Bahrain Economic Development Board

Nov 24, 2023

The Daily Tribune –  www.newsofbahrain.com StartUp Bahrain, the prominent platform championing startups in the Kingdom of Bahrain, recently played host to the eighth edition of the highly anticipated StartUp Bahrain Pitch series. In collaboration with key industry stakeholders, including the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), the Bahrain Economic Development Board, and Bahrain Development Bank (BDB), this event unfolded as a special edition in partnership with the Supreme Council for Women at Riyadat Mall. The event was graced by a keynote speech from Amal Dokhan, the General Partner of 500 Global. Dokhan shared her personal entrepreneurial journey, delving into the challenges faced, risks encountered, and opportunities seized during her path to growth in the field. This edition showcased five innovative Bahraini startups, presenting their compelling business ideas to a distinguished panel of judges, featuring local and regional experts such as Fajer Alpachachi, General Manager at Hope Ventures; Vijay Tirathrai, Managing Director of Riyadh Techstars; Eman Shakoor, Founder & CEO of Blossom Accelerator, and Amal Dokhan, General Partner at 500 Global. Ahead of the event, the participating startups underwent an intensive ‘Raise: Art of Fundraising’ bootcamp, led by industry experts. Among the startups were Arsedh, providing a smart, contactless digital alternative for paper receipts; Imprint Production (Ba9ma), a Bahraini production company focused on local filmmaking and art; Sellou, a location-centric social media app connecting consumers to places, products, and people; IBuildNow, an online local multi-vendor marketplace aiming to digitize the construction industry, and Siin, a B2C marketplace revolutionising e-commerce through live video. After a series of engaging pitches, the panel of judges meticulously evaluated each startup’s potential and ideas. The coveted first-place winner was announced as Siin, founded by Hesham Al Saati. Al Saati expressed gratitude, stating, “StartUp Bahrain Pitch was a pivotal stage for spotlighting our startup, and we couldn’t be more grateful to all the stakeholders that poured their resources and tools into providing us with such support. Our heartfelt appreciation extends to the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Tamkeen, the Bahrain Economic Development Board, Bahrain Development Bank, the esteemed judging panel, and, of course, StartUp Bahrain, for granting us an incredible opportunity.” Siin is pioneering the Gulf’s premier live shopping marketplace, fusing the excitement of live video with the convenience of online shopping. With plans to launch in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in January 2024, Siin aims to redefine the e-commerce landscape, making live shopping easy, safe, and fun for buyers and sellers alike. Prev Post