--- title: "What happened at Seedstars MENA Summit!" url: https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/what-happened-seedstars-mena-summit/ --- 1. [HOME](/) 2. [RESOURCES](/content-hub/) 3. [NEWSROOM](/content-hub/newsroom/) 4. WHAT HAPPENED AT SEEDSTARS MENA SUMMIT! ![What happened at Seedstars MENA Summit!](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/What_happened_at_Seedstars_MENA_S.3cbb21e9..max-1500x500.jpg) MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA • OTHER ## What happened at Seedstars MENA Summit! Kamran Samadli JANUARY 22, 2018 After 8 months travelling in 9 countries, the MENA Seedstars team ended the tour in the region with Seedstars MENA Summit in Bahrain, where the 9 startups finalists from the MENA region showcased their projects and how they can impact the region’s development by leveraging innovative technologies: #### WRITTEN BY ![None](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/0.max-376x376.jpg) INTERNATIONAL SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT Kamran Samadli [CONTACT US](/contact-us/) ## **Below is the list of startups that pitched during the Summit:** 🇦🇪 **United Arabic Emirates** \- [Junkbot](http://www.junkbot.co/) is a DIY robotic kit that helps you turn your junk into robotics. **🇱🇧 Lebanon** \- [Vision in Motion](http://www.vimotion.tech/vim/) has developed a B2B software solution that helps retailers understand their customers using security cameras and computer vision. **🇧🇭 Bahrain** \- WNNA is an AI-driven contextual search system that uses Big Open Data & Semantic Web to provide users with personalized recommendations & actions. **🇯🇴 Jordan** \- [3oun](http://3oun.com/) is an on-demand mobile application that connects you with vetted handymen around you. **🇹🇷 Turkey** \- [Paym.es](http://Paym.es) is a secure shopping chatbot that helps users sell or purchase items on messaging apps. **🇹🇳 Tunisia** \- [Favizone](http://www.favizone.com/en_US/) has developed a plug & play personalization solution that enables retailers to deliver recommendations across all channels: e-shop, emails, and messaging app. **🇪🇬 Egypt** \- [WideBOT](https://widebot.com/widebot/) is the first bot builder platform in the MENA. WideBOT allows anyone to build his/her own intelligent chatbot without any coding in only 10 minutes. **🇲🇦 Morocco** \- Hooplacar connects brands with drivers to create on-vehicle advertising campaigns, live-monitored through GPS tracking and marketing KPIs. As part of their prize, all 9 winning startups will be participating at [Seedstars Summit](https://www.seedstarsworld.com/summit/?__hstc=242025565.1d6559ab48b89a010e5782541e7f57c7.1603967469995.1604048157879.1604052966142.6&__hssc=242025565.9.1604052966142&__hsfp=3717253829), taking place in Switzerland in April 2018. This will be a weeklong training program with the opportunity to meet the other 65 winners from the other regions: Africa, Asia, Latam and CEE, as well as investors and mentors from around the world. Traditionally, the final day of the Summit will be dedicated to pitching in front of an audience of 1000 attendees, with the possibility of winning up to the USD 1 million equity investment. ## **Bootcamp Day 1** During the first day of the MENA Regional Summit, Seedstars partner [Charlie Graham Brown](https://www.linkedin.com/in/cgrahambrown/) introduced Growth methodologies to the MENA Startups. This session was a mix of theoretical and practical content, with input provided by the Seedstars Investment Team on growth team roles, growth equations, growth goals, and growth methodology (such as OKRs and KPIs). The startups put this new knowledge to use by putting together their own growth models, which they then received feedback on. It was followed by another session of acquisition channels and worked on the practical application of the theory, where the startups brainstormed on channel prioritization and ideated new experiments to leverage these channels. ![group of people](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Startup.width-800.width-800.png) ## **Bootcamp Day 2** The morning of the second day was dedicated to one-to-one mentoring sessions with mentors from across the MENA, as well as from Europe and the United States. All startups had 3 rounds of 45 minute long mentoring sessions. We had 13 experienced mentors from many different backgrounds, 10 of whom were international, joining us in Bahrain. ![group of people](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/bootcamp_day_2.width-800.width-800.png) We also hosted keynote speeches “Human Dynamics of the Team” by [Craig Smith](https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigasmith/) \- CEO of Dhahran Techno Valley, “Doing Business in Bahrain” by [Fajer Al Pachachi](https://www.linkedin.com/in/fajer-saleh-al-pachachi-b38ab116/) from Bahrain EDB and “Startups Funding Cycle” by [Ahmed Fayed](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gebali2010/) from General Senses. The bootcamp day ended with Q&A session with [Kamran Elahian](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamranelahian/) \- Global Innovation Catalyst. ![group of people](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/SSW_MENA.width-800.width-800.jpg) ## **The Summit Day** The Summit day started off with a “Media Chat” where some of the main partners discussed their current goals and objectives, announced the launch of new initiatives and answered questions from the press. It was full of the mainstage content; startup pitches, keynotes, panels & networking sessions. The 9 Seedstars startups showcased the wealth of great ideas and business coming out of ecosystems from the Middle East and North Africa. There were keynotes from [Simon Galpin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/simongalpin/) on Bahrain EDB’s support of entrepreneurship and [Kamran Elahian’s](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamranelahian/) talk on the importance of innovation, as well as panels on Governmental support for entrepreneurship in MENA, the future of food and technology, the commercialisation of virtual