INJAZ Al-Arab Premieres 2021 YEC Award Ceremony

December 6, 2021

INJAZ Al-Arab JA MENA’s 2021 Youth Entrepreneurship Celebration (YEC)—the 15th edition of the regional event—officially kicked off on November 1 with a series of Skills Enhancement Sessions from event sponsors FedEx, Mastercard, Citi, Boeing, and Investcorp. Over the following weeks, students presented their companies, business plans, and final reports to judges as they vied for the five sponsored signature awards and the top three YEC prizes, the most prestigious in the region.

Today, the winners were announced in a livestreamed premiere. Watch it below (and keep reading for more details about the teams, judges, and winners):

Meet the Teams

High School

Bahrain – Hasib aims to keep cyclists safe on the road with a device that alerts cyclists about incoming traffic.

Egypt – Stripes reflects its concern for the environment and the community in its innovative products made from recycled billboards.

Kuwait – Neowrap created a reusable alternative to plastic wrap.

Lebanon – Hiventure, a team of thrill-seekers, created the ultimate adventure-proof bag.

Morocco – Zinnia’s high-tech self-watering device helps busy consumers care for plants.

Oman – Herfa innovated a way to make local crafts accessible to all.

Palestine – Autism-Less World invented a sensory calming vest to help children with autism.

Saudi Arabia – Cave’s passion for perfumes led them to create sensory experiences through scent.

UAE – Cortex Wellness provides support to schools to improve mental wellness for youth.

University

Algeria – Power Seek is on a mission to transform the way we use electricity.

Bahrain – Hassad aims to inspire people to create their own green spaces with small indoor greenhouses.

Egypt – All In Company created the ultimate app for those looking to furnish their homes.

Kuwait – Drivemart invented a helpful snack ATM

Lebanon – Minfeed created Minfeed, an online platform that is set out to save local businesses.

Morocco – POC use tech waste to innovate new technologies.

Oman – T2G Company set out to transform the construction industry with an eco-cement product.

Palestine – Clean Palco created eco-friendly materials for construction in Palestine.

Qatar – Wakala is on a mission to make car maintenance and care easy for car owners in Qatar.

Saudi Arabia – Ijien created the first wastewater recycling device for use in laboratories.

Tunisia – Packtus’s alternative shopping bags are biodegradable 100% natural.

UAE – Hydroot’s small-scale hydroponic kits will enable anyone to grow fruits and vegetables.

Yemen – Global Healthy Food is working to make healthy food like cashew butter available in the Yemeni market.

Meet the Judges

High School

Tamer Mosalam, VP & BUGM GCC & Levant, PepsiCo Foods

Lilia Naas, Chief for the Office of the Middle East and North Africa (OMENA), International Trade Centre (ITC)

Serine Srouji, Government Alliance Partner, LinkedIn – MENA

University

Ali Farouki, Chief Executive Officer, Sanad Holdings Ltd

Nitin Thariyan, Senior Director of Optimization and Innovation, Marriot – Europe, Middle East, and Africa

Viktor Hediger, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company

Signature Awards

High School

FedEx Global Possibilities Award: Cortex Wellness, INJAZ UAE

Mastercard Excellence in Technology Award: Hasib, INJAZ Bahrain

Boeing Business Challenge Award: Hiventure, INJAZ Lebanon

Citi Client Focus Award: Stripes, INJAZ Egypt

University

InvestCorp Value Creation Award: Packtus, INJAZ Tunisia

Citi Client Focus Award: Hassad, INJAZ Bahrain

YEC Top Awards

INJAZ Social Impact Award

            High school: Austim-Less World, INJAZ Palestine

            University: Minfeed, INJAZ Lebanon

INJAZ Product of the Year Award

            High-school: Stripes, INJAZ gypt

            University: T2G Company, INJAZ Oman

Soraya Salti Company of the Year Award

            High school: Hasib, INJAZ Bahrain

            University: Clean Palco, INJAZ Palestine

Congratulations to the winning teams!

In addition to winning the top award for high school teams, Hasib from INJAZ Bahrain will also compete for the 2021 de la Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award alongside the first-place Company of the Year teams from Junior Achievement USA, JA Europe, JA Asia Pacific, JA Americas, and JA Africa.