Opportunities open up for Blockchain Startups in MENA

 In two recent announcements Blockchain startups, teams and technology providers have been invited to participate to programs that will help them spur their startup, grow it and receive investment. The first one is the Blockchain Fintech Bay Acceleration program which has invited Fintech Startups with a minimum viable capital to apply to their upcoming program. The program is open to startup applicants from around the world seeking to expand in the MENA region.

The areas that Blockchain Fintech Bay are interested in include blockchain and Crypto assets, insurtech, cyber security and data science, payments and remittances, digital and open banking as well as regtech, financial health and inclusion and finally Wealthtech.

Participants will benefit from access to mentors and deep industry and technical experience, robust program, workspace, wide network of potential customers and investrs, and also might be offered a one-month residency at one of FinTech Consortium's other global  bays (Bahrain, Detroit or Singapore)

The deadline for application is March 15^th 2020, and the startups will need to relocate to the Kingdom of Bahrain for 8 weeks out of the 12. https://www.bahrainfintechbay.com/fap

In addition Digital Arabia Network (DAN) is also looking for NGOs, startups, , Entrepreneurs, Intrapreneurs, Social Change Makers, Social Enterprises, and Researchers that have working & operating tech-enabled solutions to challenges related to the following themes: Arts & Culture, Business & the Future of Work, Civic Participation, Online Media & Journalism, Gender Equality & Inclusion, EdTech, HealthTech, and AgriTech for a chance to win a fully-funded trip to Berlin, Germany to attend DAN's Conference to showcase their projects to Arab & German Tech experts, connect with potential partners, donors, and mentors, and get international visibility to boost their projects.

DAN has requested that the technologies used for the solutions should be related to the following: AI, Big Data, Web/Mobile Apps, IoT, Blockchain, Robotics, Networks, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Smart objects. The countries eligible for participation in DAN are Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, -Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia.

Those interested can apply to https://challenge.digitalarabia.network/