2nd Draper-Aladdin Startup Challenge at Dubai Active Industry

The Next Big Idea Just Got bigger bigger

Second Draper Aladdin Startup Challenge at Dubai Active Industry

Apply For Future Competition For A Chance To Win

$500,000 $500,000

investment for your company.

The Draper – Aladdin Startup Competition (DASC) partnered for the second edition with Dubai Active Industry to launch the Draper Aladdin Startup Challenge. Dubai Active Industry is the Middle East’s leading fitness industry event. The annual exhibition connects more than 30,000 fitness enthusiasts and industry professionals from around the world.

Click Here to find out more about Dubai Active Industry

The Draper AladdinStartup Challenge at Dubai Active Industry is a competition open to all related startups within the fitness and wellness space. Those startups that fit the set criteria will be shortlisted by our panel of experienced judges, and the chosen finalists will be eligible to pitch their businesses during finals on 30th October, Dubai World Trade Center.

THIS YEAR'S

🏆 COMPETITION WINNERS

The 1st place prize is a guaranteed cash investment of US $30,000 – US $500,000 courtesy of Draper-Aladdin, our exclusive sponsor for the competition.

Applicants to the Startup Challenge must be exhibitors within the Dubai Active Startup Zone and must meet the other criteria set out by the organizers. For more information on the criteria, please contact our team.

The startup pod for $2000 will give you the opportunity to be among the world’s leading fitness, wellness and sports brands, showcasing the latest technology and innovations.

The opportunity to pitch your business plan to a panel of qualified judges (with the chance to receive up to $500, 000 investment).

PACKAGE PER POD

Introducing...

The judges

Alaa Ismail

CEO & Founder of Aladdinb2b

BIOGRAPHY

A serial entrepreneur, strategist, startup mentor, pitch competition judge and advisor with more than 16 years of experience in the trade and exhibition industry. The crux of his entrepreneurial career has been in the trade industry, most notably, founding and running AladdinB2B, an online platform that is transforming the trade show industry with online, hybrid, and in-person solutions.

Alaa founded his first company SalesMENA, at the age of 26, which today is the #1 B2B outsource sales solution in the MENA region. SalesMENA has played a key role in the success of international companies in the region for 10 years. Recently, Alaa partnered with Tim Draper to establish Draper-Aladdin Startup Competition, which aims to fund the winning startup with up to 500k USD.

Walid Tarabih

Former Digital Transformation Advisor at the UAE's Prime Minister's Office

BIOGRAPHY

A former Digital Transformation Advisor at the UAE’s Prime Minister’s Office. A Technology and Digital Transformation Expert with hands-on experience in Public and Private sectors, with federal employment background and extensive expertise in Digital Transformation, Blockchain, A.I and Data Science. Digital transformation is no longer a buzzword but a necessity. And this is where Walid and the team can make a big difference when dealing with governments and organizations. His main focus as an Entrepreneur is to bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds by using technology to increase human’s ability rather than limiting it.

Massimo Cannizo

CEO and co-Founder @ GELLIFY Middle East

BIOGRAPHY

25+ years of business leadership positions in Consulting Business serving various industries and helping leaders leverage Technology to generate measurable business outcomes. Strong entrepreneurship professional skilled in Business Innovation, Business Planning, Enterprise Architecture, IT&Digital Strategy and Transformation, Data & Analytics Strategy, and digital ecosystem.

Ned Jaroudi

Managing Partner, Lancor MENA

BIOGRAPHY

Ned leads Lancor’s practice in the Middle East, working on executive and board searches for regional groups as well as international companies looking to expand in the region. Previously, he spent over 25 years with private and public sector organizations like AWS, Intel, CA Technologies, UAE Prime Minister’s Office, and Expo 2020 Dubai, where he established and ran lines of business across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He also worked in senior roles at exited startups in the US and the Middle East, and launched the first international incubator in MENA, in partnership with the Dubai Future Foundation. He has served as founding Board Member, United Nations ICT Arab Task Force; Board Member, Young Arab Leaders; founding President, Stanford UAE Alumni Club; Executive Committee Member, INSEAD UAE NAA; and Steering Committee Member, in5 Tech Innovation Centre. Ned holds an M.S. from Stanford University, a B.S. from Northeastern University, and an Executive Education Certificate in Management from INSEAD.

Jason Tubbs

Chief Operating Officer at Fitness First Middle East

BIOGRAPHY

A talented commercially focused operations professional with over 25 years experience in the Leisure and Health and Fitness Industry. Proven International expertise in all areas of running a successful health club, region and division to include driving revenue, customer and staff retention, budgeting, cost control,coaching and mentoring large teams. Committed to delivering the best possible customer service and implementing effective business strategi

Introducing...

Finalists Startups

Introducing...

The moderator

Ahmed Abdulla

Corporate Trainer & Performance Coach

BIOGRAPHY

Ahmed is a Dubai-based and raised multi-lingual Corporate Trainer and Performance Coach who brings with him extensive experience from the corporate world and is now considered amongst the new breed of dynamic trainers and “Motivational Speakers” who bring thought-provoking internal changes to his audiences and organizations. He is an exciting and charismatic presenter who engages you with his heart and soul while you make sense of the content. Ahmed shares his extensive real-life experiences and lessons learned over the years during his training sessions with his clients. He is a results-oriented trainer who focuses on the learner and the results they desire.