ACCELERATING THE FUTURE
Category: Press
DisruptAD and Flat6Labs Launch Ignite In Abu Dhabi, an AED 120m Seed Program
DisruptAD, one of the region’s largest venture platforms, is partnering with Flat6Labs, MENA’s leading seed investor and the largest manager of startup programs in the region, to launch Ignite, a new start-up accelerator in Abu Dhabi that will support early stage companies with AED 120 million in funding and other benefits including office space and mentorship.
The program is part of DisruptAD’s broader mission to support and nurture 1,000 start-ups over the next five years and create a thriving local community of founders, fund managers, incubators and accelerators in Abu Dhabi. Ignite will be the first of many such accelerator partnerships for DisruptAD.
The launch of Ignite in partnership with Flat6Labs underpins DisruptAD’s long-term desire to maximize value creation and deliver long-term economic benefits for the UAE by seeding businesses that are technology pioneers and change leaders.
The program will run over a three-year period, investing in 20 startups every year. Applications for the first cycle will be open until 30th of April 2021, offering participating companies the opportunity to benefit from a seed investment worth up to AED 550,000, together with follow-on funding of up to AED 2 million. Startups will also receive tailored support designed to help them effectively scale and grow their businesses to become regional champions and ultimately global champions.
As part of the Ignite program, startups will benefit from opportunities for regional exposure and world-class mentorship through Flat6Labs’ international connections and top-tier coaching. These companies will also enjoy access to DisruptAD’s network and resources. The program will organize Flat6Labs Demo Days, support fundraising and business build out, and ultimately offer the full spectrum of support needed for start-ups to thrive and flourish in Abu Dhabi.
Ramez El-Serafy, Flat6Labs CEO, commented: “We are delighted to partner with DisruptAD for the launch of this three-year program. Flat6Labs’ presence in Abu Dhabi opens up exciting new possibilities, not only for this program but for the long-term evolution of Abu Dhabi as a global start-up destination. Together, we will harness our accumulated knowledge and experience to better serve the entrepreneurial ecosystem and create unique opportunities for promising startups.”
To find out more about Flat6Labs Ignite, please visit this link.
Flat6Labs Launches New Global Brand Identity
Flat6Labs, MENA’s leading seed and early stage VC, and manager of startup programs in the region, introduces a new streamlined visual brand identity and a new unified website. Given Flat6Labs expansive operations and impact across MENA over the past 10 years, the new brand identity is launched to ensure a consistent and enhanced experience for entrepreneurs, partners and investors alike across the region.
As part of the unified brand language, Flat6Labs will now be identifying its flagship VC-backed programs as “Seed Programs” instead of “Accelerator Programs”, while still offering ticket sizes ranging from $50K to $500k, supporting startups through their early journeys from Pre-Seed all the way to Pre-Series A stages.
Flat6Labs also manages a wide range of startup programs across the region, from bootcamps and incubation programs helping entrepreneurs spark and develop venture concepts, all the way to bespoke corporate accelerator programs in different industry verticals enabling startups to build prototypes, and helping them access their target markets.
Ramez El-Serafy, Flat6Labs CEO commented: “Launching this new and unique brand identity is far from just a visual change. We are streamlining our operations across all our offices in MENA, bolstering our efforts to support more innovative entrepreneurs, and laying the groundwork for exciting developments in our offerings to startups and partners that we will announce very soon.”
With an active presence in six countries, Flat6Labs has invested in more than 300 startups to date with a combined investment value of around $35M, creating more than 8,000 jobs across a wide range of industries. Flat6Labs is currently managing a number of seed funds with total assets under management (AUM) exceeding $45M, with more than 20 leading institutional investors and Limited Partners (LPs).
To download the new Flat6Labs brand kit click here.
The National Council for Women, UN Women, and Flat6Labs Launch a Hackathon on “Fighting Violence against Women Using Technology”
Cairo, 24 February 2021 — Today marks the launch “Fighting Violence Against Women Using Technology” Hackathon on social media platforms. This hackathon is organized by StartEgypt powered by Flat6Labs in collaboration with the National Council for Women (NCW) and UN Women Egypt, recognising the significant role that entrepreneurship plays in providing innovative solutions to address societal issues. The hackathon challenge includes three key tracks: fighting cybercrimes against women using technology, combating forms of violence against women in the public sphere, and digitization of violence against women complaints and tracking mechanism with relevant government authorities. The hackathon will be virtually held in March in commemoration of the “Women’s Month”.
