22/01/2025
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22/01/2025
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KUWAIT CITY, Jan 22: After six months of continuous development, extensive training, and gaining local and international experiences, Kuwaiti entrepreneurs participated in the ZGI Demo Day, the culminating and most significant stage of Zain’s innovative and award-winning Zain Great Idea (ZGI) accelerator. During the event, participants presented their strategic visions and plans to overcome challenges in an era of rapid technological evolution. The event was attended by representatives of investment firms, partners, and the local entrepreneurship community.
Held at the Four Seasons Hotel, Kuwait, the event was attended by Nawaf Al-Gharabally, CEO of Zain Kuwait; Malek Hammoud, Chief Investment and Digital Transformation Officer of Zain Group; Hamad Al-Marzouq, Chief Enterprise Business Officer of Zain Kuwait; Andrew Hanna, CEO of ZainTECH; Waleed Al-Khashti, Chief Corporate Affairs and Relations Officer of Zain Kuwait; Dakheel Al-Dakheel, CEO of Rasameel Investment; and Abdullah Al-Sulaiteen, Technical Director of Architech; alongside Zain executives, representatives from investment companies, government officials, ambassadors and diplomats, and entrepreneurs.
Demo Day provided the finalists an opportunity to present their startups to the local investment community through interactive pitches. In addition, each startup had a dedicated booth to showcase their services and introduce their founders and teams to the attendees.
Entrepreneurs shared their strategic visions, expansion plans for local and regional markets, and approaches to utilizing advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence to address challenges facing startups.
The event also facilitated direct networking between participants and representatives of investment funds and partners, enabling entrepreneurs to share their company stories and strategies for building profitable, sustainable businesses to meet local and regional market needs.
Nawaf Al-Gharabally stated: “We celebrate today the 15th anniversary of our flagship tech startup accelerator program, Zain Great Idea. Back in 2010, when we laid the foundation for this program, conversations around entrepreneurship, empowering entrepreneurs, and accelerating startups were not as prevalent as they are today, and business accelerators were far less common in the market.”
He added: “This fills me with pride, both personally and for Zain as a leading national organization. Just as Zain has always been at the forefront of technology and digital innovation, we’ve also led in community development and fostering creativity.”
Al-Gharabally continued: “While ZGI started modestly, its mission has always remained focused on people. Zain has always been a human-centric organization, and our purpose of creating ‘Better Lives and Lasting Connections’ is deeply rooted in our belief that true investment lies in human talent. It is this talent that fosters innovation and drives technological advancement, strengthening the economy.”
He emphasized: “Over the years, the program has evolved into a comprehensive platform, accelerating hundreds of tech startups and empowering thousands of entrepreneurs, many of whom have achieved sustainable success and attracted hundreds of millions of dollars in investments.”
Al-Gharabally praised ZGI’s legacy as a trailblazer, saying: “Zain Great Idea has consistently set new benchmarks since its inception. By bridging gaps and laying foundations for entrepreneurship, we’ve significantly contributed to advancing the ecosystem both locally and regionally, a feat made possible by our outstanding team and exceptional partners.”
He thanked everyone who contributed to the program's success by saying: “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped make this program successful, starting with Zain Ventures, a key driver of Zain Group’s strategy that continues to pursue investment opportunities in venture capital, fintech, and digital innovations.”
He added: “Zain Ventures is actively investing in the startup ecosystem in Kuwait and the region, and is constantly looking for new opportunities, including in ZGI startups. Its active engagement in the program has added significant value and reflects its commitment to supporting the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
Al-Gharabally also expressed gratitude to ZGI partners, including Rasameel Investment, Architech, current and past members of judges panels, mentors, experts, and speakers from Kuwait and around the world, the Zain team, and all the talented entrepreneurs and idea owners who have been a part of the program for 15 years.
He concluded by saying: "As we say every year, we do not consider Demo Day to be the final stop for ZGI but rather the first milestone on the journey toward growth and development in the market. We wish our exceptional entrepreneurs all the best and look forward to the significant successes this program will achieve in the future."
At the event, Zain Kuwait Innovation and Entrepreneurship Expert Haya Al-Mana announced that the next edition of the program would expand to include participants not only from Kuwait but also from across the Middle East for the first time in its history. This initiative will bring together participants from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and experiences, introducing fresh perspectives and valuable regional insights. The expansion solidifies ZGI’s position as a leading business accelerator in the region.
In addition, ZGI’s global acceleration program, which takes place in leading innovation hubs like Silicon Valley, will now accommodate participants from various regional markets, further enhancing their experiences and opportunities for growth.
At Demo Day, founders of 10 Kuwaiti startups presented pitches to investors: Lama Aloraiman and Ksenia Ozkok from BLU DOT— the platform that transforms access to space, Dalal Thani from Akrem— the app that enables secure and easy tipping to service providers, Raghad Al Zamel from MAWADA— the ultimate gifting platform, Hamad Althunayan, Nasser Al Qimlas, and Ryan Dougherty from DAWRATY—the quality education platform, and Abdulrahman Al Hamdan from Nextbite—the platform that revolutionize the dining and hospitality experiences.
The event also featured Faisal Tawfiqi, Fahad Alzuabi, and Maxime Rousselet from USim— the seamless internet roaming app, Eissa Alloughani from STAX— the app that offers one membership to access the best gyms in Kuwait, Abdullah Albusairi from EYON— the Arab live streaming platform, Abdullah Shaban from Mawqif— the ultimate parking app, and Talal Alzafiri from Q8MAPS— the e-mapping and GIS solutions app.
The event also featured a distinguished speech by Professor Paris de L’Etraz from Spain's renowned IE Business School. As one of the global experts involved in delivering the intensive training programs within ZGI, he shared his extensive experience with the program over the years. Professor de L’Etraz also offered valuable advice to the entrepreneurs as they prepared to present their startup pitches to investors.
ZGI kicked-off last year in strategic partnership with Zain Ventures and Rasameel Investment, continuing its decade-long mission to open sustainable growth and investment doors for entrepreneurs and startups in Kuwait.
For 15 years, Zain Great Idea has been a unique success story, establishing itself as one of the most impactful business accelerators locally and regionally. It has provided numerous opportunities for hundreds of ambitious entrepreneurs and startups, connecting many with leading tech companies and organizations in places like Silicon Valley, to gain first-hand experience.
Through this program, Zain aims to empower Kuwait’s tech startup ecosystem and foster an innovation-driven environment that creates tangible economic and social impact. This step also translates the company’s strategic plans as a business that seeks promising opportunities for diversification and sustainable growth in a highly competitive market. Additionally, Zain may acquire shares in the ZGI startups to boost their potential and commercialization drive.
