Category: Events

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – In a bid to further strengthen Abu Dhabi’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, Flat6Labs, the MENA region’s leading seed-stage program and early-stage venture capital firm, and Wio Bank, the region’s first platform bank, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Under the agreement, start-ups from Flat6Labs Ignite, a specialised seed program run by Flat6Labs in a partnership with DisruptAD, will have the opportunity to take advantage of Wio’s innovative banking products and services under Wio Business, the bank’s first digital banking application, which is designed to provide a seamless and innovative experience tailored to the specific needs of start-ups and SMEs.

“There is potentially no other factor that more heavily decides the fate of a start-up than its ability to effectively manage its finances. These organisations need banking partners that have a start-up ethos — centred around agility, flexibility, and innovation,” said Ryaan Sharif, General Manager at Flat6Labs UAE. “Our long-standing expertise in empowering start-ups to establish themselves in the UAE and raise the funding they need to fuel their ambitions aligns perfectly with Wio Bank’s vision of not only providing world-class banking services, but serving as a holistic banking management platform for the modern SME.”

Under its flagship seed program, Ignite, Flat6Labs is set to support up to 60 start-ups in Abu Dhabi by 2024, with 27 disruptive organisations already having successfully invested in the 3 cycles that have already concluded. By partnering with Wio Bank, Flat6Labs has ensured that start-ups selected for this program will now enjoy Wio Business’ prioritised processing of account opening applications, as well as around-the-clock access to dedicated support services. “This is especially beneficial to the start-ups we attract from international markets as it enables them to seamless transition into establishing their headquarters in Abu Dhabi without any disruption to financial operations,” said Sharif.

Wio Bank has invested in establishing a team of high-qualified technology experts with a broad range of skills related to digital transformation and financial innovation. Under the agreement, Wio Bank will make these professionals available as subject-matter experts and mentors to Ignite program start-ups, thereby further strengthening the value-proposition of the program.

Prateek Vahie, Chief Commercial Officer of Wio Bank said, “Being a disruptor in the financial sector, we believe we have a critical role to play in supporting the start-up ecosystem and fostering entrepreneurship in the UAE. We are committed to ensuring that our SME customers find the most viable options for the support they need, be it through funding via traditional credits or loans, peer to peer lending, angel investments, or incubators. As we develop our offerings tailored to the SME sector, we will benefit from the insights and expertise of other major players in the ecosystem, such as Flat6Labs.”

Wio Business provides start-ups, freelancers, and SMEs access to banking services seamlessly while giving them the opportunity to move forward with innovative beyond-banking services. The app, which streamlines all business banking services in one place, will also integrate payment information and services, enabling businesses to manage everything in one place, on-the-go.

About Wio Bank PJSC:

Wio Bank PJSC is an integrated digital banking platform jointly owned by Abu Dhabi Development Company (ADQ), Alpha Dhabi Holding, Etisalat, and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) with an initial capital outlay of AED 2.3 billion. The bank is regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE.

About Flat6Labs

Flat6Labs is the MENA region’s leading seed and early-stage venture capital firm, currently running the most renowned start-up programs in the region. Annually, Flat6Labs invests in more than 100 innovative and technology-driven start-ups enabling thousands of passionate entrepreneurs to achieve their daring ambitions and ultimately becoming their institutional co-founders.

Flat6Labs manages a number of seed funds with a total AUM in excess of $85M. More than 25 leading institutions have invested into the Flat6Labs managed fund. Alongside investments, Flat6Labs’ start-up programs, executed to cater specifically to the needs of innovative entrepreneurs, help them accelerate their growth by providing them with a plethora of support services and connecting them to unparalleled opportunities with an expansive network comprising hundreds of business mentors, investors and corporates.

Launched and headquartered in Cairo since 2011, Flat6Labs has multiple offices across the region; with ongoing plans to expand into other emerging markets.

Cairo, Egypt – 12 December 2022
ELSEWEDY ELECTRIC – the leading energy & infrastructure solution provider, The Knowledge Hub Universities (TKH), and Elsewedy Education’s initiative – the Innovation Hub – launch a “Clean and Deep Tech Hackathon Program” (Climathon) in collaboration with Flat6Labs – the region’s leading seed and early-stage venture capital firm. The program aims to provide Coventry University branch students hosted at The Knowledge Hub Universities, and ELSEWEDY ELECTRIC’s Graduate Development Program (GDP) with the unique opportunity to present and pitch their innovative tech solutions addressing one of today’s greatest challenges – climate change.