H.E. Dr. Maya Morsy, President of the National Council for Women (NCW), stated that “Addressing violence against women in all its forms is a crucial necessity and is considered a serious societal issue which harms women and girls, as well as their families and communities. All means and tools must be utilized to confront violence against women and pursue practical solutions to face it, while addressing the root causes”. “Technological advancement is a double-edged tool. Despite its role in creating new forms of violence against women, it has also become one of the most important tools that we can use positively and effectively to address this issue that has become a major concern for the entire society” Dr. Morsy added. “By launching this hackathon with our partners, we endeavor to pursue creative and innovative ideas that are in line with the times and challenges imposed on us, and contribute to working towards a society free from violence against women.” Dr.Morsy stated.
Ms. Christine Arab, UN Women Representative in Egypt expressed her pleasure in partnering with the National Council for Women and the Flat6Labs ‘StartEgypt’ program in launching this hackathon since it represents the consolidated efforts of the government, the business sector and the United Nations in providing opportunities for entrepreneurs to solve societal problems using technology. She added, “The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed a new reality on us, which requires finding innovative solutions using technological means to address violence against women in the public and virtual spheres. We also seek to use economic empowerment programs, especially the component on entrepreneurship, to build distinct partnerships aimed at empowering women on all levels. Greater economic autonomy for women results in their greater voice and leadership in the home and in public life. ” Ms. Arab also indicated that the Joint Programme between UN Women and UNIDO implemented in partnership with the National Council for Women and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and with the support of the Government of Canada, will continue to provide an opportunity for innovative ideas that solve societal problems through entrepreneurship.
Mr. Hassan Mansi, Program Director of ‘StartEgypt’ powered by Flat6Labs, stated that “Egyptian women are not only one half of society, but also Egyptian women entrepreneurs have proven an unprecedented ability to succeed and compete at various levels. At Flat6Labs, we are proud not only of the nearly 40% participation of female entrepreneurs in our various programs, but also proud of the graduates who have been able to make a qualitative impact in their field, whether graduates of the StartEgypt business incubator, such as Salma Medhat, the founder of “Matkhafeesh” , an online application to fight harassment. We are also proud of Flat6Labs business accelerator graduates such as “Doaa Aref” who through her online application “Shifa” was able to provide a unique service to deliver medicine to chronic disease patients in Egypt, and attract investors to grow her business and help in her journey towards excellence.”
StartEgypt Program, supported by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and managed by Flat6Labs, is specifically designed to inspire and support thousands of Egyptian entrepreneurs in the field of community impact. StartEgypt was incepted in 2017 and started its first round in June 2018.
The Hackathon’s jury includes representatives from the National Council for Women, UN Women Egypt Country Office, the Economic Council of the British Embassy in Cairo, and StartEgypt Program. Three teams will be selected to win Hackathon cash prizes for a total of EGP 20,000. In addition, the winning teams will be hosted in the business incubator of the StartEgypt Program to receive the appropriate training and guidance to develop their projects.
The “Fighting Violence Against Women Using Technology” hackathon is a digital competition that targets young male and female entrepreneurs that offer digital solutions that could help society in facing various forms of violence against women and girls, whether virtual (cyber harassment, extortion, etc.) or in public and private places (sexual harassment, domestic violence, female genital mutilation, etc.).
Flat6Labs Turns 9: A Journey Through Time With 9 Startups
Over the past 9 years, Flat6Labs has enabled the transformation of the startup ecosystem through the 290+ pioneering startups it has invested in, the 660+ founders it trained and mentored, and the 38 Demo Days that exposed the startups to investors, corporates and the media. Flat6Labs has also achieved its first exit in less than 18 months from date of investment; and it’s currently managing AUM of $45mn. Flat6Labs’ portfolio of companies have collectively raised almost twice their invested capital.
Currently, Flat6Labs stands as one of the most active early stage investors in the MENA region, and this wouldn’t have been possible without the team, the support of our partners and mentors, and the belief that the ecosystem has in Flat6Labs.
“Flat6Labs’ 9-year journey has been one that captured the very essence of our belief in the talents, skills, and passions of MENA’s aspiring entrepreneurs. The continuous support Flat6Labs has been capable of giving to its 290+ startups and the successes during the past nine years, wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing team of 50+ colleagues across six countries, 30+ LP investors in our funds and to the thousands of individuals who have believed in us, and in our mission to transform the region through innovation and entrepreneurship.” — Ramez El Serafy, CEO of Flat6Labs.
In hindsight, many of our startups enabled this success by showing great promise, and they have thus become renowned in their respective fields.Nine of these startups are Instabug, Simplex, Sawerly, Clearmove, Moneyfellows, Hawaya, Mint Basil Market, SINC, and GoMyCode.
Instabug (2012 — Flat6Labs Cairo)
Since Flat6Labs Cairo invested in Instabug in 2012, the bug-reporting platform has grown tremendously to provide its solutions to 25,000 companies across the globe and to have its solutions implemented in countless apps across 400,000,000 devices. Their one line of code has attracted tech giants like OnePlus, Ebay, Lyft, EA Sports, Philips, Soundcloud, and more.
