--- title: "5 Tech Startups that Will Reshape Early Childhood Development in MENA" url: https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/5-tech-startups-will-reshape-early-childhood-development-mena/ --- 1. [HOME](/) 2. [RESOURCES](/content-hub/) 3. [SEEDSTARS LIFE](/content-hub/life/) 4. 5 TECH STARTUPS THAT WILL RESHAPE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT IN MENA ![5 Tech Startups that Will Reshape Early Childhood Development in MENA](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/5_Tech_Startups_that_Will_Reshape_Early_Chi.max-1500x500.png) MENA • TECHNOLOGY ## 5 Tech Startups that Will Reshape Early Childhood Development in MENA Mira Charkawi APRIL 27, 2020 In the past 4 months, Seedstars has been facilitating a high-impact growth program titled [Anjal Z](https://anjalz.seedstars.com/), an initiative that was started and led by the [Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA)](https://www.eca.gov.ae/), to bring in global startups from across the world and have them localize their products in Abu Dhabi. There is a set of different challenges facing early childhood development of kids between the ages of 0-8 globally. Being able to help tackle these obstacles across various sectors such as health and nutrition, early care and education, child protection, and family support is key to building better communities. ECA and Seedstars’ mission for this program is to support the expansion plans of selected startups in various ways. The program includes in-depth training sessions from over 20 local and international startup mentors and early childhood development experts. It also facilitates public and private connections with various governmental entities and ecosystem players in the region. In addition to that, Anjal Z provides each startup with a $60,000 grant to support the entrepreneurs with their localization and growth efforts in Abu Dhabi. After having received more than 150 applications from all over the world, ECA and Seedstars have selected 5 startups to participate in the program. _" During the program, we worked closely with five brilliant startups from our first cohort, supporting their growth in Abu Dhabi as well as introducing and facilitating numerous connections with key private and public partners including the Department of Health, the Department of Community Development and the Department of Education and Knowledge. Innovations occur everywhere, but breakthrough innovations, the kind that leverage novel technologies and business models to increase accessibility, improve offerings and reduce costs have for years, tend to stay within the private sector. The ECA, as part of the public sector, is spearheading innovation in order to effectively empower children and parents of Abu Dhabi and the UAE.", says_ [**_Dr. Yousef Al Hammadi_**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-yousef-alhammadi-6a767773/) ** _, Acting Executive Director of Knowledge & Impact at the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority_** Here are all the participating startups: [Kinedu](https://www.kinedu.com/) _\- Mexico_ Kinedu is a platform that fosters quality learning experiences at home by providing parents and caregivers with thousands of fun activities personalized to the baby's age and needs through a video-centric mobile and desktop platform. [Lamsa](https://www.lamsaworld.com/) \- _United Arab Emirates_ Lamsa is a digital platform that provides hundreds of culturally relevant and interactive content developed through their intensive learning strategy that both teaches and entertains the child. The platform contains a variety of stories, games, and videos that also encourage parents to engage with their children. [Nurturey](https://nurturey.com/) \- _United Kingdom_ Nurturey is an intelligent assistant that serves as a diary in which parents can track the health and development of their children such as vaccination, dental care, weight, and other aspects starting from pregnancy. [Afinidata](https://afinidata.com/en/home/) \- _Guatemala_ Afinidata is the smart early childhood chatbot assistant that equips parents with free weekly early childhood education activities to help the cognitive development of children under six. [Kinderly](https://kinderly.co.uk/) \- _United Kingdom_ Kinderly is a platform that supports early year childcare professionals in nurseries by improving their paperwork efficiency, enhancing their communication with the parents, and helping them easily access all EYFS information and reports all in one place. After the program, the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority and Seedstars will continue to support the startups with their efforts to grow in the middle east in order to impact every child. Special thank you all the mentors that supported us during this program: [Alessandro Casuccio](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alessandrocasuccio/), CEO at Convz [Amel Badr](https://www.linkedin.com/in/amel-badr-asfour-b4026021/), Senior Manager at Abu Dhabi Global Market [Andrew Kabrit](https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-kabrit-04204434/), Co-founder of Seez [Anuj Adhiya](https://www.linkedin.com/in/anujadhiya/), Head of Growth at Jamber [Brian Meenagh](https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmeenagh/), Partner at Latham & Watkins [Chris Sciarrino](https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-sciarrino-b64b5b36/), Director of Early Childhood Practice and Innovation at Early Learning Lab [Saleh Shaalan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaalan/), Director at Allied Health [Eyad Latif](https://www.linkedin.com/in/eyad-latif-95025013/), Counsel at Latham & Watkins [Gabriel Leyva](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gglcuba/), Analyst at MEVP [Jennifer Kanaan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-kanaan-6391763a/), CEO of Avoid Agency [Jennifer Stedron](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-stedron-919b2514/), CEO of Early Milestones Colorado [Krysta Foxx](https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystafox~adviserstrategybusinessleadership/), Co-founder & Principal at Changeosity [Macky O'Sullivan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/macky-o-sullivan-99b569a/), Corporate Lawyer at King & Spalding [Maha Abouelenein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/maha-abouelenein-60722463/), Managing Director at OC [Mahmoud Bartawi](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahmoud-bartawi-2728064a/), Co-founder of Under500 [Maria Dolores](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariadoloresfernandezflores/), Analyst at Venture Souq [Marwan Abdelaziz](https://www.linkedin.com/in/marwanabdelaziz/), CEO of Ureed [Mohamad Bilal](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohamed-bilal/), City Head at Talabat [Nabile Shabbani](http://www.steeringadvisory.com/), CEO of Steering Advisory [Nader Aboulhosn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/thegrowthhacker/), Head of Growth at Smart Crowd [Omar Maayeh](https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-maayeh-146307197/), Associate at Latham & Watkins [Paul Ark](https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulark/), Fintech Venture Capitalist [Rakesh Ramesh](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rameshrakesh/), Head of Digital Performance at Virgin Mobile Rashel Al Aridi, Partnership Manager at Talabat [Robert Chokr](https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertchokr/), Product Lead at Careem [Suhayb Mahmood](https://www.linkedin.com/in/suhaybmahmood/), Director atThe learning Initiative [Tayfun Ugur](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tayfun-u%C4%9Fur-703b47/), Managing Director at BT Global Services [Torghul Samadov](https://www.linkedin.com/in/togsam/), CEO of Buglance [Youness Yaghcha](https://www.linkedin.com/in/you-yaghcha-growthaccelerator/), Program Manager at Seedstars [Talal Al Jandali](https://www.linkedin.com/in/talaljandali/), Entrepreneur in Residence at Seedstars If you are interested in participating in this program as a startup, partner, or mentor, please [fill out this form](https://forms.gle/e3w8hbxETmj1m5G76) and we will get in touch with you! 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