Concluding day at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF), saw Finyal Media, a production business which creates podcast content for young Arabs across MENA, win the 100K Competition, enabling them to invest in scalable product features and further improve their Minimum Viable Product (MVP). It is the first company in the Middle East to be creating and monetizing an entire network of podcast series specifically for Arab listeners.

As part of its efforts to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship across the region, SEF’s host, the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa), encouraged all startups exhibiting at SEF’s Startup Town, a space showcasing 100 innovative startups from around the region, to pitch for the AED 100k prize.

Commenting on the occasion, Najla Al Midfa, CEO of Sheraa, said, “The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival’s 100K Pitch Competition is Sheraa’s way of drawing out some of the most talented young startups in the region, providing them with the opportunity to showcase their unique and disruptive solutions, and to receive the support they need to scale their businesses. This year’s winner, Finyal Media, has no shortage of potential, and we look forward to working with them through Sheraa to take their startup to the next level.”

The 100K Competition consisted of two rounds. On day one of SEF, all exhibiting startups got the opportunity to partake in a one-minute verbal pitch in front of the judges on the Ecosystem Stage. Five teams were then shortlisted and asked to prepare and present three-minute pitch presentations on the Main Stage, on day two. The selection criteria for the competition is based on four main fields: Investment, Strategy, Marketing, and People.

The judging panel composed of industry recognized experts, Lindsay Miller – Managing Partner of MenaMoonshots, Saeed al Nofeli – Programs Manager of Sheraa, Tushar Singhvi – Director of Crescent Enterprises Ventures, and Arlan Hamilton – Founder & Managing Director of Backstage Capital.

Participating startups gained increased visibility and outreach by pitching in front of a public audience, as well as improved pitch and presentation know-how, and feedback on problem/solution fit.

For further details please visit: http://sharjahef.com/