After six months of intensive development and gaining both local and international experiences, Kuwaiti entrepreneurs participated in the Zain Demo Day, the most significant stage of Zain’s acclaimed Zain Great Idea (ZGI) accelerator program. During this event, participants presented their innovative strategies and plans to tackle challenges in an era of rapid technological evolution. The Demo Day was attended by key figures from investment firms, local entrepreneurs, and strategic partners.
The event took place at the Four Seasons Hotel, Kuwait, and saw attendance from Zain executives, including Nawaf Al-Gharabally, CEO of Zain Kuwait; Malik Hammoud, Chief Investment and Digital Transformation Officer of Zain Group; Hammad Al-Morouzi, Chief Enterprise Business Officer of Zain Kuwait; and Andrew Hanna, CEO of ZainTECH. The event also featured prominent figures from Rasameel Investment, Architek, and other notable representatives from various investment firms, government officials, diplomats, and entrepreneurs.
Demo Day allowed finalists to pitch their startups to the local investment community through engaging presentations. Each startup also had the opportunity to showcase their services and introduce their teams to attendees through dedicated booths.
Participants shared their strategic visions, expansion plans, and approaches for utilizing cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence to solve problems facing startups. The event also facilitated networking between participants and investment partners, enabling startups to connect with potential investors to build sustainable businesses that address local and regional market needs.
Nawaf Al-Gharabally expressed his pride, noting, “Today, we celebrate the 15th anniversary of our flagship tech startup accelerator, Zain Great Idea. Back in 2010, when we initiated this program, entrepreneurship and startup accelerators were not as prevalent as they are now. ZGI has set a new benchmark in the region.”
He continued, “This fills me with immense pride. Zain has always been at the forefront of digital transformation and technological innovation, but we’ve also led efforts in community development and fostering creativity.”
Al-Gharabally emphasized the human-centric mission of ZGI, stating, “Zain’s mission has always centered around people. Our belief in ‘Better Lives and Lasting Connections’ underscores that investment in human talent is the key to fostering innovation and driving technological advancement, which ultimately strengthens our economy.”
Over the years, the ZGI program has evolved into a comprehensive platform, accelerating the growth of hundreds of startups and empowering thousands of entrepreneurs. Many ZGI alumni have gone on to build businesses that attracted substantial investments.
He further acknowledged the contributions of Zain Ventures in expanding the program, stating: “Zain Ventures has played a pivotal role by continuously pursuing investment opportunities in venture capital, fintech, and digital innovations. Their commitment to supporting ZGI startups has been invaluable.”
Al-Gharabally also thanked the partners, mentors, and ZGI’s global supporters who have contributed to the program’s success over the years. He concluded, “As we say every year, we do not consider Demo Day to be the end, but rather the first step in the journey of growth and development for these startups. We look forward to the future success of these entrepreneurs.”
During the event, Zain Innovation and Entrepreneurship Expert Haya Al-Mana revealed that for the first time, the ZGI program will expand to include participants from across the Middle East. This initiative will bring a more diverse set of ideas and backgrounds to the program, further enhancing the growth of the regional startup ecosystem.
ZGI’s global acceleration program, which takes place in leading innovation hubs like Silicon Valley, will now offer participants from various regional markets the opportunity to gain more diverse experiences and open new avenues for growth.
At Demo Day, ten Kuwaiti startups presented their innovative projects to investors. These included: Lama Aloraiman and Ksenia Ozkok from BLU DOT (a platform for transforming access to space), Dalal Thani from Akreem (an app enabling secure service provider interactions), Raghad Al Zamel from MAWADA (an ultimate gifting platform), Hamad Althunayan and Ryan Dougherty from DAWRATY (a quality education platform), and Abdulrahman Al Hamdan from Nextable (a platform for revolutionizing the dining experience).
The event also featured presentations from Faisal Tawfiq and Maxime Rousselout from Usim (a digital asset management platform), Eissa Aloussi from STAX (an app offering memberships to Kuwait’s best gyms), Abdullah Albusairi from EYON (an Arab live streaming platform), Samih Shaaban from Mawal (a parking app), and Tola Alzaifri from QBMAPS (an e-commerce and GIS solutions app).
ZGI, launched in strategic partnership with Zain Ventures and Rasameel Investment, continues its mission to open sustainable growth and investment doors for entrepreneurs and startups in Kuwait. For 15 years, Zain Great Idea has been one of the most impactful business accelerators, offering numerous opportunities to ambitious entrepreneurs and startups.
Zain aims to empower Kuwait’s tech startup ecosystem by fostering an innovation-driven environment with tangible economic and social impact. This initiative also supports Zain’s strategic vision for diversification and growth in a competitive market. Additionally, Zain may acquire stakes in ZGI startups, helping to amplify their growth potential and commercial success.
