MANAMA: A Jordan-based start-up that acts as a cloud contact centre for businesses in the region was adjudged the “strongest and most outstanding” new business idea in a competition at a major global tech expo in Saudi Arabia.
Maqsam won the $250,000 LEAP Award at the Rocket Fuel Start-up Pitch Competition on the final day of the three-day LEAP 2022, the largest-ever debut technology event that was held at the Riyadh Front conference and exhibition centre, from February 1-3.
“In a world where business is more global than ever, we understand that customers want to be serviced more locally and personally as well,” said Fouad Jeryes who, along with another regional tech industry veteran Sinan Taifour, founded the start-up in 2019.
“We have done the heavy lifting to democratise and lower the barriers to prosperity and market access through our platform.”
Maqsam provides high-quality voice calls, SMS, WhatsApp messaging and can be seamlessly integrated into popular cloud CRM (cloud relationship management) and Helpdesk solutions.
The other award winners were:
The Shooting Star Award for best early-stage start-up:
Winner: Omniful (Saudi Arabia, $150,000), a quick commerce operations platform that helps retailers and dark store operators ship orders rapidly.
Runner-up: Polymeron (Saudi Arabia, $100,000), a start-up that seeks to make environmentally friendly, 100 per cent biodegradable plastic using organic waste from dates.
The Aviatrix Award for the best female-led start-up:
Winner: GameIT Square (Saudi Arabia, $150,000) which leverages children’s addiction to gaming as an education tool.
Runner-up: Cubex Global (UAE, $100,000) which makes it easy for businesses to buy and sell cubic metres of freight container space in a real-time auction set-up.
The Technology for Humanity Award for a start-up that best embodies the spirit of LEAP:
Winner: Nadeera Technologies (UAE, $150,000) which brings citizen and technology together to reduce, reuse and sort waste for municipalities.
Runner-up: Pasqal (France, $100,000) which provides quantum processors for use in complex computing challenges.
The competition’s judging panel consisted of Steven Bartlett and James Caan from the hit BBC investor show Dragons’ Den, renowned football player turned tech entrepreneur Michel Salgado, Saudi Venture Company chief executive Dr Nabil Koshak, West Ham United Football Club vice-chairperson Baroness Karen Brady, TV personality, author and entrepreneur Kelly Hoppen, and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology entrepreneurship centre manager Hattan Ahmed.
Meanwhile, LEAP 22 attracted more than 100,000 participants from 80 countries, 700+ exhibitors including the world’s leading tech companies, 1,500+ innovative start-ups and 500+ international speakers.
Besides investments and new tech initiatives of more than $6.4 billion, multiple investments and funds for start-ups and entrepreneurs worth more than $266 million were also announced at the event.
Following the success of LEAP 22, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has directed that the conference be held every year.
“After the huge success and record debut event, HRH Prince Mohammed has ordered me to make LEAP an annual event,” said Communications and Information Technology Minister Abdullah Alswaha.
The second edition of LEAP will be held from February 6-9, 2023.
&uuid=(email))