Ambassador Pitch Event with RIT-Dubai

Dubai, UAE, Oct. 29, 2018. – Finalists of MENACatalyst’s Dubai Pitch Challenge were invited to speak at an event organized by MENACatalyst and hosted by RIT University in Dubai. Speakers from Palestine included, Rawan Abu Shira CEO and CO-founder of Halalivery, Salah Hussien, CEO and CO-Founder of EZPilot, and Yasmeen Majlli CEO and founder of BabyFist. The event featured prominent jury members including, Hans Henrik Christensen, Vice President of DTEC as well as Mashal Waqar, COO of The Tempest, and Novel Tjahyadi, Senior Innovation Specialist of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA).

Dr. Yousef Al-Assaf, President of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), opened the event praising the efforts, innovation, creativity and passion of the participating startups. Dr. Al-Assaf also highlighted the importance of promoting innovation and entrepreneurship as the basis for creating economies that are not only self-sustaining but that are resilient to fluctuations and growing needs of emerging markets.

Palestinian startups pitched alongside RIT Alumni in front of a jury panel to receive invaluable feedback and advice to enhance their business model and ability to appeal to investors. Furthermore, not only participants but attending startups from Palestine and the UAE were able to engage in constructive discussions to learn from each other, create new networks and in general support innovation and entrepreneurship as the foundation for any viable startup. 

In addition, MENACatalyst took part in Middle East Venture Partners’ (MEVP) pitching session. MEVP is a leading venture capital firm that invests in early and growth stage startups led by innovative and talented entrepreneurs. The event allowed MENACatalyst as well as participating startups to gain insight into the inner workings of venture capital firms, learn more about how investors choose innovative startups to invest in and create a network of investors that care about supporting local Palestinian enterprise.

Walid Mansour, Partner and Chief Investment Officer of MEVP, headed the event. With a welcoming statement addressed to participating startups and investors, Mansour stressed that startups approaching investors must have a clear idea of what they are looking for, so as establish mutually beneficial partnerships. Furthermore, Mansour relates that it is essential that startups have a clear vision, workable market plan, sustainable growth trajectory and a competent team in order to appeal to regional as well as international based investors.

These events allowed MENACatalyst and accompanying Palestinian based startups to not only connect and collaborate with high profile investors from the UAE but to tap into the vast experience and expertise of high profile business leaders. These events were organized with the purpose of enhancing the viability and visibility of Palestinian led enterprise and to work towards creating a community of support to build a resilient Palestinian virtual global economy led by innovation, collaboration and industry.

MENACatalyst’s Dubai Pitch Challenge and subsequent Demo Events are jointly funded by Taawon (Welfare Association), and KOICA (Korean International Cooperation Agency).