The Climathon will take place over 3 days, hosting up to 30 teams competing across a series of tailored sessions and interactive workshops. The Climathon core themes focuses specifically on Smart Cities, Agritech, Industry 4.0, Energy & Water Management. The Knowledge Hub Universities will host the Climathon at its premises providing technical support and facilities for the program including labs, equipment, classrooms, and catering areas. Aiming to foster and drive innovative mindsets, as well as to bridge the gap between the business and educational sector, the teams will have access to the required tools, resources and mentorship supporting their proposed solutions in the Clean and Deep Tech domain.
Believing that fostering technology will enable its employees to be a global and competitive work force, ELSEWEDY ELECTRIC aims to increase its intellectual capital value through identifying viable and innovative solutions for today’s challenges while providing technical support, coaching, guidance, employment opportunities in addition to monetary prizes for the winning teams. Banking on its successful track record, Flat6Labs will provide an effective program and setup, as well as insightful training and mentorship, alongside the onsite management to help the tech-driven entrepreneurs grow.
Mr. Emad Ghaly, Chief Innovation Officer, Elsewedy Electric commented, “We are aiming to foster the revolution in technology and environmental sustainability through the Climathon, bringing together ELSEWEDY ELECTRIC and The Knowledge Hub. By convening spaces where youth can champion the fight for climate justice, and use of technology to develop new ventures and solutions for local and global challenges we empower them to drive sustainable change and stimulate their brilliant minds to express their innovative ideas. We are certain that they can contribute to the development of ground-breaking technological solutions for our modern world climate challenges.”
“We are all responsible for fighting the environmental challenges our world is facing today and we -at El Sewedy Education and The Knowledge Hub Universities- are keen on providing youth with the skills and resources to be able to tackle such challenges through The Climathon. Partnering up with Flat6Labs and Elsewedy Electric will bring young brilliant minds together to elevate their ideas and solutions towards a sustainable future of our planet” said Ihab Salama, Chief Executive Officer at El Sewedy Education and Vice Chairman – The Knowledge Hub Universities Board of Trustees.

‘’Climate change is currently a major challenge on the world’s agenda. Egypt is following the steps of other global economies in efforts to mitigate the impact, hosting COP27 this year and launching multiple projects. There’s a dire need for all experts from the public and private sectors as well as youth to join forces to meet ESG goals. Our program provides bright minds and future potential leaders with essential guidance, expertise, and knowledge to support a sustainable and green economy, in alignment with Egypt’s National Strategy for Climate Change 2050.” stated Hassan Mansi, Flat6Labs Head of Ecosystem Development Programs.

About ELSEWEDY ELECTRIC
Elsewedy Electric (EGX: SWDY.CA) is a leader in integrated infrastructure solutions, focused on delivering turnkey projects on fast-track basis. For over 80 years, Elsewedy Electric has been committed to sustainable solutions that create opportunities, support communities & strengthen economies. Across Africa, Middle East & Asia, the company operates in 5 business lines: wire, cable, & accessories, electrical products, engineering & construction, digital solutions, and infrastructure investments. Elsewedy Electric employs 17,000 people, operating in 48 international offices and 31 production facilities, exporting to over 110 countries worldwide.
Headquartered in Egypt, Elsewedy Electric announced revenue of EGP 60.5 billion with net profit of EGP 3.5 billion in December 2021.
News about Elsewedy Electric is available on www.elsewedyelectric.com

About TKH

TKH is a multidisciplinary educational hub hosting branches of world-class universities, each to participate with programmes in their areas of strength, providing an intellectually stimulating, enriching, and credible educational experience.
The Knowledge Hub provides a healthy learning environment for students to maximize their potential, develop critical thinking skills, and become future leaders in their respective communities. Creating a connected community of students and faculty from diverse backgrounds, where experiences and ideas are openly exchanged.