Most recently, Instabug has received a Series A funding worth $5M from Accel ,an American VC firm, and other renowned angel investors. In an interview with Waya Media, Omar Gabr, Instabug’s Co-founder said, “We grew 120% in revenues in the last 12 months, adding dozens of Enterprise customers. We’ve always been running a disciplined business, we’re almost profitable for some time now. This is what made our fundraising fast in the middle of all the current events.”
In the upcoming few months, Instabug is aiming to release a number of new services into the ecosystem, as well as expand their operations and their team.
Simplex (2013 — Flat6Labs Cairo)
Simplex has been one of the first businesses in Egypt to create locally manufactured and assembled CNC machines. Being the pioneer it is at that, the likes of the Egyptian Ministry of Transportation and Schneider Electric have relied on their solutions, instead of depending on importing plasma machines and milling machines.
“We have exported a range of our machines to 12 countries so far, and we’ve opened a 5000m2 new factory in 10th of Ramadan, Egypt. Flat6Labs’ seed investment, connections, and continuous support have been paramount to our current success and future growth.” — Ahmed Shaaban, Simplex Co-founder
Sawerly (2014 — Flat6Labs Jeddah)
Sawerly is a Saudi-based online marketplace that connects photographers with potential clients. The startup’s growth over the past years has seen various photographers using their platform as a main source of stable income.
In an interview with Startup MGZN, the Co-founder, Hussein Attar shared “a few photographers are making about 10K SAR a month through our platform so far. We’ve also established a shop in the UAE in the hopes of positioning Sawerly as the go-to place for all photography solutions, and our latest partnership with Silkroad Images as well will allow photographers to sell their photos through our platform.”
Clearmove (2015 — Flat6Labs Abu Dhabi) (Previously known as Sakkini)
Clearmove (previously known as Sakkini) is a mobility platform that helps employers track, deploy, and manage their employees. Their solution has so far been adopted by 500+ entities, and they operate in 144+ countries. The startup has also spent around 150K hours into R&D and has hired over 70+ talents internationally. In 2016, the startup has raised $4m to expand its operations globally, to do more R&D, and develop more alliances internationally.
Moneyfellows (2016 — Flat6Labs Cairo)
The money circles app, MoneyFellows, has taken the liking of many in Egypt since it has transformed the time and effort consuming money-saving circles, into a technologically-enabled service. In 2020, the company raised $4m in a Series A investment from Venture Capital firms, Partech, and Sawari Ventures.
“We’re currently seeking to expand our efforts locally to other governorates in Egypt, and we also have plans to expand regionally by June 2021. You can also expect a line of new services to be launched by next year.” — Ahmed Wadi, Moneyfellows Co-founder
Hawaya (Harmonica) (2017 — Flat6Labs Cairo)
After Hawaya (Harmonica) joined Flat6Labs Cairo in 2017, they have quickly garnered the attention of individuals who are seeking serious relationships in Egypt. The match-making app has since gone to raise funding from both Flat6Labs and 500 Startups in March 2018 worth $150K to double-down on their algorithms and expand the reach of their mobile application.
In August 2019, the startup received an acquisition deal by the Internet Giant, Match Group, which gave Flat6Labs the opportunity to make its first major exit at a 16x return on investment in just over one year. The application later changed its name to Hawaya. Currently, they are expanding into different countries where match-making for serious relationships is desired.
Hawaya now has grown into 13 different markets and has helped over 3 million single Muslims begin their love journeys!
“We’re thrilled to announce that we were invited to ring the opening bell at the Nasdaq stock exchange, celebrating five years of Match Group as a publicly traded company on the US Stock Market and commemorating our success in fostering meaningful connections around the world!” — Hawaya Team
Mint Basil Market (2018 — Flat6Labs Beirut)
Mint Basil Market, The online marketplace for all-natural diet, beauty and household products has been making valiant efforts to impact the Lebanese community after its graduation from Flat6Labs Beirut. Currently, they have been hammering down on their new line of immunity products as COVID-19 sweeps the world. However, after Lebanon was struck with the explosion that took the lives of many and destroyed much of the city of Beirut, the startup took it as a mission to help the Lebanese people through sponsored donation packages to be sent to Arcenciel (a Lebanese based non-profit organization) and has shared a list of psychologists and organizations offering free psychological support. Currently, the startup has its sights set on UAE as a plan of expansion, and they will be joining Womena’s upcoming cycle.
“Flat6Labs has opened a lot of doors for us and we’ll always be grateful for how the team gave up parts of their office space so we could have a warehouse that wasn’t my bedroom in the early days of launching. They’ve also introduced us to one of our angel investors, and were a great support system during some of our most challenging moments. We’re really grateful.” — Vanessa Zuabi, Mint Basil Market’s CEO & Co-founder.
