News
Egypt’s Flat6Labs Picks 24 Startups For Growth Track Program
The initiative is known as StartMashreq, and welcomes companies from the FinTech, eCommerce and HealthTech sectors.
Flat6Labs, the Cairo-based venture capital company, has chosen 24 companies for its StartMashreq Growth Track program, which aims to boost early-stage startups in the Middle East and North Africa region.
The startups from Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq operate in sectors including FinTech, HealthTech, AgriTech, and eCommerce. In addition, five of the chosen companies were cofounded by female entrepreneurs.
Collectively, the winning startups generate annual recurring revenue of over $20 million and have raised nearly $40 million in funding, according to Flat6Labs. Perhaps most importantly, the 24 companies in the StartMashreq program have also generated around 700 job opportunities.
“We are confident that [the startups] have what it takes to succeed in their markets. Through our program, we will offer them tailored support and guidance to help them overcome their challenges and achieve their goals. We look forward to working with them over the next six months and beyond,” said Ragia Amr, program director of StartMashreq at Flat6Labs.
Started in June, StartMashreq will run until December 2024, giving the selected startups access to new markets plus allowing them to scale operations and increase their impact on their respective economies.
As for the program itself, StartMashreq will include workshops and mentorships by international experts, networking events, and roadshows.
Also Read: Saudi Arabia’s Gaming Sector Is Quickly Gathering Momentum
Since its launch in 2011, Flat6Labs has been a major player in the MENA region’s entrepreneurial scene, managing a number of seed funds whose assets exceed $95 million.
In February, Flat6Labs announced a $20 million startup seed fund in Saudi Arabia aimed at supporting entrepreneurs in the Kingdom by investing in early-stage startups in the technology and innovation sectors.
The selected startups are:
Lebanon
- Compost Baladi: A social enterprise that provides waste management solutions.
- Ecomz: An e-commerce platform that enables merchants to create online stores.
- KamKalima: An edtech platform that helps Arabic teachers and students.
- Moodfit: An online interior design service that connects clients with designers.
- Presentail: An online gift delivery service that connects expats with local shops.
- Purpl: A proptech platform that simplifies property management.
- Shelvz: A retail intelligence platform that helps brands optimize their shelf presence.
Iraq
- KESK: A fintech platform that provides digital banking services.
- Lezzoo: A super app that offers delivery, e-commerce and payment services.
- Midient/Padash: A cloud kitchen platform that enables food entrepreneurs to launch online brands.
- Orderii: An online marketplace that connects customers with local service providers.
- Toolmart: An e-commerce platform that sells tools and hardware products.
Jordan
- Algebra Intelligence: A healthtech platform that provides AI-powered medical diagnosis.
- Arab Therapy: An online platform that connects users with licensed therapists.
- Dinarak: A fintech platform that offers mobile wallet and payment services.
- Hello World Kids: An edtech platform that teaches coding to children.
- InvoiceQ: A fintech platform that provides invoice financing solutions.
- Jordilight: An energy tech company that produces solar-powered street lights.
- Konn Technologies: A fintech company that offers blockchain-based solutions.
- Little Thinking Minds: An edtech company that creates digital learning products for children.
- Nestrom: An agritech company that provides farm management software.
- Palmear: An e-commerce platform that sells handmade products from local artisans.
- Repzo: A mobile CRM platform that helps sales teams manage their activities.
- Shop4Me: An e-commerce platform that delivers groceries and other products.
News
NASA Forms New Partnership With Saudi Space Agency
The pair will collaborate on the Center for Space Futures, advancing space tech by bringing together public and private stakeholders.
Saudi Arabia’s space industry is on the brink of substantial expansion after generating $400 million in revenue in 2022, according to a report by the Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission.
Now, in a new venture with NASA, plans for a “Center for Space Futures” are set to further drive the Kingdom’s aspirations of becoming a leading player in space exploration and technology.
Capturing moments from the joint delegation visit with leaders from the Saudi and American Space Agencies @NASA to @PSU_RUH, along with scenes showcasing the audience's engagement. pic.twitter.com/oB1cFTiRNl
— وكالة الفضاء السعودية (@saudispace) May 14, 2024
The partnership between NASA and Saudi Arabia goes beyond economic advantages. The pair have already cooperated on preliminary work for the Artemis II lunar mission, which is slated for a September 2025 launch and aims to land astronauts near the moon’s South Pole.
Also Read: Plans Underway For Massive Middle East Autonomous Freight Network
During a visit to the capital, Riyadh, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized in a TV interview the broader objectives of the collaboration, which encompass “returning to the moon and then [to] Mars” while utilizing space exploration to glean important insights into climate change. The NASA spokesman also reiterated the space agency’s dedication to collaborating with Saudi Arabia on other future ventures.
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