The second annual Aviram Awards: "There is no turning back from doing good"
The second annual Aviram Awards: "There is no turning back from doing good"
Established by The Aviram Foundation and Forbes, the competition showcases reality-changing projects in the Middle East and North Africa, and will award a half a million dollar prize to the winner
The Aviram Foundation and Forbes magazine are launching the Aviram Awards 2023 competition for the second straight year to identify innovative ventures in the Middle East and North Africa.
Once again, this year, startups from all the countries of the Middle East who are working to create technological solutions to change the reality of life for the better will be invited to take part in the competition. The finals of the competition will be held in May in Morocco under the backdrop of the tightening of diplomatic relations between Israel and Morocco. Entrepreneurs are invited to register on the competition website until January 30, 2023.
"From the moment I was part of an activity that included technology and doing good, I realized that there was no turning back," said Ziv Aviram. "As a foundation, this became our mission, and we are glad and excited to begin another year of the Aviram Awards competition. I encourage startups that use technology to make a positive impact and to be part of the change. We look forward to getting to know the young entrepreneurs from around the Middle East who are going to lead social technological endeavors."
"The purpose behind the competition is to connect business and technology to help create a new era of well-being for the Middle East, North Africa and the rest of the world," said Randall Lane, Chief Content Officer & Editor of Forbes. "With the evolving entrepreneurial renaissance taking place across the MENA region, Forbes alongside the Aviram Foundation, are committed to nurturing talent and investing in tech innovation and uncover the next generation of start-ups in the Middle East and North Africa. Now more than ever we recognize how nurturing talent and investing in tech innovation is critical to solving the biggest social and environmental challenges we all face."
Entrepreneurs from the Middle East and North Africa who dream of changing the reality of our lives for the better will stand together on the finals stage in Morocco in May 2023. This is a unique competition that appeals to a diverse audience from Israel, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and more. A panel of judges, including representatives from these countries, will choose the winning startup. As part of the search process, 15 projects will be selected to advance to the semi-finals and will receive a professional seminar that will include workshops and guidance from leading mentors in the global industry. Of these, five ventures will advance to the final event in Morocco.
The winning venture will receive a cash prize of half a million dollars from the Aviram Foundation, professional support from foundation president Ziv Aviram and renowned mentors, as well as media support from the world's leading economic magazine Forbes. The second place winner will be awarded a prize of $100,000, and $50,000 will be awarded for third place.
In the first year of the competition, the finals took place in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, and were attended by representatives of the Royal Palace of Dubai and business and innovation leaders from around the Middle East and the world. As part of the final, former US President Bill Clinton spoke and congratulated the combination of business and doing good. The competition was won by Dr. Ari Gargir, CEO and founder of RedC Biotech, which develops red blood cells artificially. Throughout the last year, Ari was accompanied by Aviram in the process with close mentoring in order to give the project practical tools for success. Among the finalists are also Saar Safra, CEO of the Israeli company Beewise, Sara Benlafqih, CEO of the Moroccan company BMTA&C, and more.
The Aviram foundation is an engine for improving reality, and combining innovation and business with doing good. This is evident in Aviram's activities over the years, starting with the Mobileye company, which brought about a life-saving revolution in the field of road safety, and ending with the OrCam company, which provides life-changing solutions to people suffering from visual impairments. The foundation seeks to promote people, ventures and solutions that have the power to positively change the lives of the citizens of Israel and the region in the fields of technology, education, medicine and more.