SINC (2019 — Flat6Labs Bahrain)
SINC acts as an employee management platform that helps employers track the activity of employees by recording staff time sheets, on-shift locations, HR notes, safety feedback and more.
In 2019, the company raised $250K in pre-funding. Now, the startup helps 4,000+ businesses manage and track their employees through their platforms in the UK, USA, as well as other countries. The startup has received seed funding from Flat6Labs Bahrain in Spring 2018.
“Flat6Labs were the first people outside of the founders to believe in SINC’s vision. Their early support enabled us to hire our first employees and go on to raise multiple rounds of funding. The connections we’ve made through Demo Day ended up leading to funding and are still influential advisors in our company today.” — Samuel Dolbel, SINC’s Co-founder.
GoMyCode (2020 — Flat6Labs Tunis)
GoMyCode was first funded by Flat6Labs Tunis in December 2019. Since they were funded they have gone to reach more of Tunisia’s coding society to help develop the capabilities of both youngsters and professionals. Their vision is to help create a high-end computer science education for everyone to fulfill their potential and realize their passion for building and shipping real products.
“We’re planning on launching 4 new Hacker Spaces, in Algeria, in Station F in France, Egypt, and Morocco. We’re also currently working on developing a new website and rebranding as well as working on launching a new tech channel: www.gomytech.co. Most recently, we’ve raised $450K to further our growth and help with our expansion plans in the MENA region.” — Yahya Bouhlel, GoMyCode founder.
While innovation is at the core of Flat6Labs and its startups, it takes more than just innovation to success. Our startups across MENA have been resilient, passionate, and hardworking through many challenges, the latest of which is the pandemic. It is not just about innovation, it is also about execution and the continuous drive to bring something new to the table and to impact the community.
Flat6Labs Tunis Hosts Its Fifth Demo Day & Graduates 8 Startups Digitally
Flat6Labs Tunis has proudly celebrated it’s fifth Demo Day on Wednesday May 13th at 2 PM Tunis time / 1 GMT online, with 8 innovative startups presenting their businesses to hundreds of registered attendees.
The fifth cycle includes startups operating across a range of industries including Industry 4.0, Automotive, Marketplaces, Robotics, Education, FinTech and Tourism. All startups have technology at their core and ready to showcase their products to potential investors, media and the larger business community.
You can view and connect with the startups here: https://demoday.flat6labstunis.com/.
The accelerator has strategically worked to expand its network by constantly promoting new partnerships with stakeholders in the public and private sectors. Its main partners are Meninx Holding, the Tunisian American Enterprise Fund (TAEF), BIAT Bank, as well as the International Financial Corporation (IFC) who joined the fund last year. The recent partnership with IFC includes an investment of $1M in the Anava Seed Fund managed by Flat6Labs Tunis to encourage women and youth initiatives, in addition to technical support to the accelerator.
During the past 3 years of operations, the startup accelerator and investment fund has reached many important milestones that include supporting its portfolio by securing follow-on funding, creating jobs, increasing awareness about entrepreneurship and supporting startups across the local ecosystem in Tunisia.
Flat6Labs Tunis has received more than 1,500 applications, but only 36 Tunisian Startups were chosen for our five cycles and they were the ones who graduated from the program with an initial investment of 200,000 TND, in addition to technical perks, rigorous training, coaching, access to an extended network of investors that enhanced their business development and their products and services.
Moreover, the accelerator played a major role in inspiring young people towards entrepreneurship by engaging with the community and partnering with local universities and professional organizations with a major focus on entrepreneurship such as Open Startup Tunisia and Enactus, as well as corporates like E&Y and Meubles Intérieurs.
Flat6labs Tunis also organized large events such as Startup Open Doors which gathered more than 100 startups across the country during the Global entrepreneurship Week. Flat6Labs also hosted a Job Fair in collaboration with the Facebook Developers Circle where 35 startups offered more than 100 jobs to 500 participants. And last year, Flat6Labs Tunis launched the Investor Academy, an initiative focused on creating awareness about investment in innovation and startups specifically focusing on Business Angels.
Subscribe to the event: https://demoday.flat6labstunis.com/
Flat6Labs Bahrain Hosts A Digital Demo Day & Graduates Cycle Four Startups
Flat6Labs Bahrain held its fourth Demo Day, also its first Digital Demo Day for its 4th Cycle on the 6th of May, 2020, where 7 innovative startups presented their businesses virtually to hundreds of registered online attendees.