About Flat6Labs
Flat6Labs is the MENA region’s leading seed and early-stage venture capital firm, currently running the most renowned startup programs in the region. Flat6Labs invests in innovative and technology-driven startups enabling thousands of passionate entrepreneurs to achieve their daring ambitions and ultimately becoming their institutional co-founders.
Flat6Labs manages a number of seed funds with a total AUM in excess of $85M. More than 25 leading institutions have invested into the Flat6Labs managed funds: believing in the asset class and Flat6Labs’ proven track record as the market leader. Flat6Labs provides a wide range of investment ticket sizes ranging from $50K to $500k, supporting startups through their early journeys from Pre-Seed all the way to Pre-Series A stages. Alongside the investments, Flat6Labs’ exceptional startup programs, executed to cater specifically for the needs of the innovative entrepreneurs, helps them accelerate their growth by providing them with a plethora of support services and connecting them to unparalleled opportunities with an expansive network comprising hundreds of business mentors, investors, and corporates.
Launched and headquartered in Cairo since 2011, Flat6Labs has multiple offices across the region; with ongoing plans to expand into other emerging markets.

Cairo, Egypt – 23 November 2022 Flat6Labs, the region’s leading seed and early-stage venture capital firm, has launched ‘Makers’ a construction-tech Innovation Program in collaboration with SIAC, a leading regional private construction firm, and Dar-Al-Handasah (Dar), an international consulting company in engineering, to foster startups in the construction technology solutions across Egypt. Makers ConTech program includes a pre-accelerator for early stage startups and an accelerator program with an investment component for more advanced startups. The pre-accelerator program aims to promote construction industry innovation through connecting and engaging with various stakeholders with extensive expertise, as well as to creating sustainable innovation ecosystems for construction-related challenges within SIAC, Dar and the industry at large.

The Makers ConTech Innovation Program in its pre-accelerator stage, will provide selected startups with strategic mentorship, entrepreneurship-focused business training, subject matter one-on-one sessions, and a wide range of perks and services from partners. The pre-accelerator program is designed to support entrepreneurs by guiding them in developing and presenting their innovative ideas and solutions to SIAC and Dar, with the possibility of being selected to run a pilot program with both companies. After completing the program, startups will be well-positioned to raise funding.

The pre-accelerator program also aims to shed light on the significance of the construction revolution and the adoption of new digital technologies in the construction sector in order to boost its competitiveness and productivity. Bringing the construction industry one step closer to a more sustainable, productive, and technologically advanced environment.
“A shift toward digitizing construction solutions is becoming increasingly important in order to achieve safer and more productive results. Using robotics and data analytics to digitize construction processes for construction sites and industrial plants, data assembly, transactions, and city design, companies will be able to save labor costs, address labor shortages, and improve safety. We are excited to launch the Makers ConTech Innovation Program in collaboration with SIAC and Dar-Al-Handasah with the goal of supporting, investing, and nurturing innovative, sustainable, and promising startups to drive the construction industry revolution,” said Albert Malaty, Managing Director of Flat6Labs, Cairo.

Faysal Shair, Head of Digital Practice at Dar said, “We are incredibly excited to be partnering with Flat6Labs and SIAC to launch the Makers ConTech Innovation Program focused on empowering entrepreneurs to create technology-driven solutions and opportunities for the design and construction sector. We’re looking to develop and support innovators who have the vision, ideas, expertise, and determination to reimagine this exceptionally complex sector and find ways to make it more sustainable, resilient, future-fit, and safer for workers and communities.”
“If we look locally, we can see the sheer scale of construction projects undertaken on a public and private scale. Yet, with this in consideration, the construction sector is still one of the lowest tech-penetrated industries globally and regionally: a sector that hasn’t seen significant productivity growth in the past decade compared to manufacturing or retail. To tackle this issue locally and regionally, we partnered with Dar, Flat6Labs, and other international stakeholders with experience investing in construction technologies and venture building to create the Makers ConTech Innovation Program. In addition, we will enable aspiring entrepreneurs to conceive soft and hard tech innovations that focus on specific industry obstacles by providing them with the necessary resources and industry knowledge. Our overarching objective is to raise awareness of the many opportunities within the sector and increase investor activity in construction technologies.” stated Seif Ragab, Board member at SIAC.
Technologies are a critical asset in meeting the challenge of transforming the construction industry. The new Makers ConTech business models will assist engineers and the construction sector in particular in building, designing, and growing in a cost-effective, sustainable, and safe manner. According to the crunchbase data, almost USD 17B raised by Contech companies with venture capital firms backing. In addition, 24 venture backed construction companies were acquired and 125 venture-backed real estate companies were acquired in 2021.
Flat6Labs will continue to empower innovative startups to achieve their goals by providing funding, technical assistance, and networking opportunities across the country and beyond.

