RhythmTech, Dimuma and Unlabelled won first, second and third place respectively in the second edition of Techstars Startup Weekend Bahrain. The event was organised by StartUp Bahrain, the leading platform for startups in Bahrain, supported by the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) and in strategic partnership with Tap Payments.
There was an additional prize sponsored by Brinc labelled as Brinc Choice Awards, awarding a cash prize to Makers. The first-place winner, Yahya Hakimi, showcased their innovative idea of MedTech platform looking to stop preventable deaths by revolutionising the way patients with implanted cardiac devices are monitored by enabling hospitals and patients to sign up and receive information about their cardiac device and heart health. In return, they received a standing ovation.
The event concluded with new, emerging Bahraini startups that will fuel innovation in the kingdom’s startup ecosystem. The event was sponsored by Zain Bahrain, Brinc Batelco, IKEA Bahrain, Tap Payments, General Assembly Middle East, The Collective Hub, Reboot Coding Institute, Diwan Hub, Techstars, Infinigence and Local BH.
100 founders
The adrenaline-packed 54-hour weekend brought together over 100 founders, developers, designers, and marketers to build and launch startups over a single weekend, from ideation to MVP. 170 participants competed for grand prizes worth BD3,000 ($7,958) in total value, and received surprise perks from ecosystem enablers and organisations to further celebrate their achievements.
The competition was part of the global Techstars Startup Weekend events, which had organised more than 5,000 events in 150+ countries. With Techstars Startup Weekend, StartUp Bahrain aimed for a unique perspective in reshaping the conventions of startups. The keynote speech was delivered by none other than Ahmed Faraj, the Co-Founder and CEO of Lumofy, a prominent rising entrepreneur and winner of StartUp Bahrain Pitch and Startup of the Year, with firsthand experience as trailblazer in the startup ecosystem. Participants also gained valuable insights from Nathan Minns, a seasoned trainer and facilitator renowned for his expertise in guiding startup initiatives worldwide, who reprised his role for the second edition.
The judging panel included world-class industry leaders in the likes of Brinc Regional Head of Corporate Innovation, Husain Haji; Hope Fund’s General Manager, Fajer AlPachachi; Executive Director and MP of Tajawoz, Hamad Alfahad; and Co-Founder of WSI-Consulting, Safa Sharif; and Amazon Web Services (AWS) Strategic Accounts Lead, Ahmed AlSawafiri.
Remarkable event
"Securing the first place at Techstars Startup Weekend Bahrain was an unbelievably electrifying experience. It's a thrilling validation to see our vision and dedication to crafting a solution pay off and potentially make a difference," expressed Yahya. "We extend our heartfelt gratitude to StartUp Bahrain, Tamkeen, and all the sponsors for orchestrating this remarkable event, fostering innovation, and empowering aspiring entrepreneurs like us."
Executive Director of Programme Development and Partnerships at Tamkeen, Ali Hassan, commented: "Tamkeen is dedicated to nurturing Bahraini talent and fostering innovation through various programmes and initiatives curated specifically for the purpose of championing entrepreneurship. The remarkable success of Startup Weekend underscores our unwavering support to empowering budding entrepreneurs to showcase their creativity, and connecting them with industry experts who can provide them with valuable insights to turn visions into thriving ventures.”
Widad Ghauche, Techstars Customer Success Coordinator, said: “Techstars is as always proud to support Startup Weekend Bahrain, enabling us to facilitate a space where entrepreneurs could come together to brainstorm and collaborate on pioneering startups. This event exemplifies our dedication to empowering individuals as they embark on the path to building impactful startups worldwide.”--TradeArabia News Service
