logo
"Najahna" Supports 20 Startup Projects Qualified from the Entrepreneurship Hackathon

"Najahna" Supports 20 Startup Projects Qualified from the Entrepreneurship Hackathon

Al Bawabaa day ago
As part of the partnership between Plan International, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, and Orange Jordan, an agreement was signed under the 'Najahna' program for youth economic empowerment to provide financial grants to support 20 startups selected from 100 projects that qualified from the Entrepreneurship Hackathon organized by the Ministry in 2024, as part of the national entrepreneurship policy.This hackathon is one of the initiatives under the National Entrepreneurship Policy. These projects are currently being incubated at the Orange Digital Center and span various nationally prioritized sectors, including agri-tech, education, renewable energy, and tourism. The program provides support through training, mentorship, networking, and logistical services to help entrepreneurs reach a viable Minimum Viable Product (MVP).Youth startups showcased their entrepreneurial ideas and projects over two pitching days, where the projects were assessed by specialized committees composed of representatives from local institutions, private sector, and experienced entrepreneurs. The most promising projects were then selected to receive the necessary financial and technical support. Notably, 60% of the selected projects are in advanced stages, whereas 40% are still in the ideation phase.Orange Jordan emphasized on its belief that female and male entrepreneurs are the main drivers of economic growth and digital transformation. The company reaffirmed its commitment to supporting entrepreneurship through practical programs and strategic partnerships, aiming to equip entrepreneurs with the skills and resources needed to develop innovative solutions that address community needs, create sustainable job opportunities, and promote local development.The 20 selected projects will receive financial grants of up to JD 13,000, along with technical support that includes mentorship, legal and specialized advisory services tailored to each project's needs. In addition, they will benefit from ongoing support provided by the Orange Digital Center to help develop Minimal Viable Products MVP.
It is worth noting that this step represents an advanced phase within the economic empowerment component of the 'Najahna' program, following a specialized entrepreneurship training provided to youth. This highlights the importance of investing in youth potential to transform their ideas into scalable and sustainable projects.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Rekaz closes $5 million seed to expand AI-driven SMB platform
Rekaz closes $5 million seed to expand AI-driven SMB platform

Wamda

time15 hours ago

  • Wamda

Rekaz closes $5 million seed to expand AI-driven SMB platform

Saudi Arabia-based SaaS startup Rekaz has raised $5 million in seed funding to expand its operating system for service businesses. The round was led by COTU Ventures, with participation from Impact46, Shorooq Partners, Numrah Capital, and angel investors. Founded by Abdulrahman Alomran and Abdulaziz Alkharashi in 2017, Rekaz offers an all-in-one platform for service-based SMBs—including gyms, salons, clinics, and home service providers—covering scheduling, payments, subscriptions, and customer engagement. The new capital will be used to deepen product development, enhance AI capabilities, and expand across GCC markets. Press release: Rekaz, the Saudi-based software platform transforming how service businesses operate, has raised $5 million in seed funding to scale its product and expand across the region. The round was led by COTU Ventures, with participation from Impact46, Shorooq, Numrah Capital and angel investors Rekaz offers an end-to-end system for service-based businesses such as gyms, salons, and mobile providers. From scheduling and subscriptions to payments and client management, Rekaz replaces fragmented workflows and manual coordination with a streamlined, intelligent platform. Businesses can also launch their own branded booking websites and mobile apps to grow online. Over 7,000 businesses have used Rekaz to process more than 1 million appointments and subscriptions, showing strong traction among single-location operators and growing multi-branch businesses. 'Our mission is to do for service SMBs what Shopify did for e-commerce,' said Abdulrahman Alomran, CEO and co-founder of Rekaz. 'Most service businesses are still operating through scattered tools, spreadsheets, and manual work. We're building the infrastructure they've been missing.' Rekaz combines a purpose-built internal system with AI-powered insights and personalised onboarding flows that adapt to each business type. This approach allows merchants to get started quickly and run more efficiently, with less friction and fewer moving parts. 'Rekaz is solving a massive and overlooked problem,' said Amir Farha, General Partner at COTU Ventures. 'Service businesses are the economic backbone of the region, and they've been left behind by traditional software. Abdulrahman and Abdulaziz are building the right platform at the right time.' 'We've designed Rekaz to be flexible, intelligent, and deeply aligned with how service businesses actually work,' added Abdulaziz Alkharashi, CTO and co-founder. 'Rekaz is a game-changer for the service economy in MENA — bringing digitisation, operational efficiency, and data-driven growth to thousands of businesses that have historically been left behind,' said Yousef Albabtain, Partner at Shorooq. 'We believe Rekaz has the potential to become the foundational layer for service-based SMBs across the region.' The company will use the funding to deepen product development, enhance AI capabilities, and grow its presence across the GCC and wider markets.

