Hafla Demo Day: Showcasing MENAT's Tech Potential

Did you know that the MENAT region, comprising 19 countries with a population of 556M, boasts one of the largest untapped digitized ecosystems globally? Aiming to transition from oil to tech and innovation, this region holds immense potential for peace, prosperity, and technological advancements. So, who will seize the opportunity and lead the way?

Recently, I was invited to attend Hafla venture Demo Day, an extraordinary digital event that showcased the entrepreneurial spirit driving the MENAT region's tech revolution. And let me tell you, this event was planned by the minute! Every second counted as entrepreneurs from Turkey, Egypt, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Palestine and Israel came together in one vibrant cohort, creating a unique collaboration environment that buzzed with excitement.

During the event, there were almost two hours of non-stop action, led and moderated by the dynamic duo of Hafla venture Builder co-founders Noam Zur and ohad or . We were treated to a diverse range of pitches, each one highlighting groundbreaking ideas and innovative solutions. But the excitement didn't stop there. We also heard an eye-opening fireside chat with Sophie Smith ???? ???? , founder of Nabta Health , who shared her vision for addressing the underserved and under-researched women's health in emerging markets. Nabta Health combines the best of digital and traditional healthcare to empower women to detect, diagnose, and treat chronic diseases from home. Now that's a game-changer!

But let's not forget about the esteemed panel of judges who played a vital role in evaluating the startup's potential. From Izhar Shay , former minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology of Israel, David Akunis , CEO at Flometrica , David Assia , Chairman at iAngels Umur Ozal , Mehdi Alaoui , serial tech entrepreneur, Hasan Abasi , CEO of HAAT Delivery , Jamal Abisourour (贾迈勒) , ISEAF VP for Investments and Innovations, Kaan Ak?n , CEO of Tenity (prev. Hackquarters) Startup Accelerator, Shmuel (Shmulik) Ben-Tovim , director of Fintech.IL Innovation Community , former banker, diplomat and mayor, to Cem Okay , investment officer at 212 , Daniel Slutzky , CFO at Qumra Capital these seasoned investors and entrepreneurs added a unique dimension to the event. Their feedback fueled the spirit of inspiration and growth.

Now, let's dive into the remarkable startups that took the digital stage:

Argeron Medical Ara?t?rma San. ve Tic. A.?. (Turkey): led by Bülent BIDI and Abdullah Olgun , this Medtech startup pitched a urine test to diagnose acute kidney injury, offering a potentially life-saving solution, making their debut from an R&D company to a Medtech manufacturer. AppAsap (Egypt): Leveraging CHATGPT AI, Moatassem Abdelhaleem and his team developed a proprietary engine that builds backend apps, significantly reducing time and cost in app development. COCOA Invest (Bahrain): Addressing the limited options for Islamic investors, led by Omar Shaikh the halal investing app and winner of "The Next 100 Global Awards 2023" allows savers from all income brackets to easily invest in an ethical and Islamic-compliant portfolio. iomi.ae (Dubai): led by Karl Angelopoulos and Peter Koueik , the SHaaS (Smart Home as a Service) startup is democratizing smart homes leveraging cloud-based software, enabling homeowners to transform any residence into a smart home for as little as $15 a month. Seatech Bili?im (Turkey): Led by Servet Ger?ek , this productivity company optimizes corporate use of mail. Dogan Doganca pitched how their opti-mail solution seamlessly integrates into existing CRMs, offering AI-based automation, and digital onboarding to the insurance and logistics markets. Dawsat: Your Wellness From Your Home Kitchen (Israel-Palestine): Tally Zingher and Mas Watad are tackling the growing obesity and diabetes epidemic across the Middle East by offering an AI-powered wellness program, harnessing the power of community and traditional Arab cuisine.

While every startup showcased their remarkable ideas, two ventures stood out. Congratulations to iomi.ae , whose subscription-based smart home solution was voted the crowd's favorite for its affordability and accessibility. And a special shout-out goes to AppAsap , the Demo Day winner as Most Promising Startup whose outstanding pitch and venture riding the AI revolution left a lasting impression on the judges.

A big shoutout to my fellow storytelling experts and mentors who contributed their expertise to the Hafla Program and supported the startups' journey leading up to Demo Day. I am grateful for the chance to witness the innovation, passion, and limitless potential of the MENAT region. It was a fantastic way to kick off the summer! I can't wait to see what these entrepreneurs will achieve next!