اللحظة الاخباري -

The first phase of the Zain Great Idea tech startup accelerator regional edition kicked off with intensive training bootcampsthat brought together leading global, regional, and local expertsacross Zain markets. The program’s new cohort spent weekslearning practical ways to accelerate their tech startups and prepare for regional and international growth.

Zain Jordan, through its innovation campus (ZINC), implemented the program locally and promoted it across various social media channels and its extensive network of Jordanian entrepreneurs. This outreach attracted a substantial number of applicants, with 17 startups selected from a total of 120 submissions to join the program’s first phase. The selection process included a comprehensive evaluation of the submitted ideas, business models, and the readiness of entrepreneurial teams to compete on a regional scale. 

This initiative reflects ZINC’s ongoing commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and empowering startups in Jordan by providing access to training, mentorship, and networking opportunities with investors and industry experts.

The training phase commenced with an intensive bootcamp focused on two key areas. The first centered on enhancing participants’ pitching and presentation skills in preparation for their journey to Silicon Valley, while the second aimed at equipping them to present their projects before a judging panel responsible for selecting the Jordanian startup that will represent the Kingdom and join Zain Group’s regional acceleration program, “Zain Great Idea.”

The training sessions were led by Ahmad Taqatqa, Co-Founder of Sadu Capital, who provided participants with practical insights into developing business models and preparinginvestment opportunities.

The local phase concluded with a demo day where participants showcased their projects before a distinguished judging panel comprising leading figures in the entrepreneurship ecosystem: Tamer Al-Salah, Managing Director of Endeavor Jordan; Tambi Jalouqa, Founder and General Partner of Maza Ventures; Saad Al Jasser, Director of Digital Investments at Zain Ventures; and Ahmad Ibrahim, Head of Entrepreneurship and CER at Zain Jordan. The judges provided constructive feedback to help the entrepreneurs refine their projects and prepare for the upcoming regional phase.

This year’s edition is supported by Zain Ventures, the Group’s investment arm for emerging technologies, and ZainTECH, its regional digital and ICT solutions arm. For the first time in the program’s 15-plus year history, applications were opened to candidates from Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, creating new opportunities for mentorship, funding, and international exposure.

Zain Ventures aims to identify and invest in promising startups from the cohort. ZainTECH will work closely with ZGI to support selected startups joining the Silicon Valley phase, offering expertise in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, analytics, robotics, and other advanced technologies that drive growth.

The expansion marks a major milestone for ZGI, as previous editions focused on the Kuwaiti market. The new regional launch underscores Zain’s long-term commitment to advancing technological innovation and entrepreneurship across the region.

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