The 4th Cycle included startups addressing problems with unique solutions across an array of industries including Telehealth, Education & Student Services, F&B, Lifestyle Applications, Fashion Tech, Exergaming, and Fitness Applications. All of the startups have technology at their core and are ready to showcase their product to potential investors, the media and the greater business community. Registration for the digital event can be made at:
The graduation of the latest batch means that Flat6Labs Bahrain has successfully completed four Cycles since its launch in March 2018. Within its 2 years of operations, the accelerator has reached several milestones which include job creation, supporting startups & the local ecosystem, raising awareness on entrepreneurship in the country, engaging with youth and women through community engagement activities, supporting its portfolio with securing follow-on funding and more.
Out of 1,100+ applications that were received by Flat6Labs Bahrain, a total of 28 companies both Bahraini and international have graduated from the programme with a USD $32K seed investment, as well as rigorous training, coaching and mentoring that have enhanced their business development and product/services offered. Several of these have gone on to receive much traction and become renowned names in the Kingdom’s startup ecosystem such as Inagrab, Telp, Sinc, Majra, Tamarran, Akalati and Springring. Through its expansive network of VCs in the region which include Faith Capital, 500 Startups and Arzan VC; the accelerator has successfully supported several of its portfolio companies in raising a collective sum of USD $1.6 Million in follow-on funding; over a 2x multiplier of the initial invested amount.
Flat6Labs Bahrain has also contributed to economic growth in the country through not only investing in innovative & youth led businesses, but in job creation as well. Together with its 28 companies, 100+ full-time jobs and 70+ internships have been created. Furthermore the accelerator has played a key role in inspiring youth towards entrepreneurship through its community outreach by partnering with all the local universities and professional institutes and conducting workshops to educate the public on how to approach launching a startup , offering its space for free for ecosystem events, participating in key ecosystem activities, mentoring through programmes such as Injaz, Mashroo3i and Intelaaq, speaking at panel discussions related to startups, youth and women, sponsoring prizes in startup competitions by offering a seat in the Cycle Bootcamps, and organising its own community events such as its Women in Startup panel during GEW 2019.
The accelerator has worked strategically to expand its network by consistently fostering new partnerships with public and private sector stakeholders. Its two main partners are Tamkeen and EDB, however Flat6Labs Bahrain has also forged over 40 partnerships which include Zain Bahrain, its official Telecom Partner, AWS, Microsoft, GAN, Bahrain Fintech Bay, Tenmou, Charles Russell Speechlys, BIBF, Ahlia University, University of Bahrain, Royal University for Women, Arabian Gulf University, and many more.
Pakiza Abdulrahman, Head of Startups at the Bahrain EDB, said: “Flat6Labs Bahrain is a key contributor to the Kingdom’s fast-growing startups ecosystem. It achieves tangible results for its portfolio companies — whether they be innovative homegrown, Bahraini startups or international entrepreneurs seeking a regional base to grow and scale their ideas and businesses. These local and international startups are the backbone of our ecosystem. I look forward to congratulating many more Flat6Labs Bahrain graduates in the years to come.”
Check out the Demo Day and our startups here.
The Flat6Labs-Powered StartEgypt Hosts Its 2020 Forum
StartEgypt, the pre-acceleration incubation program, established to inspire and support thousands of Egyptian entrepreneurs in the field of social impact enterprises, held its second annual forum to showcase its 45 graduating startups, from all over Egypt incubated in Cairo, Assiut, and Alexandria during 2019.
StartEgypt Forum is an annual showcasing event that presents the incubated startups culmination of efforts during the previous year. The startups get the opportunity to present their businesses to investors, leading business professionals, government officials, press, and coaches & mentors to expand their business connections in order to take their ideas to an even more advanced stage.
The four-month incubation program, funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), supported by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and powered by Flat6Labs, provides training, educational mentorship, and coaching by industry leaders. As well as, technical and business support to social impact startups in the fields of Education, Agriculture, Healthcare, Renewables, Environment, Transportation, Financial Inclusion and Marginalized Communities.
The program had originally launched in Cairo in 2017, with the first cycle starting in June, 2018. After their launch in Cairo, StartEgypt recognised the potential that entrepreneurs in non-centralized cities had. Therefore in 2019, the program has expanded to Assiut and Alexandria, graduating 45 social impact startups over the course of two cycles in Cairo, two cycles in Assiut, and one cycle in Alexandria, with entrepreneurs coming from all over Egypt, and startups working across various industries offering innovative solutions to disrupt the market.
Hassan Mansi, StartEgypt Program Director, said: “I am extremely proud of the efforts exerted in this program, we have undergone an amazing journey with amazing achievements. To date we have executed more than 45 events, reaching out to over 15,000 participants, partnering with caliber community partners in the ecosystem, receiving over 4,000 applications, and finally incubating 72 competitive startups from across Egypt. Moving forward, the whole team is excited and ready to increase the efforts to excel and reach out to more entrepreneurs across Egypt and inspire them into this new promising futuristic market in Egypt.”
