The closing ceremony of the Arabian Business Startup Awards took place on October 24th at the Rixos Premium in Dubai. The primary goal of the awards was to appreciate the efforts of the hard-working entrepreneurs in the region and their constant drive for success and excellence.
As Kay Marham, the editor of Arabian Business Start-Up commented, the hall was full of entrepreneurial energy. The most significant reward for her was to see the community strong, united and determined to succeed. According to Marham, all these young people represented the new wave of the non-oil economy in the GCC region, and they would pave the path towards the knowledge economy.
More than 400 guests attended the event. Among them were some of the most successful startups in the GCC region, established entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and business angels. The sponsors of the event represented the awards. Among the prominent business people were Rizwan Sajan of the Danube Group, Saikat Kumar of Al Masah Capital, Andreea Munteaunu of the Pernod Richard Gulf, Neil Petch of the Platinum Sponsor Vertuzone, and Kay Marham, the Editor of Arabian Business Startup.
The former Australian high-profile manager Ross Milton won the Arabian Business Startup Award 2017. Milton established Bounce, the biggest indoor trampoline parks in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Al Ain. The former Mars executive launched the parks in 2014. Nowadays, they attract over 150,000 visitors and inspired many copycat businesses in the Emirates.
The winners in the other categories were as follows:
Mentor of the Year – Paul Kenny Managing Director of AYM Commerce
Incubator / Accelerator of the Year – Dubai Smart City – Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority
Start-up Programme of the Year – Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Centre (Dtec)
New Media Start-Up of the Year – 360VUZ
Social Enterprise of the Year – NOW Money
Start-up of the Year – Proximie
Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Jassim Arif, Co-founder of Hammerheads UAE
Editor’s Choice Award: Champion of Innovation – Ziad Gosn,CEO of Nomadic Capital
Intrapreneur of the Year – Zaid Zureikat, Aramex
Investor of the Year – Elissa Freiha, WOMENA
Funding Initiative of the Year – Fetchr
SME of the Year – YallaCompare
SME Leader of the Year – Maaz Sheikh, STARZ PLAY
People’s Choice Award for Entrepreneur of the Year – Nadya Jaghbir, GymNadz