For more information about the application, visit this website: Here

As a part of the Flat6Labs Ignite seed program, Demo Day is an opportunity for investors to engage with some of the most innovative start-ups in the UAE

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 05 October 2022 – Flat6Labs, the MENA region’s leading seed-stage program and early-stage venture capital firm, today announced it will be making its GITEX Global debut at the 2022 edition of the show. The company will leverage the event as an opportunity to showcase 22 of the most innovative companies under its seed programs in the UAE and broader MENA region.

In addition, the company will also host its Demo Day on October 12th where start-ups that are part of Cohort 3 of Flat6Labs Ignite will have the opportunity to present and pitch to leading regional venture capitalists, angel investors, corporates and entrepreneurship ecosystem leaders with the aim of securing additional investment.

“While for over four decades, GITEX has been the region’s premier enterprise IT trade show, we are excited to see it also become a platform for the region’s vibrant start-up ecosystem. Over the last year and half, Flat6Labs Ignite, which we run in partnership with ADQ’s DisruptAD, has quickly become one of the most sought-after seed programs in the UAE, even drawing the formal support of the Ministry of Economy in Abu Dhabi,” said Ryaan Sharif, General Manager at Flat6Labs UAE.

“Building on this momentum, at our GITEX debut, we will showcase the value of our program, and provide our start-ups with the opportunity to reach key stakeholders from across the region. We also intend to engage with innovative start-ups attending the show that would be interested in applying to be part of Cycle 4 of our program and more importantly looking to scale into the MENA Region using Abu Dhabi as the headquarters” added Sharif.

Over the five days of the event, Flat6Labs will host 22 of its start-ups in rotation, offering visitors an opportunity to engage with each of these at one of the stand’s dedicated demo kiosks. These organisations span multiple sectors including EdTech, HealthTech, Cybersecurity, Real Estate, Construction, Sustainability, Automotive, and Sports Engagement – with each offering a pioneering product or service designed to disrupt their industry.

Arguably the highlight of Flat6Labs’ week at GITEX is the demo day for Cycle 3 start-ups which will be held on the iconic Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise liner in Dubai the evening of Wednesday, 12th October. At this event, high net worth individuals, venture capitalists, and angel investors will have the opportunity to get a deep dive into the business and value proposition of each of the start-ups within Flat6Labs’ latest cohort. These include:

Dardoc who provide healthcare on demand through a network of nurses, caregivers, physios, and other professionals.

Digital First AI, a company that assists organisations with their growth by delivering personalised marketing and execution strategies within minutes.

• Fitlov, a fitness focused firm that digitises the personal training experience by easily connecting trainers with their consumers.
• Fundomundo an online platform that deliver virtual, interactive live classes for children.
• Hulexo which empowers retail stores to sell more by eliminating inventory issues.
• Lune Technologies who unlock valuable spending insights for institutions and end users.
• MAKAN, a pioneering furniture rental concept that is disrupting the furnishing industry.
• Channelpro who equip vendors and distributors with the digital tools to motivate, educate, and communicate with their sales force.
• Savii, a FinTech company that empowers youth to spend, save and invest by providing them with a full banking experience.
• Scalable CFO who enable all small businesses to get the benefits of a CFO without the inhibiting costs.

“Each of these start-ups has been meticulously vetted from over 700 applicants and has subsequently received world-class mentorship to refine their strategies and operations. They are now primed for the transformation from promising start-up to industry pioneer. Attendees to Demo Day therefore have an unparalleled opportunity to invest at a critical stage with the potential to deliver impressive returns on their investment,” said Ryaan Sharif.