The Forum is designed, along with showcasing the incubated startups, to provide an outstanding experience for over 1,000 guests interested in entrepreneurship, starting with a morning Startup Huddle, engaging activities like the Fight Club Competition and Ecosystem Activation Game, exceptional panel discussions about Female Founders and Impact Investment, and different hands-on workshops provided by Google, Dell Technologies, Cleopatra Hospitals, and Shell.
Eleven startups, out of the 45, have been qualified to end the day with a thrilling pitch competition in front of a judging panel for a chance to win EGP 200k in total, awarded to the following top 5 startups:
- 1st Pyro awarded EGP100K
- 2nd Biofeedx awarded EGP50K
- 3rd Mycelium awarded EGP20k
- 4th Banalistic awarded EGP10K
- 5th Shalta awarded EGP10k
The eleven social impact startups come from a variety of industries and use different technologies, including:
- Mycelium: A biotechnological company that grows eco-friendly biodegradable bio polymer (mycelium) on agriculture waste to make sustainable products that can replace the plastic in the field of packaging, construction, and furniture.
- Shetla: A mobile application that assists farmers in agricultural operations, irrigation and fertilization and the detection of diseases.
- Smart Farm: Utilises unused roofs across urban areas to make way for a small roof garden that provides food for the tenants.
- Hadotopia: Hadotopia offers a plethora of content including stories and information for all ages. Content is offered in traditional arabic, slang arabic, and english. The platform targets parents in an effort to help them educate their children.
- Mashro3i: A website platform that connects student’s graduation projects with entities that helps them to commercialize it.
- Banlastic: Banlastic introduced the eco-friendly shopping bag(cloth): an alternative to the plastic shopping bag, which will be a strong starting point for people to stop consuming single use plastic bags which has a very adverse impact on the environment as each Banlastic bag is reusable.
- Ero: Ero is a waste management startup that was initiated to create innovative solutions for paper leftovers. We collect, recycle and produce paper commodities to substitute environmentally irresponsible materials. Ero is a Finnish word for difference, which is what we plan to create.
- Pyro: Pyro offers an on-site customized Pyrolysis system which works on any agricultural waste to generate bio-charcoal. The system takes in the cellulosic agricultural wastes and produces bio-charcoal as briquettes.
- Biofeedx: A wearable gadget that accurately measures the muscle’s electrical activity during workout. The measured data is visualized on the user’s mobile app in a gamified visual feedback (mobile phone game). The app sends a report to the coach/doctor about the user’s performance with the ability of the coach/doctor to modify the user’s training parameters. It also allows current physiotherapy access and monitors a larger number of patients, reduces the cost of rehabilitation on patients and offers a more efficient and objective way of remote patient monitor rather than home care which accelerates the healing process.
- i-Sew: A mobile app that connects the disabled community with fashion designers who want to make their designs in a professional, cost effective manner in a short time. We help involve people with disabilities in our society while providing a reliable income they could live off. SDS offers a workshop space where disabled people assist designers in creating their products.
- Naql Misr: A digital online platform for providing logistics transport services to serve individuals and commercial and industrial institutions through the operation section to management and operate a fleet of different transport trucks.
Flat6Labs Trains 100+ Saudi Entrepreneurs at Misk Innovation Startup Bootcamps
5 Cities, 5 Bootcamps, 75+ Startups, 100+ Saudi Entrepreneurs Empowered by Flat6Labs
The Misk Innovation Startup Bootcamps powered by Flat6Labs program, was held late 2019 in five different cities across the kingdom to see that those with vision, ambition, and insight, get the best the MENA has to offer of mentorship, funds, and exposure to a local, regional, and international network of investors. After rounds of filtration from 900+ applications, the bootcamps held in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Madinah, Khobar, and Al Qassim, saw over 90+ idea-stage startups; around 100+ entrepreneurs; and tens of mentors flocking the bootcamps.
The bootcamps hosted a number of sessions designed to introduce the participating startups on how to take their startups to the next level. Starting from design thinking, which helped startups formulate methods through which they can tackle complex problems; and moving on to customer acquisition, an essential ingredient of any successful startup. The mentors and coaches also provided sessions on how to create business and financial models, with the aim of setting clear revenue streams and aiding startups in the management of their resources. The sessions also contributed to the startups ability to define and accentuate the value they will be giving to their customers through value proposition sessions, and how to use growth-hacking to accelerate their penetration of the market and the realisation of the product/market-fit.
Knowing that well-rounded team is what drives the success of any startup, the program also hosted sessions on the best methods to allocate human resources that could drive the business forward. The program also brought legal experts who provided sessions on how to setup the startup in Saudi. Finally, and most importantly, through workshops designed to attract customers and investors, startups’ founders were trained to deliver amazing pitches.
