Collaboration between “KAUST” and “Misk” to organize the Entrepreneurship World Cup...

For the second year in a row, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is participating in the Misk Global Forum in organizing this year’s Entrepreneurship World Cup, which is the largest and most diverse competition to support entrepreneurship in the world, with the participation of 175,000 applicants from 200 countries, as KAUST hosted A training camp for the finalists before the final qualifiers that will be held virtually (remotely) as part of the annual gathering of the Misk Global Forum, from 18 to 20 October.

The Entrepreneurship World Cup this year attracted 15,000 applications for participation from Saudi entrepreneurs, 15 of whom were chosen to present their projects virtually in the Saudi qualifiers for the competition, which was held on September 7, 2020, and the jury selected 6 of these Saudi companies to participate in the global final, as the companies will cross The first 3 winners automatically make it to the final, while the remaining 3 will compete with other international semi-finalists, and the winning startups will receive a cash prize of $ 50,000.

4 of these companies graduated from Taqadam, a startup accelerator supported by KAUST and the Saudi British Bank (SABB), and they are:

First place – Talon Dust Control, Progress 2019 graduate – Saudi technology for dust control and treatment.

• Second Place – Edamah for Organic Solutions, Graduate Progress 2018 – the first Saudi solution for recycling organic waste.

Fifth Place – Peregrine Genomics 2019 Graduate Progress 2019 – An advanced platform for genetic diagnostic tests.

• Sixth Place – Muqyas, Progress Graduate 2019 – An application to adjust the size of clothes according to the user’s measurements.

The winning companies in the Saudi qualifiers will join 100 international startups to participate in the global final, as these companies were selected through 65 virtual events held this summer from around the world and the list included a strong group of applicants from a wide range of sectors and different stages, to ensure the highest possible level of competition and diversity. Global, and the winning companies will receive cash prizes totaling one million dollars, in addition to additional investment opportunities and in-kind support of up to 75 million dollars.

In addition to these global prizes, the Entrepreneurship World Cup organizes many national competitions with special prizes and unique investment opportunities, and also provides all international participants with immediate access to free training programs with consulting expertise, experienced mentors and privileges of up to $ 25,000 from By many corporate sponsors such as Zoom, Amazon, and Shopify.

KAUST plays an important role in this global event, as it participated in the jury in the Saudi qualifiers for the competition, and it will participate in the judging process in the global final and hold a series of workshops and seminars. For the second year in a row, the University’s Entrepreneurship Center hosted a virtual training camp during the period. From September 27 to 28, to prepare the finalist teams, help them expand their networks, refine their entrepreneurial skills, and present their projects to investors.

The head of the Entrepreneurship Center at KAUST Hattan Ahmed said: “The world today is going through a unique period of uncertainty, and the world’s economies are moving rapidly towards the digital age. Therefore, it is the responsibility of young minds and entrepreneurs to lead the wheel of change by innovating technologies and harnessing their entrepreneurial potential in creating Influential projects, and KAUST is a natural partner for the Entrepreneurial World Cup organized by the Misk Foundation, as both organizations share the global ambition to attract emerging companies in the field of technology, pioneering global talent, and build a global path that makes the Kingdom a prominent destination for entrepreneurship, and this competition is one of the most Global competitions are ambitious – and we are excited to participate with Misk to reach thousands of startups and help them achieve their dreams. ”

The Director of the World Cup Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurship Program in Misk Abdul Rahman Al-Suhaimi said: “We in the Entrepreneurship World Cup team are very happy to have KAUST participate with us in this important event, especially since we share the same vision in supporting young cadres, which are the greatest asset to confronting challenges and change. The great experience that KAUST possesses and its global leadership in this field will be of good help to those who qualify for the World Final, and will enable them to highlight their potential and develop their capabilities in a supportive and dynamic ecosystem that values ​​cooperation, partnership, and interest in society as much as it encourages it to compete. ”

As a result of the cooperation between KAUST and the Misk Foundation during the first edition of the Entrepreneurial World Cup 2019, 6 startups that graduated from the entrepreneurship programs in KAUST have qualified, namely, DAD, Kyura, Fahim, Sadeem, UNIT X, and the Red Sea Farms that won third place in the global final. It has signed a cooperation agreement with the Kirchner Group.

KAUST’s participation in this influential global event confirms its great commitment to empowering youth to advance national influence, innovation, research and development initiatives by supporting startups that are among the important factors that will change the economy of the future.

It is noteworthy that 4 of the 6 Saudi startups in KAUST are among the top 100 startups in the world that will compete in the global final of the competition during the Misk Global Forum 2020, which is held under the auspices of the Misk Foundation, which was established by the Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to empower Saudi youth.