The Flat6Labs Ignite Program launched in March 2021 with a partnership with ADQ’s DistruptAD. Flat6Labs has made over 30 investments in start-ups from multiple sectors. Collectively, these start-ups — which include the likes of Washmen, RemotePass and Dharma — have since gone on to raise significant follow-on funding, with many reaching enterprise scale with operations spanning multiple geographies.

Omgyno’ founded by Doreen Toutikian and Elisabeth Milini in Greece and Lebanon, ‘Siira’ founded by Sandra Salame in Lebanon, and ‘Maternally’ founded by Yasmin El Mouallem in the UAE, were announced the winners of the region’s first digital-health FemTech accelerator, marking the culmination of the program that was launched by Organon and Flat6Labs at Expo 2020 to advance women’s health
The winners were announced at the ‘Demo Day’ event in Cairo Egypt, which saw the participants pitch their ideas to a panel of eminent judges from across the women’s health world

Cairo, Egypt, 13 September 2022 – Omgyno founded by Doreen Toutikian and Elisabeth Milini in Greece and Lebanon, Siira founded by Sandra Salame in Lebanon, and Maternally founded by Yasmin El Mouallem in the UAE were crowned the winners of the MENA region’s first digital-health FemTech Accelerator Program. Launched in October 2021 during Expo 2020 by partners Organon and Flat6Labs to address unmet women’s healthcare needs, the winners were announced after the program’s ten finalists from across Egypt, Lebanon, UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Jordan pitched their ideas to a panel of judges and an audience of prospective investors.

The pitches took place at the ‘Demo Day’ event, hosted at the GrEEK Campus. The panel of judges selecting the final winners consisted of Dina El Shenoufy, Chief Investment Officer at Flat6Labs; Ramy Koussa, Associate Vice President of MENAT at Organon; Dr. Amr Alashkar, Chief Information Officer at Cleopatra Hospital Group; Jailan El Messeiry, Group Digital Marketing & Communications Manager at UN Women; and Frederika Meijer, Country Representative at UNFPA.

Omgyno, the start-up that won first place, is a FemTech platform redesigning the gynecological experience. After identifying the causes behind gaps in testing for the potentially cancer-causing HPV virus, including fear of judgment and accessibility, the two entrepreneurs worked on a user-centered platform offering home testing and telehealth, tailored to promote self-care and privacy.
Siira, the start-up that sat in second place, developed a mental health platform designed to accompany women in their daily struggles related to parenting, relationships and work. Conscious that only 30%-35% of people with mental health problems seek professional support, Sandra Salame’s start-up is focused on addressing this gap.
Globally, one in five women experience mental health issues during pregnancy, and/or following birth. Seeking to plug this gap, Maternally, which was adjudged third runner-up, is an online platform being developed to cater to women’s specific mental health needs during their motherhood journey.

“At Organon, we understand that prioritizing women’s health is tied to long-term productivity and resilient societies. That’s why, as part of our ESG Economic, Social and Governance-driven purpose to achieve her promise, we are committed to investing in programs, partnerships, initiatives, and ideas that work to fill that gap. The best ideas for addressing these gaps truly come from the women who experience these challenges first-hand,” said Ramy Koussa, AVP MENAT, Organon.

“With vast unmet medical needs, today, women across the MENA region cannot fully participate in the economy on account of a lack of adequate healthcare. Shockingly, the region loses $575 billion yearly due to the lack of female economic participation,” he added.

Dina El Shenoufy, Chief Investment Officer at Flat6Labs, commented, “At Flat6Labs, we have been delighted to participate in and support this female empowerment initiative. Participating start-ups have received over 65 hours of training sessions led by top local and international advisors, and 27 hours of one-on-one coaching sessions, helping them gain a solid understanding of the FemTech market, connect with key leaders and grow their networks.”
“Our partnership with Organon not only works to redress many of the gender inequities we see in the start-up world, particularly around access to funding, but also to support better women’s health. We know that female health and economic empowerment go hand in hand. By investing in the women in our communities and supporting greater gender equality, everyone across our societies benefits,” she added.

The FemTech accelerator program, announced shortly after Organon’s launch in the MENAT region, is the first regional Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) initiative by Organon that is committed to addressing unmet women’s needs. Inspired by Organon’s purpose to help women and girls achieve their promise through better health, the program was designed to support female entrepreneurship and digital health start-ups that advance women’s health by providing support to build products, test market fit and improve business models, as well as access to investors.

