Dubai, (Pakistan Point News - 01st May, 2019) The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced on April 30th, 2019, the top three winners of the 4th Dubai Smartpreneur Competition during the closing ceremony of the Enterprise Agility Forum 2019 in Dubai.
Denarii Cash, a mobile application helping overseas workers to send money claimed the first place prize. Arabee, a high-specification platform providing an online multi-format Arabic language programme came in second, while xpence, a digital-only intelligent business bank account designed by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs was placed third.
The annual competition organised under Dubai Startup Hub in cooperation with Smart Dubai aims to empower entrepreneurs and facilitate their contribution towards Dubai’s smart city vision.
Majid Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, presented the winners with their prizes in the presence of business leaders and representatives from Dubai’s entrepreneurial community. The announcements came after the top 10 finalists made their final pitch to an expert panel of judges.
Al Ghurair noted that the fourth cycle of the Dubai Smartpreneur competition saw a 217 percent surge in the number of international submissions compared to the previous cycle. Apart from the UAE, the competition attracted smart business concepts related to Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence and digital transformation from 19 countries in 2019, up from six countries in 2018, reflecting Dubai’s increasing attractiveness as an innovation hub and the preferred market for international start-ups.
"Over 1,600 smart business ideas have been submitted to Dubai Smartprenuer competition since its launch, and we continue to see positive changes as the quality and calibre of applications and participants increase with every new cycle," Al Ghurair said.
Smart Dubai’s Director General Dr. Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, said, "As the government entity tasked with spearheading and guiding Dubai’s transformation into a full-fledged and world-leading smart city, Smart Dubai is consistently looking to harness the potential of advanced technologies in the form of feasible, on-the-ground applications that benefit the community at large."
Jon Edward Santillan, of Denarii Cash, said that they plan to change the way expatriates send money and handle expenses to their home countries, adding that the app is designed to simplify people’s everyday lives by utilising Blockchain technology.
Ferakh Lakhany, Co-founder of Arabee said the training and support offered during the competition was very useful in preparing pitches to potential investors and building new partnerships. Arabee aims to become a preferred Arabic language solution in UAE schools, he added.
Saad Ansari, Co-founder and CEO of Xpence said, "Our ambition is to be a global neobank for entrepreneurs. The UAE presents one of the best places in the region to launch Xpence and very soon Xpence will be available for entrepreneurs and start-ups across the Gulf."
