Saudi start-ups build a platform for innovation
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JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia is brimming with talent, creativity and the drive for innovation. Vision 2030, led by the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, further corroborates the Kingdom’s support for aspiring youth and local businesses to thrive. These are six Saudi start-ups to look out for:
YOUPOSITIVE
YouPositive is an electronic platform founded by Zahra Al-Mohanna that connects users with their appropriate life-coach or counselor and offers affordable sessions online.
YouPositive helps those who wish to maintain anonymity.
Walaa Moathen, the CEO assistant, told Arab News: “It also helps counselors and life-coaches as without portals like us to introduce them, people rarely find out about the help they’re certified to offer.”
Sessions are an hour long, and prices differ depending on the sort of treatment the client requires and the life-coach; they cover career & income, parenting & children, relationships and self.
VIBES
Vibes offices is a fully equipped co-working space that aims to alter people’s perception of the workplace.
Creating an active community, Vibes has an activities calendar made to cater to those in its premises. It continuously works on events, workshops and training courses to help members connect with the right people.
Vibes has four plans to cater to freelancers, start-ups, designers, programmers, and those in need of a meeting space, with month-to-month rental agreements that give users a 24/7 space access.
THREE POINT ONE FOUR
Mohammed Al-Hashimi and Omar Abduljawad formed Pi, threepointonefour or 3.14, a team of passionate architects who work in a collaborative environment to provide users with smart spaces and experiences.
The team behind Pi celebrate visionary diversity by collaborating with others.
Pi Architects aims at improving the built environment in the region, by bringing together a variety of different thinkers and creators.
DOKKAN AFKAR
This Saudi-based e-commerce platform offers innovative gadgets and products in a flourishing market as it targets GCC online shoppers. It aims to provide local and international designers in all fields a program in which to display their products and creativity.
Ammar Wagnah, Abdullah Bajri and Mohammed Nasrallah started Dokkan Afkar to unite customers with quirky inspirational gizmos, from home and office appliances and accessories to the perfect gifts and brands for loved ones.
Dokkan Afkar want to bring in unique designers and collaborators to meet their customers’ expectations.
CURA
Wael Kabli and Mohammad Zekrallah created the first health care application in the Middle East that enables users to get in touch directly with certified, qualified doctors about medical cases. The user can use photos, videos and audio recordings to report their condition with their doctor of choice.
The Cura app creates a portal between patients and doctors through secure conversations and follow-up consultations, or, in dire cases, can direct them to see doctors in person.
Kabli told Arab News: “The idea for Cura formed around 2015 when my daughter needed to see a doctor around dusk for her ears. Of course, you can’t find any doctors around that time, and the nearest appointment would be during working hours. I decided to find a solution that makes doctors more accessible.”
PAYTABS
PayTabs offers clients a secure and convenient online B2B payment method. It enables businesses to accept online payments through the right technology for the current market.
It caters to corporations, growing SMEs and the e-commerce market. PayTabs’ clients can also share online invoices, create API plugins to integrate with their website and create an online store. The technology systems on offer help to prevent fraud.
PayTabs was founded by Abdulaziz Al-Jouf to offer users an opportunity to conduct and grow smart businesses on a local and international scale.
