Young Entrepreneurs Shine at 2025 YEC in Cairo
October 30, 2025
The 2025 INJAZ Al-Arab/JA MENA Youth Entrepreneurship Celebration (YEC) brought together top young entrepreneurs from across the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region for three days of learning, collaboration, and competition in Cairo. Hosted by INJAZ Egypt, the event opened with a dynamic series of sessions, including FedEx’s Global Possibilities seminar and Starbucks' Sustainability in Action seminar.
The second day focused on skill-building and mentorship. University teams participated in PMI’s Project Management Excellence Workshop, gaining tools to manage real-world projects with efficiency and impact. At the same time, high school participants joined Mastercard’s Financial Empowerment Workshop, which explored how financial literacy can unlock opportunity and build resilience. Both groups then came together for a capacity-building workshop, strengthening collaboration across markets and generations.
On the final day, student companies manned their trade fair booths and later presented their companies to panels of judges from Boeing, FedEx, SAP, and other partners, showcasing solutions that addressed regional and global challenges.
Meet the Student Companies
High School
Bahrain: PeelUp addresses fruit peel waste by transforming it into a natural and safe adhesive, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical glues and promoting environmental and human health.
Egypt: Wasla bridges the gap between education and employment by empowering youth with the tools, experience, and confidence they need to succeed.
Kuwait: SeaClean combats water pollution in Kuwait through the SeaSkimmer, a cost-effective marine device that supports the mission of reclaiming the ocean wave by wave.
Lebanon: Neuromove transforms standard wheelchairs into smart, independent mobility devices through an affordable, open-source conversion kit.
Morocco: GHILLA produces 100% natural fertilizers from green and organic waste, offering an eco-friendly alternative to chemicals and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Oman: Pro Green specializes in sustainable livestock production, offering natural products like GREENX capsules to improve animal health and productivity in line with Oman Vision 2040.
Palestine: EcoRock transforms rock wool, an industrial byproduct, into a growth medium for hydroponic farming that reduces waste, saves water, and enhances food security.
Qatar: My Eye offers AI-powered smart glasses that assist blind users in navigating their surroundings with facial and object recognition, distance measurement, and audio feedback.
Saudi Arabia: Clear Flow provides smart water drainage solutions that detect water levels and grind debris to prevent blockages, protecting buildings and reducing maintenance costs.
United Arab Emirates: Raicom connects businesses with Gen Z creativity, enabling companies to crowdsource ideas while empowering youth to gain recognition and opportunities.
University
Algeria: Bioflex developed sustainable and biodegradable bioplastics made from potato peels, offering an eco-friendly solution to pollution from petroleum-based plastics and promoting a circular economy.
Bahrain: LYNQ creates clean drinking water from air using atmospheric water generators that capture humidity, filter it, and deliver safe water without pipes or plastic.
Egypt: Nubrick recycles construction and demolition waste into cost-effective building materials for roads and sidewalks, reducing pollution and supporting greener urban development.
Kuwait: Amal empowers individuals with visual and auditory disabilities through accessible, inclusive technology that enhances independence, connection, and quality of life.
Lebanon: Aprovement provides structured, interactive, and accessible learning roadmaps that help learners stay motivated and achieve their educational goals through Roadmapper.io.
Morocco: SPARKS develops smart, portable kits combining spectroscopic sensors with AI for real-time, non-destructive quality control in industries such as agri-food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
Oman: Qeshour transforms discarded marine shells into chitosan, a versatile biopolymer with applications across multiple sectors, driving sustainable innovation from Oman.
Palestine: Muhja integrates AI, expert access, and trusted parenting content to support early childhood care and maternal well-being.
Qatar: AZER is a smart e-learning platform for Year 12 students that offers on-demand lessons, progress tracking, and AI-powered support to make education flexible and affordable.
Saudi Arabia: Rooh develops advanced technological solutions to enhance drowning response speed and beach safety, aiming to lead in safety innovation through smart technology.
Tunisia: Catalyth pioneers photocatalytic concrete using TiO₂ to combat urban pollution and promote eco-friendly, sustainable construction.
United Arab Emirates: Taqdeer is a digital tipping platform allowing customers to send instant, cashless tips to service workers via QR codes, ensuring secure, transparent appreciation.
Awards
FedEx Global Possibilities Award (High school): INJAZ Palestine, EcoRock
Boeing Innovation Booth Award
High school: INJAZ Lebanon
University: INJAZ Egypt
Mastercard Financial Empowerment Award (High school): INJAZ Palestine, EcoRock
PMI Project Management Excellence Award (University): INJAZ Algeria, Bioflex
Alshaya Starbucks Sustainability in Action Award:
High school: INJAZ Saudi Arabia, Clear Flow
University: INJAZ El Djazair (Morocco), Sparks
Innovative Venture Award
High school: INJAZ Lebanon, Neuromove
University: INJAZ Bahrain, Lynq
Global Impact Award
High school: INJAZ Bahrain, Peelup
University: INJAZ Tunisia, Catalyth
Product of the Year
High school: INJAZ UAE, Raicom
University: INJAZ Saudi Arabia, Rooh
Company of the Year
High school: INJAZ Palestine, EcoRock
University: INJAZ Oman, Qeshour
Watch the 2025 YEC Highlights
The full awards ceremony is available to watch on INJAZ Al-Arab/JA MENA’s Facebook page.
As the INJAZ Al-Arab/JA MENA high school Company of the Year, EcoRock will go on to compete for the 2026 De La Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award alongside regional champions—Zester (JA Hong Kong SAR—China) from JA Asia Pacific, VerifyID (JA Denmark) from JA Europe, and InnovaQuest (JA of Southeastern Pennsylvania) from Junior Achievement USA. JA Americas and JA Africa will hold their regional Company of the Year competitions in November and December, respectively.