create a significant economic impact in the MENA region.
Source: Zawya