reality, and mapping the MENA landscape in 2018. ![speaker](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/the_summit_day.width-800.width-800.jpg) At the end of the Summit, prizes were awarded to some of the startups. Hooplacar, the Moroccan startup was awarded $4000 worth of legal services from [Al Tamimi & Company](http://www.tamimi.com/), a leading law firm with offices across the MENA region. ![prize](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/the_summit_day_2.width-800.width-800.jpg) Seedstars MENA Summit was hosted by local ambassador organisation [CH9 Corporate Hub,](http://chnine.com/), with the support of main partners [Startup Bahrain](http://www.startupbahrain.com/), [Bahrain EDB](http://bahrainedb.com/), [US Embassy in Manama](https://bh.usembassy.gov/) and, in strategic partnership with [Tamkeen](https://www.tamkeen.bh/). The event was also supported by our global partners: [Amazon Web Services](https://aws.amazon.com/), [Enel](https://www.enelgreenpower.com/), [Merck](https://www.merckgroup.com/en) and [TRECC](https://jacobsfoundation.org/en/activity/trecc-transforming-education-cocoa-communities/). Our Seesdtars MENA team is looking forward to coming back to the region, and continuing its journey in 2018! Meanwhile, come and see the startups participating in the big final of Seedstars World Competition: the Seedstars Summit on April 12th! Request your invitation [here](https://www.seedstarsworld.com/summit/)! Discover some testimonials of the Regional Summit! _“For the past year, these have been the best quality start-ups I 've seen in one place”_ **Hussain Almarhoon - Managing Partner at Financial Horizon Group** _“This was the first event in my start-up history that was actually effective”_ **Wael El-Ahmady - Founder & CEO of General Senses** _“Outstanding job and great execution!”_ **Craig Smith - CEO of Dhahran techno Valley Co.** _“Seedstars exceeded my expectations. Usually, I don 't expect much from relatively small events. But Seedstars was efficient, they managed to bring the perfect small number of very relevant startups and investors.”_ **Manaf Asfour - Propeller Inc.** ARTICLE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA BAHRAIN OTHER EVENTS TECH ## More like this [ ![Five Startups from Ukraine](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/five_startups_thumbnail.max-320x550.png) CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE • OTHER #### Five Startups from Ukraine to Participate in the Online Pitching Competition Organized by Seedstars and Luminate Five up-and-coming tech startups from Ukraine are set to pitch on November 10th at 10:00 at the Online Seedstars Kyiv Competition 2020/21. Nov. 05, 2020 ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/five-startups-ukraine-participate-online-pitching-competition-organized-seedstars-and-luminate/) [ ![Presence Switzerland](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/switzerland.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • OTHER #### Presence Switzerland: How to Build the Country's Brand We've just wrapped up the online Seedstars Summit 2020, which became possible thanks to partners and supporters such as Presence Switzerland FDFA. Apr. 09, 2020 ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/presence-switzerland-how-build-countrys-brand/) [ ![Seedstars World Competition](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/online-summit.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • OTHER #### Online Seedstars World Competition 2019/20 How does it feel to compete with the 44 most promising startups from all over the world? And how does it feel when your name is announced as the winner? Mar. 17, 2020 ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/online-seedstars-world-competition-2020/) [ ![Seedstars Global Winners](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/global_winners.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • OTHER #### Seedstars Global Winners from 2014 to 2020: How Are They Doing Today? Six years, five countries (we’ve got two winners from the Philippines!), six solutions in education, finance, recruitment and agriculture – we decided to check on each of the winners and see how they are doing today. Feb. 20, 2020 ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/seedstars-global-winners-2014-2020-how-are-they-doing-today/) [ ![Seedstars Summit](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Untitled_design_91.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • OTHER #### Seedstars Summit Is Coming to Your Region! The events aim at bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, top corporates, government institutions, and media to promote entrepreneurship and technology in emerging markets. Oct. 08, 2018 ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/seedstars-summit-coming-your-region/) [ ![Seedstars World](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/C-Seedstars_World_behind_the_scenes__making_.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • ECOSYSTEM ENABLER #### Seedstars World: behind the scenes & making of The 5th edition of Seedstars Summit will be held on April 12th 2018, in Lausanne. Jan. 29, 2018 ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/seedstars-world-behind-scenes-making/) [ ![Talents are everywhere](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/C-Talents.max-320x550.png) AFRICA • OTHER #### Talents are everywhere Seedstars ambassador Tiago Borges Coelho on putting Lusophone African tech entrepreneurs on the map In anticipation and excitement for Seedstars’ arrival to Maputo, Mozambique for the Seedstars Africa Summit this December, we sit down with local Seedstars ambassador and host Tiago Borges Coelho. Sep. 28, 2017 ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/talents-are-everywhere-seedstars-ambassador-tiago-borges-coelho-putting-lusophone-african-tech-entrepreneurs-map/) --- ## Sitemap - [Sitemap](https://www.seedstars.com/sitemap.md): every public page on this site - [llms.txt](https://www.seedstars.com/llms.txt): what Seedstars does and where to start