The whole purpose of the Misk Innovation Startup Bootcamps powered by Flat6Labs is to enable aspiring entrepreneurs to create and innovate.
“I was capable of changing my startup’s strategy to suit my business needs and aspirations because of the mentorship that was provided during Al Madinah Bootcamp.” — Osama Al Motrfy, CEO of Waste Turn
We’ve taken it upon ourselves to ensure that the 75+ entrepreneurs attending our bootcamps across the kingdom, get the best mentorship and direction at such a critical stage in the startup’s life.
“I already learned a lot and it’s only been one day. Well organized, great trainers, and amazing energy” — Suhail Ahmed, CEO of Group4Less
Flat6Labs saw that each of the startups got the best support possible to help them venture and kick off innovative services and products through bringing in our team, and local and international mentors to help the startups ground their ideas. We’ve given Saudi entrepreneurs access to a number of essential tools that will help them succeed in the future and change the startup ecosystem starting from ideation sessions to design thinking and legal setup. Empowering such a drive of passionate entrepreneurs and raising awareness are at the core of why Misk kicked off its Misk Innovation Startup Bootcamps and the reason Flat6Labs powered it! This goal has been achieved, but it is just the start!
Flat6Labs saw that each of the startups got the best support possible to help them venture and kick off innovative services and products through bringing in our team, and local and international mentors to help the startups ground their ideas. We’ve given Saudi entrepreneurs access to a number of essential tools that will help them succeed in the future and change the startup ecosystem starting from ideation sessions to design thinking and legal setup. Empowering such a drive of passionate entrepreneurs and raising awareness are at the core of why Misk kicked off its Misk Innovation Startup Bootcamps and the reason Flat6Labs powered it! This goal has been achieved, but it is just the start!
Flat6Labs Hosts First Regional Demo Day
Flat6Labs hosted its First Regional Demo Day during ArabNet Riyadh on December 10, 2019, which took place at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center. The Regional Demo Day is a first of its kind for Flat6Labs on a regional level, following more than 30 successful local Demo Days across Flat6Labs locations in Egypt, KSA, UAE, Lebanon, Tunis and Bahrain.
The Regional Demo Day showcased 18 investor-ready, high-growth, scalable startups from Cairo, Beirut, Tunis and Bahrain , who presented their products and services to a select audience of potential investors and the media from Saudi Arabia, the MENA region, and the international entrepreneurial community.
The selected Flat6Labs startups were handpicked from a pool of 240+ startups from the past 30+ cycles, providing them with the opportunity to scale and expand into the MENA region and beyond.
The startup founders and teams were tackling solutions across an array of industries including Clean Technology, E-commerce, Ed Tech, Health Tech, IoT, SaaS, Logistics, Recruitment, Sports Tech, among others.
Flat6Labs startups go through several stages before they are selected to become a fully developed startup, powered by Flat6Labs funding, network and expertise. They also have the privilege of using the Flat6Labs office space as their own, where they are connected to mentors, consultants, investors, business workshops, training sessions and perks, amongst many others.
The First Regional Demo Day solidifies Flat6Labs’ aim to accelerate the growth rate of entrepreneurship in MENA, and to provide a steady pipeline to the region’s rapidly-growing venture capital ecosystem.
Flat6Labs’ mission is not only to serve startups as an early stage investment vehicle, but much more than that: we are our startups’ institutional partner. As Flat6Labs’ footprint and impact grows across MENA and even beyond, we make sure that this leading stance within the region directly helps our startups and partners to achieve their goals in reaching their customers and scaling across their required markets” said Ramez El-Serafy CEO at Flat6labs.
And that’s exactly what we’re doing with our first Regional Demo Day. We’re bringing together 18 brilliant Flat6Labs startups from across our offices in MENA to enable them to take their next step towards follow-on funding and scalability” added El-Serafy. Omar Christidis, CEO of ArabNet said, “We’re thrilled to be hosting the first ever Flat6labs Regional Demo Day at Arabnet Riyadh this year. The conference is the ideal platform for these promising startups to access the region’s largest digital market — Saudi Arabia — by connecting with over 6,000 attendees and 150+ investors, and forging relationships with potential partners and clients.”
Here are the 18 graduating startups that showcased their products and services during the First Regional Demo Day:
- Akalati: Food ordering app for parties and gatherings.
- Bexel: Cloud-based Inspection Software for Oil & Gas and Construction companies.
- Boostiny: A performance based advertising platform linking brands with nano-influencers
- Chefaa: On-demand application to scan and deliver prescriptions to patients, locate the nearest pharmacy, and order from pharmacies online.
- Clean2O: Clean2O designs products that make water safe for cooking and drinking anytime, anywhere.
- GoMyCode: High-end computer Science Education with a unique learning experience that leaves lasting impressions and positively impact our students’ lives.
