The 6th installment of Zain Great Idea features MENA digital innovation

At an exclusive screening in Kuwait City, Zain, Kuwait’s leading digital service provider, unveiled the region’s first Startup Innovation Digital Video Report, which covered the sixth edition of its renowned digital startup accelerator program ‘Zain Great Idea (ZGI).’

The telco’s much-anticipated program, now in its tenth year, attracted over 170 businesses from the Middle East and North Africa this year, courtesy of a collaboration with Brilliant Lab, Kuwait’s top startup accelerator service, and Mind the Bridge, a Silicon Valley-based innovation hub.

The event brought together Zain’s executive management and the region’s investment community, as well as 25 companies who had advanced to the final stage of Zain Great Idea 6. The finalists, who represented seven Arab countries, pitched their ideas to investors and potential business partners from around the MENA. The Digital Video Report was screened at VOX Cinemas.

Malek Hammoud, Zain Group’s Chief Investment and Digital Transformation Officer, introduced the recently launched Zain Ventures brand: “Zain Ventures was established to complement the existing investment portfolio of Zain Group and open the door to future investment opportunities in the venture capital, FinTech and Tech World, focusing on digital innovations in the fast-growing electronic services and startup ecosystem.”

Brilliant Lab founder and CEO, Neda Al Dehani announced that as part of ZGI 6, Brilliant Lab and Rasameel Investment Company have created a $5M fund to invest in successful startups that are part of the ZGI program. Al Dehani expressed Brilliant Lab’s commitment to initiatives such as ZGI, “In spite of the pandemic, Zain insisted on launching the 2021 edition of ZGI virtually in an endeavor to support startups and entrepreneurs, and we took the call to be a part of the program yet again to continue our mission to accelerate Kuwait and MENA startups towards success”.

Al Dehani continued: “This has led Brilliant Lab and three other investors to invest an undisclosed amount in BnchrPlus, a ZGI participating startup that specializes in E-Automotive Industry Services.” 

ZGI offered a refreshed opportunity for local talents and the region’s entrepreneurial community. Throughout five successful editions, the program has empowered, trained, and invested in hundreds of creative and driven Kuwaiti and Arab youth, of which many now own thriving and active Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to this day in local and regional markets.

Zain is well aware of the crucial role played by private sector organizations in supporting social and economic sustainability projects. Springing from its growing commitment towards practicing its social responsibility, the company is committed to printing a positive impact through all its activities. This has led Zain to embrace the most influential issues in the community, including the support of youth, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Out of the 25 startups that starred in Zain’s Startup Innovation Digital Video Report, two of Bahrain’s very own were featured: tamarran and PAWARABIA.

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