Egypt-based agritech startup Viridia Tech has emerged as the overall winner of the 2024 Mega Green Accelerator, securing a $100,000 grand prize in Saudi Arabia for its impactful data analytics platform, which helps farmers cultivate crops more sustainably and efficiently.
Viridia Tech was recognized during a dynamic Demo Day held in Riyadh, where eight startups from across the Middle East and North Africa showcased their innovative solutions addressing food security, clean energy transitions, and the circular economy. The Mega Green Accelerator, launched in 2023 by PepsiCo, SABIC, AstroLabs, and eleven other strategic partners, received over 350 submissions. The selected startups underwent a six-month program that included training, workshops, mentorship, and opportunities to network and access investors.
“PepsiCo has been a key partner in the region for 70 years, and we remain committed to supporting progress and empowering the next generation. Through MENA Innovates, we are focused on driving meaningful change by backing startups and promoting innovation across the region,” stated Wael Ismail, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, PepsiCo AMESA (Africa, Middle East, and South Asia).
At the Demo Day, Viridia Tech was celebrated for its artificial intelligence and data analytics platform, which provides real-time insights and recommendations to help farmers enhance crop yields sustainably and forecast production accurately.
The second place prize of $30,000 was awarded to Mirai Solar, a Saudi Arabia-based startup out of KAUST, for its innovative solar-powered shade system.
Despite the growing interest in agritech, it is noteworthy that none of the companies participating in the competition included submissions from Israel, a recognized global leader in agtech, solar, and water technologies. Green Prophet has called on Saudi Arabia, which aims to become a global tourism and business hub by 2030, to combat antisemitism, particularly regarding the exclusion of Jewish candidates from MENA prizes and exhibitions. This historical exclusion has often been circumvented by inviting “Palestinians,” including Arab Israelis, while sidelining Jewish Israeli members from participation in regional events.
Several leading cleantech innovations from Israel include CropX, Ormat Geothermal, and SolarEdge, which focus on solar energy technology.
About the Startups Participating in the 2024 Edition:
- UAE: Mrüna, inspired by the Arabic word for resilience, is a consulting and distribution company dedicated to developing innovative urban solutions, notably its flagship product BiomWeb, which uses emerging technologies for wastewater treatment and reuse. The Surpluss is a US-patented climate technology startup that assists SMEs in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through resource-sharing on a digital sustainability exchange.
- Saudi Arabia: Mirai Solar utilizes solar energy with its lightweight, foldable Mirai Screen, improving energy efficiency for food production and smart buildings. AHYA TECHNOLOGIES is developing climate software and AI solutions for scaling climate action across the MENA region, including an AI-powered greenhouse gas emissions operating system and a voluntary carbon marketplace.
- Lebanon: YY ReGen focuses on agritech and renewable energy, promoting a regenerative approach to power, water, and agriculture.
- Egypt: Viridia Tech provides crop analytics at scale for industrial agriculture, enhancing monitoring capabilities and yielding significant improvements in productivity and sustainability metrics. P-VITA specializes in producing natural raw materials for cosmetics and food & beverage industries, employing AI and IoT technologies to minimize carbon footprints.
- Tunisia: Kumulus is a water tech startup that innovatively converts air into fresh drinking water through atmospheric water generation machines, making water more accessible and sustainable for businesses across MENA and southern Europe.
