Endeavor selected 23 high-impact entrepreneurs leading 14 companies from 11 markets at the 93rd International Selection Panel (ISP) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, held February 10-12, 2020.
Endeavor now supports 2,039 entrepreneurs leading 1,272 companies in 35+ markets around the world.
The ISP is the culmination of a rigorous multi-step selection process to identify high-impact entrepreneurs who demonstrate the potential to leverage Endeavor’s resources and mentorship to create large-scale wealth and jobs, and are committed to reinvesting their time and money in their local entrepreneurship ecosystems to help others take off.
Over the course of the three-day event, panelists drawn from Endeavor’s extensive network of board members, mentors, supporters, and experienced Endeavor Entrepreneurs, interview entrepreneur candidates about their businesses, evaluating them on their potential for high-impact growth, and deliberating on which candidates should be selected to become Endeavor Entrepreneurs. Panelists must vote unanimously for a candidate to become an Endeavor Entrepreneur.
“Endeavor’s selection process is designed to identify entrepreneurs who have the potential to make a big impact locally and globally, not only by scaling their businesses but also by reinvesting their success. The Riyadh ISP drew extraordinarily talented founders from around the world, and we’re thrilled to welcome 23 new Endeavor Entrepreneurs!” said Endeavor Co-founder and CEO Linda Rottenberg.
Once selected, Endeavor Entrepreneurs gain access to comprehensive customized services, including introductions to local and international business mentors and volunteers from Fortune 500 consulting firms who will help them address key needs.
Endeavor Entrepreneurs have had a significant track record of impact. Endeavor Entrepreneurs have created 3 million jobs, generated $20 billion in revenue in 2018, and help build sustainable growth models in their home countries.
The 93rd ISP was hosted in partnership with Small and Medium Enterprises Authority (Momsha’at). Endeavor thanks 93rd ISP Strategic Sponsors Saudi Telecom Company (STC) and Riyad Bank.
Learn more about the companies and entrepreneurs selected in Riyadh below:
EGYPT
Entrepreneurs: Luay Torky and Suhail Torky
Company: SAAL Invest
Description: SAAL Invest is an Egyptian restaurant group currently expanding its flagship brand, Buffalo Burger. With over 30 branches across the country, Buffalo Burger is a leader in the local fast food burger market. A sound franchise model and deep knowledge of the Egyptian market has allowed SAAL to continue to innovate and dominate local fast food, and the group is looking forward to further success throughout the region.
JORDAN
Entrepreneurs: Abdallah Faza and Kais Sheikh Hasan
Company: Arabot
Description: Lousy customer service calls are ubiquitous, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Arabot changes the customer experience by offering the first intelligent Arabic chatbot backed up with AI and a deep machine learning framework capable of accurately and efficiently analyzing conversations across Arabic dialects. The bot aims to boost customer experience and automate tasks, while simultaneously reducing company operational costs. The platform has been able to garner significant traction in the region, securing large enterprises and corporations from both the private and public sector as clients. Arabot hopes to capture a growing share of a booming market: the global chatbot market size is $2.6B and is expected to reach $9.4B by 2024.
Entrepreneurs: Qais Sabri and Yousef Nassar
Company: Eon Dental
Description: Eon Dental (“Eon”) is the leading manufacturer of clear aligners – low-cost, plastic orthodontic devices used to adjust teeth – in the Middle East. Eon offers three primary products: (a) the direct-to-consumer OneTwoSmile brand, sold to individual patients, (b) the B2B2C Eon Aligner brand, sold to dentists and orthodontists seeking to offer aligners to their own patients, and (c) white-labeled aligners, sold to new entrants and small to medium-sized aligner companies who lack the expertise or desire to produce in-house.
NIGERIA
Entrepreneurs: Christian Wessels and Jasper Graf von Hardenberg
Company: Daystar Power
Description: Daystar Power is working to close Africa’s power gap by providing commercial and industrial customers with cleaner, reliable and more affordable electricity. Offering pure solar and hybrid solar-fossil fuel power generation systems across West Africa, Daystar makes reliable, clean energy more accessible with a unique financing model that requires no upfront payment, transparent payment plans, and schedule maintenance.
SAUDI ARABIA
Entrepreneurs: Moath Aldajan and Ammar Aldajan
Company: Al Hatab Bakery
Description: Alhatab Bakery is a 34-location retail chain in Saudi Arabia selling a wide variety of baked goods and gourmet specialties catered to local tastes. Its bakeries offer a combination of local and international breads, crackers, and pastries, in addition to decadent sweets and a counter where customers can purchase signature salads, dips, and appetizers. Its food and beverage selection reflects its Saudi roots, while preserving the essence and authenticity of local favorites with a health-forward twist.
UAE
Entrepreneur: Vilhelm Hedberg
Company: Ekar
Description: Ekar is the first and largest carshare operator in the Middle East; Ekar provides on-demand access to over 1,000+ pay-per-minute and long-term (daily or weekly) cars across the Gulf. Ekar empowers users with a seamless platform to get around the city via rental cars. Through the use of a smartphone app and installed technology in rental cars, users are able to easily search, book and unlock cars safely and securely for personal driving use.