Kia Secures Prestigious Honours in 2025 IIHS Safety Awards
Kia Secures Prestigious Honours in 2025 IIHS Safety Awards

Al Bawaba

time19 hours ago

  • Al Bawaba

Kia Secures Prestigious Honours in 2025 IIHS Safety Awards

Kia Corporation has once again raised the bar for automotive safety, earning recognition from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in its rigorous 2025 crash test its commitment to occupant protection and advanced vehicle engineering, three Kia models have received the prestigious 2025TOP SAFETY PICK+ (TSP+) designation, the highest possible safety rating awarded by the IIHS. The recognised models include the 2025 Kia K4 (built after January 2025), as well as the acclaimed 2025 Kia EV9 and 2025 Kia Telluride, all of which are specific to the U.S. Shabsogh, Vice President of Commercial Operations at Kia Middle East & Africa, commented: 'At Kia, safety is a foundational pillar of our brand. Being recognised by the IIHS with three TOP SAFETY PICK+ awards under their most rigorous criteria to date is a strong validation of the work we're doing. We're continuously raising our safety standards by integrating advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), reinforcing structural integrity, and subjecting our vehicles to stringent internal and external testing protocols. Whether it's through enhanced protection for rear occupants or technologies that help prevent nighttime collisions, we remain focused on delivering real-world safety benefits to our customers.'This recognition reinforces our role as a leading Sustainable Mobility Solutions Provider in automotive safety and reflects our commitment to protecting every passenger, in every journey.'Kia continues to prioritise safety in its overall strategy through integrating advanced technology and stringent testing protocols, elevating safety benchmarks across its lineup. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is an independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organisation dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and property damage from motor vehicle crashes through research and evaluation and through education of consumers, policymakers and safety professionals. Its TSP and TSP+ ratings are widely cited in the North American auto industry by consumers, media and analysts alike. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba ( Signal PressWire is the world's largest independent Middle East PR distribution service.

Azizi Developments Accelerates Direct Procurement Efforts, Onboards 131+ Framework Suppliers
Azizi Developments Accelerates Direct Procurement Efforts, Onboards 131+ Framework Suppliers

Al Bawaba

time19 hours ago

  • Al Bawaba

Azizi Developments Accelerates Direct Procurement Efforts, Onboards 131+ Framework Suppliers

Azizi Developments, a leading private developer in the UAE, has significantly expanded its direct procurement efforts by having signed more than 131 framework agreements in 2025, marking a major stride toward further increased quality, enhanced cost efficiency, faster project execution, and greater supply chain control, enabled by improved operational autonomy. The move underscores the developer's continuous pursuit of real estate excellence and enables its swiftly growing portfolio of world-class real estate projects across Dubai and the total framework agreements signed, 110 are for MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) works, with the remaining 21 covering civil construction. With suppliers spanning over 20 countries, the developer's framework agreements reflect a globally integrated procurement model. Approximately 60% of onboarded suppliers originate from Europe, from countries such as Italy, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, while another 20% are homegrown and based in the United Arab Emirates. North America and Asia are both also very well represented, making up another almost-20% of suppliers signed with. Most are multinational conglomerates operating across regions, further contributing to the robustness of Azizi's newly formed supply chains. Mr. Farhad Azizi, Group CEO of the Azizi group of companies, said: 'This achievement marks a major milestone in our ongoing efforts to take the reins in strengthening our direct procurement efforts, allowing us to deliver best-in-class communities across Dubai and beyond. By onboarding more than 131 diverse and highly qualified framework partners, which are all carefully selected via a very stringent qualification process, we ensure the consistency, quality, and timeliness that our investors and end-users expect. Our global supplier base is a reflection of our pursuit of excellence – a value that remains at the heart of every project we undertake."With a procurement approach focused on innovation, efficiency, and resilience, Azizi carries on setting new benchmarks in quality-driven development while contributing to Dubai's transformation as a global real estate and investment news comes in light of realty transactions in Dubai surging 40% to AED 326.7 billion in H1 2025. Azizi Developments' Sales Gallery can be visited on the 13th floor of the Conrad Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store