Amman, Jordan – September 6, 2022 Flat6Labs, a leading seed and early-stage venture capital firm in the MENA region, celebrated its second Demo Day in Jordan, showcasing the seven graduated startups of the Amman Seed Program’s second cohort. The event took place on September 5, at the Four Seasons Hotel Amman.

During the event, the seven participating startups—which included Arab Therapy, Bloom Cart, Ipass, Khareta, QuiqClaim, Shop4me, and Sukoon—presented their innovative products and solutions in front of a large audience. The graduated startups cover a wide variety of industries and sectors, including Health and Wellness Tech, E-commerce, RealTech, FinTech, and Cyber Security.

Commenting on the occasion, Flat6Labs’ General Manager, Rasha Manna, said, “Once again, we are extremely proud to see our participants showcase the culmination of their tremendous effort, commitment, and resilience—not only during the last four months of the program but through all the hard work that led them to this point.  It’s incredible to see how our seed program has developed and expanded in our second cycle. This kind of growth—and the individual achievements of our participants—encourages us to continue seeking out new, promising entrepreneurs from the local community, so that we can equip them with knowledge, skills, and tools that will support their long-term success.”

The second cycle of Flat6Labs’ Seed Program kicked off on May 8th, 2022, bringing top-notch international consultants, coaches, and mentors to work closely with each of the startup teams, empowering them to achieve their business goals. The program facilitated networking opportunities to help the startups build and grow their networks and connect to global leaders. Over the past four months, the seven startup teams have been working on growing their customer base, refining their offerings, expanding to new markets, and building strategic partnerships.

About the Seed Program Startups

Arab Therapy: A web platform and mobile app offering digital mental health services and consultations in the Arabic language by highly qualified Arab therapists.
Bloom Cart: A try-before-you-buy software that automates returns for e-commerce websites in the MENA region, while integrating with local logistics companies, couriers, and payment gateways
Ipass: An onboarding solution provider that aggregates world-class anti-fraud tools on one platform, allowing businesses to eliminate the risk of fraud while guaranteeing a high-quality client experience
Khareta: A data-driven real estate marketplace that helps both buyers and sellers complete transactions faster and with greater confidence
QuiqClaim: A fintech startup offering peer-to-peer financing for the medical insurance industry, bridging the liquidity gap for healthcare providers
Shop4me: An online B2B marketplace that simplifies the complex procurement process by helping businesses find, order, and receive supplies from prequalified suppliers
Sukoon: A mobile mindfulness app that offers users tools and techniques for mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing, in the form of Arabic audio recordings designed to enable personal transformation and growth

Flat6labs, the region’s leading seed and early-stage venture capital firm, in collaboration with SANAD Entrepreneurship Academy launched an agritech accelerator program to assist 10 to 12 startups in each cycle to improve their business models, product development, customer relationships, marketing plans, and financial management. The collaboration marks the beginning of Flat6Labs’ mission to support emerging businesses in the agri-food, food security, and rural development sectors while highlighting the value of the agritech industry in Egypt.

The agri-tech program will give startups access to capital, to grow faster and efficiently, encouraging the development of technologies that make the agriculture industry sustainable, safe, and environmentally friendly. These technologies optimize service quality in the agriculture industry, by facilitating data collection and analysis to quantify performances, while limiting overprice of products/services.

‘’With digital transformation progressing rapidly across industries, and the agriculture industry being a core pillar of the Egyptian economy, the need to digitize the agriculture industry has increased dramatically. We are glad to launch this agritech accelerator program in collaboration with the SANAD Entrepreneurship Academy, as it will serve this need by supporting the startups that provide innovative technologies in the agriculture sector and will contribute to the sustainable growth of the Egyptian economy.” stated Hassan Mansi, Flat6Labs Head of Ecosystem Development Programs.

Empowering and promoting Egypt’s Agri-digital sector would result in advancements in automated machinery and robotics, increasing the efficiency of agricultural productions by precisely locating nutrient availability, checking for diseases, predicting them, and many other useful facilities.

