Page 34 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2023

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Jumaeiah, an application that helps create, “It has been a pleasure to work with the start-ups in the country. We are delighted to
manage and organize different jamaeiahs Central Bank of Oman to create a valuable be working with Omantel on this program
(groups) on a single platform; Hal Capital, fintech program for the local start-up that we believe will be a catalyst for
a Sharia-compliant embedded fintech ecosystem that combines the expertise accelerating fintech start-ups in Oman.”
offering alternative financing products and of Omantel and the Central Bank of Oman. In addition to receiving free desk space
services to SMEs and individuals; TasHeel The partnership leverages our shared at the Omantel Innovation Labs, a 1,100
Financial Solutions that provides financial vision and strengths to contribute to the sqm facility in the heart of the Omantel
ease to clients through a Buy Now Pay growth of fintech start-ups in the country Headquarters at Madinat Al Irfan, selected
Later solution; Wadiaa, an equity-based and we look forward to doing our part in start-ups will also gain access to a network
crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending accelerating these promising start-ups.” of over 100,000 investors, corporates and
solution for start-ups and SMEs; and Zumr Ghada Al Kharusi, Acting Manager at the mentors and will be eligible for perks worth
Fintech which provides micro financing Innovation Department, Central Bank of over USD 250,000 in cloud computing, legal
opportunities by encouraging the habit of Oman, said, “Fintech is vital to the future services, accounting and other areas.
saving. HH Sayyida Ghada Al Said, Senior of the Sultanate of Oman's financial sector,
Manager, Omantel Innovation Labs, said and we are committed to supporting fintech

Omantel Innovation Labs Announces Startups for Accelerator Cohort 2

Omantel, the leading provider of integrated
telecommunication services in the
Sultanate of Oman, has announced the
names of the Omani startups selected
for the 2nd cohort of the Omantel
Accelerator program managed by the
Omantel Innovation Labs. Cohort 2 of the
Omantel Accelerator will include three
startups that were selected from more
than 100 startups that applied online
after a public call for applications. These
startups were selected after a rigorous
selection process that included bootcamps
and interviews with experts from within
and outside Omantel. The selected
startups are: AirGo, iON and Touchpoynts
which helps technology professionals
enhance the customer journey. AirGo is
a modern high-tech enterprise founded
in 2020 to lead the drone industry in the retail technology solutions that enhance it through. We are looking forward to
Sultanate of Oman by offering intelligent customer experience and increase loyalty working closely with them over the next
services and products. AirGo provides an including digital signage, big data & few months to accelerate their solutions
Unmanned Traffic Management System analytics, facial recognition & audience and provide them with some of the best
named Tahleeq in Oman. It operates measurement, programmatic advertising of international and local mentorship and
as a platform-as-a-service that enables and smart retail implementations. The 2nd support,” said H.H Ghada Al Said, Senior
businesses, governmental entities, and cohort will also include two startups that Manager of the Omantel Innovation Labs.
educational institutions to avoid the were selected from Omantel’s recently In addition to the Omantel accelerator,
operating risk, regulatory challenges, and launched internal innovation program, Omantel Innovation Labs also works with
capital expenses associated with drone Fikra: Sayyad, a one-stop shop for the the Central Bank of Oman in accelerating
operations. iON is a social commerce fishing industry where sellers and buyers Fintech startups for the Central Bank of
platform that helps sellers achieve higher from across Oman can connect, trade and Oman’s Fintech Accelerator and manages
conversion rate by providing them with the deliver goods and services and Zabonex, the incubation of startups for the national
ability to post products/services on social a CX management software provider that UPGRADE program. To support the wider
media, create and customize private online uses data insights to create opportunities. ecosystem, Omantel Innovation Labs
stores, manage product inventory, manage “Congratulations to the startups for being also hosts hackathons, bootcamps, and
payments and shipping from multiple selected as part of the Omantel Accelerator. multiple free workshops on topics related
sales channels and manage a customer The selection process was intensive and to technology entrepreneurship throughout
chat center under different social media each of these startups has demonstrated the year.
platforms. Touchpoynts provides smart the strength of their foundation by making

34 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2023