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The MIT Enterprise Forum (MITEF) of the Pan Arab Region has announced the winners of the 11th edition of the Arab Startup Competition, an annual competition designed to support and celebrate innovation in the Arab world by awarding entrepreneurs and providing them with an avenue to exhibit and apply their ideas.

The final award ceremony, in partnership with Community Jameel, and in collaboration with this year’s strategic partners Riyada, Omantel, and Zain Group as a digital partner, was held in Oman on April 19, where nine winning teams were announced. Community Jameel, a social enterprise organization that operates a wide range of initiatives to promote a positive society and economic sustainability, has been a founding partner for 12 consecutive years.

The winning teams were announced at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre during a ceremony that attracted more than 400 investors, business entrepreneurs, media representatives and renowned public figures, such as Ahmad Al Alfi of Sawari Ventures, David Fernandez of Startup Chile, Said Al Shanfari of Omantel, Abdel Aziz Alloughani of Faith Capital Holding, and Abeer Abdullah of Riyada.

Winners of the Ideas Track

1^st Place Winner: Quirkpod (Egypt)
Quirkpod is an online platform that develops students’ 21st century skills through expert-developed content and an engaging UX.

1st Runner up: Spike (Lebanon)
Spike helps make diabetes management less diabetic via software and hardware innovations.

2nd Runner up: Smart Data Logger (Jordan)
Smart Data Logger uses IoT and roaming cellular connection to allow real-time monitoring of the temperature of a shipment.

Winners of the Social Entrepreneurship Track

1^st Place Winner: Al Khudairi (Egypt)
Al Khudairi converts waste and soil-damaging chemical fertilizers into energy. The solution also allows the production of biomethane gas.

1st Runner up: FabricAid (Lebanon)
FabricAid implements a successful European model that gives incentives to NGOs to collect more clothing without worrying about expenses and distribution.

2nd Runner up: Sunbox (Palestine)
Sunbox introduces an affordable off-grid, self-installable small solar kit for families who suffer from electricity shortage.

Winners of the Startups Track

1^ST Place Winner: ProvenMed International (Tunisia)
ProvenMed introduces a solution with options for restoring normal social life for patients suffering from Urine Incontinence.

1st Runner up: WideBot (Egypt)
WideBot offers their platform to businesses to build their chatbots.

1st Runner up: Plotos (UAE)
Plotos connects users to handpicked healthy yet trendy food from favorite restaurants through an innovative user-friendly platform created and endorsed by nutrition experts.

1st Runner up: Solar Foods (Sudan)
Solar Foods is a pioneer eco-friendly company in the field of food processing.

During the ceremony, Hala Fadel, Chair of the Board of MITEF Pan Arab said: "We are so proud that this year's biggest Arab startup event is being held in Oman. This event is not only a competition, but an opportunity for top tier Arab entrepreneurs to present and share their experiences in the area of innovation and the creation and nurturing of an ecosystem for innovation within Oman.  Investing in Arab entrepreneurship will, in turn, contribute to the revitalization of the economy, and lead to the creation of new partnerships that can eventually transform into large institutions."

Fady Mohammed Jameel, President of Community Jameel International, commented saying: "At Community Jameel, we are honored to serve entrepreneurs across the region and have been delighted that our efforts have been so well received. The major success of the MITEF Pan Arab competition has been our record of translating ideas into successful businesses, and innovative concepts into stories of success. Since launching in 2006, we have provided financial support totaling almost $970,000 to over 430 technology and knowledge-based start-ups. More than 2,300 young and ambitious entrepreneurs have received high-level training by regional and world experts creating at least 2,600 new job opportunities."

The final event ceremony included a panel discussion entitled "Building Emerging Ecosystems" led by Hala Fadel with David Fernanédz, Business intelligence at Startup Chile and Ahmed Al Alfi, Founder and Chairman at Sawari Ventures, as speakers. Another panel discussion, themed "What Silicon Valley investors want to see in MENA," was moderated by Sharifa AlBarami, Managing Director at Oman Technology Fund, with Sharif El-Badawi, Partner at 500 Startups and Tarek Fahim, Managing Partner at Endure Capital, as speakers.

Prior to the final award ceremony, the 80 semi-finalists underwent a round of training sessions and presented their work to a jury that brought together a number of key investors and business people.

Find out more about the Arab Startup Competition 11th edition here, and what a replay of the ceremony here.