StartSmart entrepreneurship competition successfully concludes the semifinals
Community Jameel Saudi, announces the conclusion of the semi-final round of the 7th annual StartSmart Competition, a member of the Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab (J-WEL). The competition is organised by Bab Rizq Jameel to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Saudi Arabia with the aim of increasing the number of SMEs and local job opportunities in the market.
More than 1,000 applicants submitted ideas and projects for the 2023 competition, across four tracks: startups, ideas, social enterprise and environment. From these, 60 teams were chosen to partake in the semifinal stage, which includes participation in an intensive training camp to build entrepreneurial and business management skills. The semi-final round of the competition concluded with 36 teams selected to present at the final round of the competition at the StartSmart Forum 2023.
Community Jameel Saudi, a member of the global network of the Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab (J-WEL) of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), announced the conclusion of the semi-finals of the StartSmart Competition, after three months of intense training.
The competition is sponsored by Community Jameel Saudi and organized by Bab Rizq Jameel, with this year marking its 7th consecutive edition. Through this competition, Community Jameel Saudi aims primarily to bolster the entrepreneurship ecosystem in KSA, fostering innovation, and empowering entrepreneurs to develop their own ideas and projects. This will ultimately help increase the number of SMEs and create of job opportunities in the local market.
This year’s competition witnessed remarkable participation, drawing more than 1,000 applicants from diverse age groups and sectors since its launch in April. Participants chose from four distinct tracks: Startups, Ideas, Social Enterprise, and Environment, with 60 teams qualifying to the semifinal stage. These teams underwent an intensive training camp between 16-18 July, covering a variety of topics, including strategic planning, marketing, and financial management. During the Virtual Demo Day, participants presented their projects and ideas to a judging panel, resulting in the selection of 36 teams for the final stage.