Oasis500 and New Cities Foundation launch OMRAAN: US$30,000 global startup contest to develop world’s best tech solutions in Middle East
- An initiative launched by New Cities Foundation and Oasis500 aimed Joint at developing world’s best urban technology ideas in Middle Eastern cities
- Successful startups to win USD $30,000 seed funding and 100-day acceleration program in Amman, Jordan
Paris, France and Amman, Jordan, 28 March 2014. The New Cities Foundation and Oasis500 announced the launch of OMRAAN, a global startup competition rewarding the best urban technology ideas with US$30,000 worth of seed funding and a 100-day acceleration program in Amman.
Omraan, meaning “building” in Arabic, is a unique initiative aimed at identifying and rewarding aspiring entrepreneurs who are developing promising technologies that tackle urban challenges, WITH A PARTICULAR RELEVANCE TO URBAN ENVIRONMENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. Through a combination of seed funding and acceleration, Omraan’s mission is to nurture the most creative and forward-thinking technology startups from across the globe, and develop their ideas into concrete projects that solve challenges facing all cities.
In recognition of the creativity that Omraan will bring to the city of Amman and the wider MENA region, Aqel Biltaji, Mayor of the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) has pledged his support to the initiative.
From today onwards, international technology startups are invited to apply for Omraan at www.omraan.me. In order to qualify, startups must demonstrate an urban focus, and fall within the technology sector, including mobile, web, cloud, e-commerce, gaming, entertainment, enterprise software, digital news, digital advertising, and social networks.
For qualifying startups, the USD $30,000 seed investment funding consists of a $12,000 cash investment along with $17,000 in in-kind services through Oasis500’s acceleration and incubation program. Acceleration in Amman will involve coaching and mentoring from the Oasis500 team, industry experts, and a group of 300 international mentors, many of whom work in Silicon Valley.
The 100-day acceleration and investment program will be followed by 6‐9 months of incubation either in Amman, or the following partner cities: Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah, Manama, Cairo and Beirut.
John Rossant, Chairman of the New Cities Foundation, said: “The New Cities Foundation is proud to be launching Omraan in collaboration with Oasis500. This unique initiative is an important milestone in the Foundation’s history: over the past four years, we have developed a dynamic network of urban innovators, thinkers and decision-makers spanning the globe. We have also fostered collaboration and dialogue amongst urban actors in the MENA region, through events such as the New Cities Summit and Cityquest – KAEC Forum. We’re now excited to provide a powerful platform for incubating, promoting and scaling urban technologies in the Middle East from which cities around the world can also learn.”
Yousef Hamidaddin, CEO of Oasis500, stated: “Omraan has an ambitious goal to attract and develop the best and brightest tech start-ups from around the world to the Middle East. We are confident that our collaboration with the New Cities Foundation, Greater Amman Municipality and King Abdullah Fund for Development will lead us to achieve our goal and to make exciting new discoveries and create the smart cities of the future.”
H.E. Aqel Beltaji, of the Greater Amman Municipality, said: “We are very excited about the opportunity to join forces with Oasis 500 and contribute towards achieving a 21st Century vision for Amman as a model knowledge city in the MENA region. We support innovation that will lead to smart solutions for urban challenges facing Amman and other cities in the region and are proud to provide a real-world lab for innovators from around the globe.”
Dr. Omar Razzaz, Chair of the Board of Trustees, King Abdullah II Fund for Development, stated: “Cities of the region are in urgent need to address social, economic, and environmental challenges associated with urbanization. Omraan will be the lead with technology solutions, and the king Abdullah 11 fund for development is proud to be part of it.”
Applications will be assessed jointly by a jury of experts that include Oasis500 and the New Cities Foundation on a rolling basis.
Applicants will be asked to submit a brief statement explaining their idea and to submit a detailed presentation and to give a 10-minute pitch presentation to be considered for the award.
The panel of judges will be announced shortly.
For more information and to apply visit www.omraan.me
Ends
Contact:
International Press Contact
Marina Bradbury
Communications & Media Relations Manager
New Cities Foundation
mbradbury@newcitiesfoundation.org
+33 (0)6 17 79 17 72
Local Press Contact
Omar Al-Sharif
Marketing & Communications Manager
Oasis500
+962 7 79096699
About the New Cities Foundation
The New Cities Foundation is a leading global non-profit organization, with a vision to build more inclusive, dynamic and creative cities benefiting people and society. Its mission is to incubate, promote and scale urban innovations through collaborative partnerships between government, business, academia and civil society.
The New Cities Foundation hosts a number of leadership events on the most pressing urban issues, including its flagship event, the New Cities Summit, which takes place this year in Dallas, Texas, on June 17 – 19, 2014 (www.newcitiessummit2014.org). The Foundation also hosts smaller leadership events worldwide, such as Cityquest - KAEC Forum, a high level event focusing on the conception and building of new cities around the world (www.cityquest.net)
The Foundation’s applied research wing, the Urban (co)LAB, manages a number of projects including Task Forces, thought leadership activities and competitions. The Urban (co)LAB recently completed two Task Forces on Urban E-health in Rio de Janeiro and on Connected Commuting in San Jose, California. The Urban (co)LAB also manages the annual AppMyCity! Prize for the world’s best urban mobile app, and seeks out the most talented urban innovators for the WhatWorks series of talks hosted at the New Cities Summit.
An independent, non-profit organization, the New Cities Foundation was created in 2010 and is financed by its members and partners. Overall, its members include some of the most forward-thinking companies, universities, cities and city organizations from around the world. The New Cities Foundation’s Founding Members are Cisco and Ericsson. The Foundation is based in Geneva and its head office is in Paris.
For more information about the New Cities Foundation, please visit:
| * | www.newcitiesfoundation.org |
| * | Facebook: /NewCitiesFoundation |
| * | Twitter: @newcitiesfound |
About Oasis500
Oasis500 is a leading early stage and seed investment company, the first of its kind in Jordan and the MENA region. The Oasis500 program includes entrepreneurship training, mentorship guidance, business incubation and additional follow-up investment and funding if required, turning new business ideas into startups and helping existing entrepreneurs grow their companies with our angel investor and mentor networks. Oasis500 nurtures creative ideas in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Mobile and Digital Media, transforming them into startup companies.
For more information about Oasis500, please visit:
| * | www.oasis500.com |
| * | Facebook:/oasis500 |
| * | Twitter: @oasis_500 |
About the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM)
Amman, the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is home to over 3 million population and covers a land area of 800 sq. km. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial center and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) provides municipal services which include zoning; planning; infrastructure construction, operations, and maintenance; traffic, public transport, parks, and various other health social and cultural services.
Amman has witnessed unprecedented growth in population as well as development. However, the city's infrastructure did not always keep up with this growth as may be evident in the increasing traffic congestion and pressure on city services. GAM has been working on five tracks that include: environment and energy; transport and infrastructure; land use planning and zoning; socioeconomic development; and identity. Indeed, embracing technology and innovation is at the core of GAM's strategy to turn Amman into a Knowledge City.
For more information about Greater Amman Municipality, please visit:
About The King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD)
The King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD) in Jordan, established with a royal decree, aims to support the Jordanian community by driving human and infrastructure development. KAFD works to further develop key sectors in Jordan and improve local standards of living for all segments of the Jordanian community, targeting individuals, public and private sectors and civil society organizations.
For more information about King Abdullah II Fund for Development, please visit:
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