Re:Coded’s Tech Startup Academy graduates its first cohort
Re:Coded and UK:MENA Hub partnered to launch the first tech startup academy for conflict affected youth in Iraq
On October 2, seven tech startups pitched their ideas to business leaders, politicians and investors at Re:Coded’s Demo Day in Erbil. The event was an opportunity for tech entrepreneurs across Iraq and Syria to secure seed funding and support to take their startup to the next level after an intensive four weeks of coaching and acceleration by UK:MENA Hub on customer, product training and market development. The accelerated businesses, which ranged from delivery apps, a real-estate and jobs platform to a logistics shipping app were all novel for the nascent startup market in Iraq (a more in-depth description of each startup is below).
The Demo Day also included an expert panel discussion with business and entrepreneurial leaders (Ahmed Sufian, Techstars Regional Manager MEA, Ahmed Tabaqchali, CIO at AFC Fund, Omar Hassan, Co-founder UK-MENA Hub, Ravan Jaafar, Co-founder of The Book Cafe and Ali Hilli, Zain Entrepreneurship Lead) on the potential for entrepreneurship to lead to a re-birth in Iraq — a country which boasts one of the highest youth populations in the world. The panel discussed the recent momentum in the startup ecosystem in Iraq driven by boosts in internet and smartphone penetration as well as a youth population hungry for alternatives to the traditional path towards government employment. “It’s important to remember how far the region has come in supporting entrepreneurs” stated Omar Hassan, UK:MENA Hub Co-Founder. “People are starting to recognize the potential that entrepreneurship has to drive positive change in every country in the region.”
While many challenges still exist for entrepreneurs to launch a business in Iraq, an ecosystem of support through co-working spaces (The Station), technology and startup bootcamps (Re:Coded, FiveOne Labs and ScienceCamp) are beginning to emerge across the country, supported by both the private sector and governmental actors such as Zain Telecoms and the German Government (BMZ and implemented by GIZ). “It’s exciting to see this nascent movement, which didn’t exist 2 years ago being built and the impact that it is having on the future prospects of youth across the country”, said Zahra Shah, Re:Coded’s Program Manager in Iraq.
Building on the success of this program, Re:Coded is planning to launch the next Tech Startup Academy in Baghdad in 2019 which will target established startups and provide acceleration and funding to help scale their businesses.
Re:Coded Tech Startup Graduates
Shiffer, an app and online community that connects Syrians and the Syrian diaspora with shipping needs to travelers who can provide the logistics. Tracked by a smartphone app, Shiffer has a 100% successful delivery rate during its beta run.
Supernova, a Baghdad based Code School, creating Arabic-language content to prepare the next generation of Iraqi coders for success.
Ekaratay, an online real estate platform connecting home sellers with buyers, a first of its kind in the Levant.
Dakakenna, a shopping delivery service in Mosul. Dekakena will deliver to anyone, anywhere in the city that is still emerging from conflict.
Girfan Bazaar, a unique app helping shoppers find items in Souks and Bazaars in Erbil.
Erbil Delivery, a grocery delivery service serving Erbil with their own warehouses.
Opportunity, A job board connecting university graduates to jobs and volunteer opportunities, and providing a platform for skills development.
If you would like to interview or speak to any of our graduates, please contact our Program Manager, Zahra Shah at zahra@re-coded.com
For any other media related inquires, please contact re-coded@re-coded.com
