Call Us
The Dubai Smartpreneur Competition, hosted in collaboration by Dubai Startup Hub, Entrepreneur Middle East & the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, is a prestigious, unique and one-of-its kind opportunity for innovative startups based in the UAE to partner with and contribute to the Dubai Government’s Strategy to elevate the city into a global platform for innovative businesses to thrive.
As part of the 5th edition of the Dubai Smartpreneur Competition (Smartpreneur 5.0), 10 promising, innovative and future-focused UAE-based startups pitched their ideas, missions and visions to an esteemed panel of judges on August 27th, 2020.
The main award winner of Smartpreneur 5.0 is UAE-based medical device startup, ProvenMed, an organization dedicated to disrupting and redefining the urinary incontinence care industry with its revolutionary solution ActivGo for men. With a mission to develop the next wave of ‘proven’ wearable medical devices to improve the quality of life for the millions of patients who need it, ProvenMed’s medical inventions are unique, patient-centric, and rooted in sustainability.
This year, the Dubai Smartpreneur Competition is aligned with the World Expo 2020 and welcomed applications from technology startups who offer innovative solutions in the fields of Sustainability, Mobility and Opportunity. The virtual awards ceremony was hosted live by Entrepreneur Middle East in collaboration with the Dubai Startup Hub and began with an inspiring opening keynote by HE Hisham El Shirway, the 2nd Vice President of the Dubai Chamber. HE Hisham El Shirway commended the exceptionally high caliber of this year’s finalists and pointed out that the UAE is now becoming a launchpad for innovative enterprises.
The ceremony was also attended by HE Dr. Ahmad Behloul, UAE Minister of State for Entrepreneurships & SMEs, who remarked on the UAE government’s commitment to supporting startups in the region by providing opportunities and solutions such as Smartpreneur 5.0.
The Dubai Chamber, in collaboration with Entrepreneur Middle East, compiled and hosted a remarkable panel of judges including Amal Dokhan, CEO of Global Entrepreneurship Network Saudi, Rayan Sindi, Investment Director at Saudi Venture Capital Company, and Mohammed Gheyath, Executive Director of Information Security Operations at Abu Dhabi Digital Authority.
Alongside winner ProvenMed the medical device company, 9 other finalists from different industries offering cloud and AI-based call center solution, biodegradable plastic replacement product, online legal services platform, cloud inspection solution, air filtering technology to reduce pollution, brain signal neural interface solution and electric mobility, making this year’s applicant pool a highly diversified and very competitive one in terms of the technologies and sectors that these startups are positioned to tackle. Each of the 10 finalists had the exclusive opportunity to pitch to the panel of judges, and to later connect with investors and VCs.
Amine Staali, co-founder and Chief R&D Officer of competition winner ProvenMed, recounted the story of how ProvenMed was born and is now positioned: from an idea to help a friend in need, to creating an active R&D lab, patenting their solution, and delivering a proven medical device that is already helping thousands of people in 10 markets today. As innovation is typically bred, Amine and his partner Souheil at ProvenMed identified a problem in their immediate environment that they felt passionate about, and found solution to it.
After pitching his winning innovation, Amine Staali commented, “I am humbled beyond words to have participated in the SMARTPRENEUR 5.0 competition and pitch before its esteemed jury panel. Winning the SMARTPRENEUR 5.0 competition first-place prize is not just another trophy we added to our record, it is a window for ProvenMed to contribute to the Dubai Governments strategy of elevating the city into a global platform of innovation. ProvenMed is one of the very few startups in the middle east focusing in the space of medical devices innovation, and having access to the Dubai Chamber’s incredible platform will help us lead this industry and grow even further. We’re looking forward to all that’s to come!”
ProvenMed will be awarded cash prize, in addition to startup support package, mentorship opportunities, access to overseas trade missions and events and the opportunity to exhibit their technologies at the World Expo 2020.
Delighted and grateful to have this opportunity at a truly unique and trying time for entrepreneurs and businesses around the world, Souheil Guessoum, co-founder and CEO of ProvenMed said, “I’m thankful to the Dubai Chamber of Commerce for the outstanding level of the competition. As CEO of ProvenMed, I’m very proud of my team who keeps exceeding expectations and bringing the company to its highest level. While this is a new milestone in our endeavor and validation of the work we’ve done so far, we are still committed to putting in the hard work and building ourselves worldwide by gaining market shares and bringing dignity to millions of people around the world.”
ProvenMed’s next stage is to boost expansion beyond the existing current penetrated ten markets by developing Asia, Africa, Europe then America respectively and help the millions of people around the world who are in need. With the exceptional platform created by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, ProvenMed and other UAE-based startups have access to collaborators, resources and opportunity, bringing them one step closer to having the positive impact on the world.