- Illa: lla is a digitally operated multi-sized platform that provides transportation and distribution services.
- Majara: A career platform that focuses on matching young professionals with employers on the basis of culture fit.
- Mint Basil Market: An e-commerce platform for healthy natural products.
- Schedex: Smart, automated, and flexible employee scheduling SaaS for shift-based companies and hourly workers.
- Springring: Springring is a School Communication Management Platform linking admins, parents, teachers, and students together.
- Tamarran: Tamarran helps you find and book sport venues, fitness classes and recreational activities in town.
- Tap4Glam: Tap4glam.com is an innovative solution for booking beauty and wellness services at home, for companies or during events.
- Telp: Telp is an online platform which helps students find and book lessons with private tutors instantly.
- Untap: Untap is a submission management tool used to efficiently launch and manage online competitions and calls for applications.
- VRapeutic: VRapeutic develops virtual reality software for learning disabilities and developmental disorders.
- Wattnow: Wattnow’s mission is to support companies and building operators visualize their consumption in real time and helping them reduce their electricity bills by up to 30%.
- Zima: A cost-saving SaaS that enables Internet Service Providers to manage their user bandwidth, billing and subscription– with no need for hardware.
Flat6Labs has an open application process, allowing founders to apply at any time to receive feedback and enhance their selection opportunities for upcoming cycles around the region. Founders can learn more and apply at www.Flat6Labs.com
Flat6Labs Cairo Graduates 11 Innovative Startups at its Fall 2019 Demo Day
Flat6Labs Cairo, the leading Startup Accelerator in Egypt, held its fall 2019 Demo Day with eleven new start-ups graduating from its second cycle of fiscal year 2019.
Flat6Labs Cairo’s fall 2019 cycle commenced on August 25th in 2019 and welcomed eleven promising new teams, filtered from over 1200 applications, who are now excited to launch their businesses to the general public. This cycle has entrepreneurs coming from all across Egypt and the startups are working across various industries, from Home Automation, Health Tech, Logistics and SaaS, to E-commerce, Management Consulting, Web Development & Recruitment, offering innovative online and digital solutions set to disrupt the market.
Attending the Demo Day are Flat6Labs investors, mentors, top government officials, reputable technology experts and influencers from the region, and press, who are keen on witnessing the progress of the start-ups and the latest innovations in the region.
Flat6Labs Cairo fosters and invests in bright and passionate Egyptian entrepreneurs with cutting-edge ideas, and supports them by providing access to a vast network of local and international investors, industry experts, partners and corporations. With a fund size of EGP 100m, Flat6Labs Accelerator Company (FAC) aims at investing in up to 100 early-stage startups and 300+ entrepreneurs, during its five years investment period. Every six months, Flat6Labs Cairo provides seed capital to eight to ten new startups, each company receives from EGP 500K to EGP 750K in funding for up to 10% equity.
“We’re extremely happy to be graduating this latest batch of 11 startups and cannot wait to see how they’ll continue to scale their businesses to a new level post Demo Day”. He adds, “We can say with confidence that this group of entrepreneurs are go getters and relentless in their quest towards success, and we fully stand behind them even after they’ve left Flat6Labs Cairo’s doors”. — Ramez El-Serafy, Flat6Labs CEO
The eleven graduating startups that are showcasing their technologies and business ideas at Flat6Labs Cairo Fall 2019 Demo Day include:
- AION: AION Innovations offers easy to install and affordable smart home solutions which are accessed and controlled remotely using an innovative mobile application.
- Axon: AXON is a medical platform which saves individuals and organisations up to 80% on medical and wellness services through one consolidated annual membership.
- BeXel: BeXel is a cloud-based software that helps quality control engineers in checking safety standards for equipment used in various sectors such as oil, gas, construction, and hotels.
- Consulting Pad: Consulting Pad empowers businesses by matching them with experts from world-class MBA programs and multinational companies.
- Curotrip: A one stop shop for patients all over the world to get connected to Egyptian medical professionals , book and plan the whole medical journey in a few simple steps.
- Fridge: Fridge provides all the required grocery and hygiene supplies to businesses on an interval basis (monthly, weekly, or daily) at wholesale prices. Saving businesses time, money and resources.
- HOVO: HOVO is your tech-enabled logistics partner that provides trucks in 20 mins across Egypt. They proudly have a fleet of over 3000 trucks in different sizes.
- Makwa: Makwa is a mobile application that provides doorstep dry cleaning, laundry pickup and delivery services.
- ShipHaly: ShipHaly An online platform that connects shoppers to travelers, offering a secure, affordable, and seamless shopping experience.
- Talents Arena: Online technical hiring platform, enabling companies to hire the best technical talents in 14 days or less.
- Wuilt: Website builder that creates a multi-lingual websites in 3 easy steps, in less than 10 minutes.