Kim Reichel, Chairperson of the SANAD Technical Assistance Facility Committee said, ”We are very much looking forward to our cooperation with Flat6Labs as they have shown strong commitment to supporting innovative and technology-driven entrepreneurs across MENA. Together, we will create a positive impact by providing targeted support and enabling business owners to thrive. We believe that focusing on the agricultural sector, and specifically agri-tech, is vital in these challenging times and will contribute to increased food security across the region.”

Flat6Labs Egypt and SANAD Entrepreneurship Academy will continue to support bright, passionate, and tech-driven entrepreneurs in Egypt, by providing funding, technical assistance, and networking opportunities across the country and beyond. The venture capital firm will continue to be a cornerstone of the digital transformation of the Egyptian economy building successful job-creating startups that contribute to the economic development in Egypt.

Amman, Jordan – June 26, 2022 – Flat6Labs—the MENA region’s leading seed- and early-stage venture capital firm, currently running the most renowned startup programs in the region—has recently announced that it is investing in seven new Jordanian startups, as part of the second cycle of its funding program, which was launched last June.

By funding startups across the MENA region—including in Jordan—Flat6Labs aims to support entrepreneurs and new businesses as they work to compete on both a local and global scale. The venture capital firm specifically targets startups in innovation-based and knowledge-driven sectors, such as information and communication technologies, software solutions, education, healthcare, digital content and games, hardware, electronics, manufacturing solutions, renewable energy, agricultural solutions, big data and analytics, fintech and payment solutions, media, and entertainment. 

Flat6Labs will be providing each selected startup in the current cycle with an investment of $115,000, including an initial capital injection of $65,000. In cooperation with an array of elite coaches and mentors, the venture capital firm will also provide these startups with a four-month training curriculum that includes a variety of workshops and mentoring sessions designed to cover all aspects of business development. Flat6Labs will additionally provide the participating startups with workspaces, marketing and legal support, and the opportunity to benefit from the firm’s regional network of partners and investors—along with the possibility to potentially receive subsequent financing of up to $170,000.

Commenting on the firm’s latest program cycle, Rasha Manna, General Manager of Flat6Labs Jordan, said, “At Flat6Labs, we are immensely proud of what we have achieved since the commencement of our operations in Jordan. In the first cycle of the program, we invested in five Jordanian startups, and the success of that inaugural cycle has resulted in an increase in demand and visibility for our program, allowing us to expand our investments in the second cycle. Ultimately, by connecting with and supporting local entrepreneurs, it is our objective to have a positive impact on Jordan’s economy and society as a whole—in particular, by diversifying the local economic landscape, creating new job opportunities, and helping develop a sea of success stories that will further encourage local entrepreneurs to pursue their ideas and visions. At the same time, we hope that our own achievements and those of our startups will set an example for other investors and venture capital firms, further highlighting the Kingdom’s potential for investments.”

The list of companies in the second cycle includes:

Arab Therapy
A platform that specializes in providing high-quality mental health services and counseling through psychotherapy sessions carried out by a group of highly qualified specialists.

Bloom
A company that bridges the gap between physical and online shopping through the “try-before-you-buy” software model, with the aim of automating the returns process for merchants and giving them complete control over their management.

Kharta
A data driven real-estate marketplace that helps both buyers and sellers complete the transaction faster and with more confidence.

Quiq Claim
A FinTech peer-to-peer settlement and investments platform, catering to the Medical Insurance industry.

iPass
A one-stop shop for worldwide identity verification solutions utilizing a deep pixel biometric fraud detection tools and a user friendly experience supported in 50+ languages.

Shop4me
A platform that provides logistics services by linking companies with suppliers, obtaining various supplies, shopping and buying online at competitive prices; and finally.

Sukoon
The first holistic mindfulness mobile app in Arabic that provides high-quality recorded audio sessions offering different transformational tools for mental, emotional, and spiritual health and wellness prepared and narrated by expert teachers from the Arab world.

Flat6Labs provides startups with funding through the Jordan Seed Fund (JSF), launched in 2021 with a total investment of $20 million, aimed at nurturing the growth and development of 90 early-stage startups during a 5-year investment period. The program is funded by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund (ISSF), Beyond Capital, Bank Al Etihad, and GMS Ventures & Investments.

