Seedstars is a Swiss based group founded in September 2012 which has the objective to impact people’s lives in emerging markets through technology and entrepreneurship. Seedstars promotes, connects, and invests in emerging market startups through its exclusive worldwide startup competition. In 2016, the program reached out to entrepreneurs in over 65 countries through various programs such as the global startup competition, co-working community, academy and acceleration program. Mada partners with Seedstars to promote the ICT Accessibility Solutions with the ultimate goal of supporting Accessibility startups in Qatar and beyond to benefit and improve the lives of PWD. Seedstars and Mada share a common vision to support innovation by working with the best startups in the field and offering them with suitable funding and subject matter expertise. The prize money is utilized for enhancing the innovative winning solution and a marketable product to effectively impact the targeted users.
MADA ICT Accessibility Award 2021
Applications Received
Finalists
Winners
Winner: Thinkerbell Annie
Mada partners with Seedstars to promote the ICT Accessibility Solutions to support Accessibility startups in Qatar and beyond to benefit and improve the lives of PWD. Seedstars and Mada share a common vision to support innovation by working with the best startups in the field and offering them suitable funding and subject matter expertise. The prize money is utilized for enhancing the innovative winning solution and a marketable product to effectively impact the targeted users.
Following the success of the Mada ICT Accessibility Award on Virtual Seed stars Global Summit 2020/21, Mada continues to collaborate with Seed stars to enable startups to develop impacting solutions to improve the lives of PWD. For this year’s award, 4 finalists were selected to pitch in Seedstars Regional Summit and subsequently, from which 2 finalists were chosen to advance to the final round and pitch in the Seedstars Global Summit that was held virtually on May 20, 2021. Thinkerbell Annie was the winner of the Mada Seedstars Award 2021.
The announcement took place during the Seedstars Global Summit 2021 on May 20, 2021, which was a 2-hour event held virtually due to the travel and gathering restrictions imposed because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
MADA ICT Accessibility Award 2020
On Friday 3rd April 2020, Seedstars World organized the Seedstars Global Summit 2020, which was a virtual 2 hours long event. During the event, we announced the Mada ICT Accessibility Awards 2019 winners. The competition was between two finalists, and the prize was awarded to both Talov and Lazarillo.
Talov is the developer of Artificial Intelligence-based apps “SpeakLiz – the app designed for the deaf that converts sign language to text and speech” and “Vision – an application designed for the blind that identifies objects, currency notes, etc. and provides voice output of their details.” Lazarillo developed an app designed for independent orientation and navigation for people with visual impairment and wheelchair users within an indoor and outdoor environment.
Following the success of Mada ICT Accessibility Award on Seedstars MENA 2018, Mada continues to collaborate with Seedstars to enable startups to develop impacting solutions to improve the lives of PWD. For this year’s award, four finalists pitched on Seedstars MENA Summit. Subsequently, two finalists advanced to the final round and pitched on Seedstars Global Summit. This years summit was supposed to be held in Geneva, Switzerland on April 2020 but due to the Corona Pandemic outbreak, it was organized virtually.
Seedstars 2019 – MENA Finalists
Following the success of Mada ICT Accessibility Award on Seedstars MENA 2018, Mada continues to collaborate with Seedstars to enable startups to develop impacting solutions to improve the lives of PWD. For this year’s award, 4 finalist will be selected to pitch on Seedstars MENA Summit and subsequently, 2 finalists will advance to the final round and pitch on Seedstars Global Summit to be held in Geneva, Switzerland on April 2020.
MADA ICT Accessibility Award 2018
Applications Received
Finalists
Winners
Sponsored Stream: Mada ICT Accessibility
Winner: Bonocle
On November 29, 2018, Seedstars World organized its 3rd edition of the most prestigious regional event to bring together the best entrepreneurs in emerging markets from across the MENA Region. Mada awarded Bonocle as the Best Arabic Assistive Technology Startup, Bonocle combines hardware and software solutions to provide an innovative product that allows the visually impaired community barrier-free access to a broad array of digital content. It is a handheld/semi wearable device that incorporates a braille cell positioned under the fingertip of the user when held or worn. The product is able to communicate with various electronic devices (e.g. smartphones, tablets, laptops or personal computers) and display the contents of the device in braille on the incorporated braille cell, providing the user with unprecedented access to the digital content available.
