Zain Group has announced the selection of 13 technology startups from six of its regional markets to advance to the global acceleration phase of its Zain Great Idea (ZGI) program. The entrepreneurs will travel to Palo Alto, California, to participate in an immersive experience in Silicon Valley.
Pan-Regional Expansion
Marking a significant evolution in its 15-year history, the latest edition of Zain Great Idea expanded beyond its traditional Kuwait-only format for the first time. The program opened applications to entrepreneurs from Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, reflecting Zain’s commitment to fostering innovation across the region.
The finalists were chosen following a “Super Saturday” event held in each of the six participating countries. During these events, founders pitched their business plans to a judging panel of industry experts, leveraging the skills and knowledge gained from the program’s initial intensive bootcamp phase.
This year’s program is backed by Zain Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Zain Group, and ZainTECH, the company’s regional digital and ICT solutions provider.
Journey To Silicon Valley
In collaboration with Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm Vibranium VC, the selected founders will participate in a global accelerator program designed to immerse them in the heart of the world’s technology capital.
The experience will provide a unique opportunity for the entrepreneurs to engage in workshops, network with successful startup founders, visit major tech companies and accelerators, and pitch their ideas to investment funds. The program aims to equip them with a deeper understanding of the global entrepreneurial landscape and business management dynamics.
The Selected Cohort
The 13 startups selected represent a diverse range of sectors, from EdTech and FinTech to AI and HealthTech.
From Jordan:
- Alefredo Exams: An educational platform providing interactive assessment tools for school and university students, highlighting weaknesses and recommending support materials.
From Kuwait: - Farah: A one-stop-shop platform for wedding planning.
- LumenPro: A platform that consolidates powerful AI tools into a single creative hub.
- Playbook: A digital platform for parents to discover and book children’s parties.
- Provis Management: A human resources firm specializing in talent acquisition for the culinary sector.
- Tenmeya: An Arabic platform enabling content creators to monetize their digital work.
- theQA: A research platform connecting brands with local participants to gather high-quality market insights.
From the UAE: - FortyGuard: An AI solution that provides high-resolution temperature intelligence for logistics, real estate, and smart cities.
From Bahrain: - Wajba: A digital platform that allows food and beverage companies to sell surplus food at discounted prices, reducing waste.
From Saudi Arabia: - WePay: A FinTech company offering a secure, escrow-based payment platform for individuals and businesses.
From Iraq: - Andalusi: An EdTech company enhancing learning through digital applications, classrooms, and simulation tools.
- Jaamila: An e-commerce platform connecting buyers and sellers to facilitate digital trade and supply chain management.
- Saleem: A digital health platform offering innovations in telemedicine, home care applications, and medical devices.
About Zain Great Idea
Zain Great Idea (ZGI) is the flagship accelerator program of Zain Group, designed to empower and accelerate the growth of promising technology startups in the MENA region. With the strategic support of Zain Ventures and ZainTECH, the program provides entrepreneurs with mentorship, funding opportunities, and global experiences to help them build sustainable and impactful businesses. ZGI aims to equip startups with the necessary tools and networks to scale effectively in regional and international markets.
Source: Ammon News