The cohort includes 7 UAE-born start-ups and 3 international companies that will now establish significant business operations in Abu Dhabi as they receive world-class mentorship and a total investment of AED8.8 million under the program

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 28 June 2022

Flat6Labs, in partnership with DisruptAD, the venture platform of ADQ, today announced the 10 innovative start-ups that have been selected to receive seed funding and world-class mentorship under its flagship Flat6Labs Ignite program. Representing the third cycle of the program, this cohort was meticulously vetted and selected from over 700 applicant organizations from across the globe. 

Launched in March 2021 as a partnership between DisruptAD and Flat6Labs, Flat6Labs Ignite is a specialized seed program committed to supporting up to 60 start-ups in Abu Dhabi over three years. To date, through cycles 1 and 2 of the Ignite Program, Flat6Labs and DisruptAD have graduated 17 start-ups that have cumulatively raised AED14.7 million in funding.

“This currently stands as our Ignite program’s largest cycle yet, with 10 start-ups having been selected — a testament to the popularity and value that it delivers. Based on the outcomes of previous cycles, we are confident that by grooming these new start-ups, we will springboard their success, and enable them to become valuable contributors to the entrepreneurship ecosystem and economy in the UAE,” said Ryaan Sharif, General Manager at Flat6Labs UAE.

Of the 10 start-ups receiving investments in this new cycle of the program, seven are home-grown UAE companies and the three others have been founded in Poland, Bahrain, and Turkey. The founders and leadership teams of these international start-ups will establish operations in Abu Dhabi, which will now serve as their global headquarters. This is in-line with the Flat6Labs Ignite program’s objective of establishing the nation’s capital as a global entrepreneurial hub and centre for innovation.

Of the 10 start-ups receiving investments in this new cycle of the program, seven are home-grown UAE companies and the three others have been founded in Poland, Bahrain, and Turkey. The founders and leadership teams of these international start-ups will establish operations in Abu Dhabi, which will now serve as their global headquarters. This is in-line with the Flat6Labs Ignite program’s objective of establishing the nation’s capital as a global entrepreneurial hub and centre for innovation.

Each of these organisations was selected for investment and inclusion in the program based on their ability to deliver disruptive innovation in their individual market segments, with the aim of pioneering markets in the UAE and subsequently, broader international regions. The 10 organisations selected are: 

• DarDoc: Empowers patients to receive simple to complex care without visiting a hospital, by enabling them to hire a nurse, phlebotomist, or a physiotherapist on demand.
• Digital First AI: A B2B Martech SaaS provider that leverages AI to enable brands and marketers to easily create and execute effective marketing strategies.
• Fitlov: A managed marketplace providing fitness and wellness trainers on-demand in UAE, including personal training of any type, massages, life coaching, and nutritionists.
• FundoMundo: An online, live-education marketplace connecting teachers with learners aged 3 to 18.
• Hulexo: Helps retailers eliminate stockouts and automatically deploy highly personalised marketing campaigns using AI.
• Lune: Enables banks, FinTechs and retailers to better serve customers by unlocking insights into customer spending, based on automated analysis of raw transaction data.
• Makan: A company pioneering the concept of ‘furniture-as-a-subscription’ by enabling consumers to rent furniture monthly with the option of effortlessly keeping, returning or swapping out items as desired.
• Reach ChannelPro: A SaaS platform that makes it easy for brand owners and their distributors to increase their indirect sales, by digitising channel partner engagement.
• Savii: Promotes financial responsibility and independence among teens by offering a debit card and banking app that is tailored to their needs and lifestyle.
• The Scalable CFO: Simplifies finance operations for small businesses by matching them to part-time CFOs from a growing pool of over 6,000 qualified professionals, and also enables the automation of finance and back-office functions.

“We are excited to commence this third cycle of our program which sees us supporting start-ups in a variety of new industries — from well-being to martech. The solutions and services of these 10 organisations hold immense value for their target segments and the UAE economy at large. With the expert mentorship and guidance they will now receive, these start-ups have the ability to unlock their full potential, fine-tune their value proposition and rapidly scale their operations in order to accelerate time-to-market,” added Sharif.