The VMS Bridge programme has announced the winners of its first edition, where 10 startups were awarded prizes aimed at supporting startups in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
The VMS Bridge program was launched by the Saudi Value Makers Studio (VMS) to provide greater opportunities for growth and expansion locally, regionally, and internationally, bridging the gap between the entrepreneurial ecosystems in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and providing entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and understanding to enter new markets and thrive successfully.
According to a statement from the company,five companies won a prize that includes a 4-day visit to Saudi Arabia, where they will have the opportunity to meet with Saudi investors and explore investment opportunities. This initiative aims to enable these five companies to enter the Saudi market, achieve growth, and attract investments to facilitate their expansion in the Arab and Middle Eastern regions.
The five winning companies are:
Amanleek: Founded by entrepreneurs Mahab Ahmed and Mohamed Yahya, Amanleek is an online platform specialising in insurance services for individuals and companies.
Farhy: Founded by entrepreneur Nadine Farag, Farhy is an online platform that brings together all aspects of celebrations, including products and services, in one place.
Sprints: Founded by entrepreneurs Basam Sharqawi, Sprints is a digital platform specialising in educational technology, offering educational programmes in technology for employment, helping youth access jobs in leading technology companies inside and outside Egypt.
Career180: Founded by entrepreneurs Mohamed Akmal and Shrouk Alaa, 180 Career is a digital platform for training and employment, offering over 200 registered courses available for job seekers.
Jamaykaa: Founded by entrepreneur Mohamed Riad, Jamaykaa is a digital platform that enables businesses to display and sell products easily, providing storage, packaging, and shipping services.
Additionally, two companies from the Rally Entrepreneurship Accelerator, a programme of the Entrepreneurship Centre at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport, won awards by VMS, facilitating a free licence for their companies in Saudi Arabia. These two companies are:
Notchnco: Founded by Basem Naseef and Nasser Mahrous, is a digital platform that helps customers communicate with companies through WhatsApp and other social media platforms.
Neqabty: Founded by entrepreneur Dunia El Foly, Neqabty is an application specialized in connecting unions with their members, enabling them to access all services electronically.
Additionally, three companies focused on environmental preservation and community service won a prize from Arweqah, which includes free access to Arweqah’s training program. These three winning companies are:
AgriCash: Founded by Dr. Mohamed Hamdy and Dr. Diaa Youssef, AgryCash is a digital platform specialized in financing small farmers and supporting clean and renewable organic agriculture.
ReNile: Founded by Hazem El Tawaby, Ibrahim El Ziyat, and Amir Sabry, ReNile operates in the field of Internet of Things in agriculture, automating farm management and control remotely.
ICareer: Founded by entrepreneur Akram Marwan, ICareer is a platform specialized in education for employment, providing training, qualification, and human resources technology services.
Furthermore, Exits company offers support to all participating companies in the Bridge program, providing a 50% discount on the investment readiness program .