SBWC Showcases Female Entrepreneurs And Hosts Forum On Funding Challenges At Expand North Star 2024

The Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) is actively participating in the Expand North Star 2024 event at Dubai Harbour from 13-16 October 2024. As the official sponsor of the "Women in Tech" track, SBWC is committed to empowering female entrepreneurs and highlighting innovative technological solutions. This marks their seventh consecutive year of involvement in this significant event.

SBWC's booth at the event showcases eight outstanding female-led startups, offering a platform for visitors to connect with these innovative entrepreneurs. The council, established through the vision of H.H. Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, aims to foster meaningful connections and provide insights into its impactful initiatives.

The SBWC booth serves as a networking hub for investors, industry leaders, and fellow entrepreneurs. It facilitates direct engagement with the eight selected startups, enhancing their visibility and creating opportunities for partnerships and funding. This initiative underscores SBWC's dedication to supporting women-led ventures.

Among the featured startups is Al Rawi for Creative Content, which utilises emerging technologies for event management and AI research. Heuristic World offers an EdTech platform that transforms computer science teaching through game-based learning. Itifaq automates legal research using AI, while Jawdaman provides a mobile app analysing food and cosmetic product compositions.

In health tech, KosAI uses AI to help chronic disease patients manage health appointments effectively. Luga AI stands out with its multimodal multilingual Arabic AI agent enhancing accessibility across industries. The Soulhouette combines AI with traditional medicine to create wearable technology improving health outcomes for at-risk patients.

Tapy addresses global challenges with its Aman Watch, designed for individuals of determination to enable remote caregiving. These startups exemplify innovation in addressing diverse needs through technology.

Empowering Women in Technology

Mariam Bin Al Shaikh, Director of SBWC, expressed pride in their participation at Expand North Star 2024: "We stand at the forefront of an exciting chapter where women are representing themselves as leaders in technology and innovation." She highlighted the talent and creativity showcased by their members through the dedicated booth and sponsorship of the "Women in Tech" track.

A key highlight was organising the Women in Tech Forum featuring a panel discussion titled "Access to Capital: Overcoming Funding Challenges for Women in Tech." Experts like Dr. Muna Al Dhabbah and Alena Yudina shared insights on funding journeys, network building, fundraising strategies, and alternative funding sources.

Supporting Innovative Ideas

SBWC's partnership with the 'Supernova Challenge 2.0' amplifies its commitment to supporting innovative ideas and startups. Two SBWC startups have qualified for this competition, with winners announced on Expand North Star's final day. Recognised as MENA's largest startup pitch competition, it celebrates innovations prioritising sustainability and social impact.

The challenge offers a total prize pool of US$200,000, including US$10,000 dedicated to the ‘Women in Tech’ category sponsored by SBWC. This track elevates female entrepreneurs while reinforcing SBWC’s commitment to empowering women in non-traditional sectors like technology and AI.

Through participation in such significant events, SBWC continues to support women entrepreneurs in technology and innovation. By providing resources and exposure opportunities, it empowers individual startups while contributing to a more inclusive future within the global business community.

With inputs from WAM