TEL AVIV, Israel & MARRAKESH, Morocco--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Forbes, in partnership with the Aviram Family Foundation, announce the second annual Aviram Awards – Tech for Humanity, hosted in Morocco in 2023. The competition provides a springboard for the entrepreneurs of the future to make their ideas a reality. To do this, the Aviram Family Foundation is granting a $500,000 USD prize and offering expert mentoring and a showcase on Forbes to the first-place prize winner, as well as a $100,000 USD to a second-place prize winner and $50,000 USD to a third-place prize winner. Winners will be announced at a ceremony in May 2023 in Morocco.
The Aviram Awards - Tech For Humanity, which first launched in 2021, embodies the Aviram Family Foundation’s mission to combine cutting-edge innovation and technology with social responsibility and positive action to impact the lives of millions for the better. In the first year, the competition attracted over 600 applications from fields as broad as education, health, environment, transportation, sanitation, and community.
Judges for the 2023 competition, which opens for entries today, are searching for trailblazing entrepreneurs across the North Africa and the Middle East region who are dedicated to giving back to humanity through technology, business and innovation.
To qualify for the 2023 Aviram Awards – Tech for Humanity, entrants must be the business owner or team leader of a tech startup—in at least the pre-seed or seed phase—with an established concept that positively impacts humanity, and live in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates. To apply, go here.
Following an extensive judging process, during which semi-finalists will receive coaching from mentors identified by Forbes, the pool of applicants will be narrowed down to five finalists, who will be invited to pitch live on-stage to a judging panel of world-acclaimed business leaders in Morocco in May 2023. Previous finalists have included an AI-powered robotic beehive, a wastewater treatment system that reduces waterborne diseases and turns waste into bio-products, biodegradable polymers, and a solar fridge that extends the shelf life of crops.
The purpose behind the competition, explains Randall Lane, Chief Content Officer & Editor of Forbes, is to connect business and technology to help create a new era of well-being for the Middle East, North Africa and the rest of the world. “With the evolving entrepreneurial renaissance taking place across the MENA region, Forbes alongside the Aviram Family Foundation, are committed to nurturing talent and investing in tech innovation and uncover the next generation of start-ups in the Middle East and North Africa,” said Lane. “Now more than ever we recognize how nurturing talent and investing in tech innovation is critical to solving the biggest social and environmental challenges we all face.”
Ziv Aviram, Founder and President, Aviram Family Foundation commented:
"From the moment I was part of an activity that included technology and doing good, I realized that there was no turning back. As a foundation, this became our mission, and we are glad and excited to begin another year of the Aviram Awards competition. I encourage startups that use technology to make a positive impact on humanity to be part of the change. We look forward to getting to know the young entrepreneurs from around the Middle East who are going to lead social technological endeavors."
Entries for the Aviram Awards - Tech For Humanity will close at midnight on January 30, 2023. For more information about the Aviram Awards and how to enter, visit the website here.
About Forbes
Forbes champions success by celebrating those who have made it, and those who aspire to make it. Forbes convenes and curates the most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, transforming business and making a significant impact on the world. The Forbes brand today reaches more than 140 million people worldwide through its trusted journalism, signature LIVE and Forbes Virtual events, custom marketing programs and 48 licensed local editions in 82 countries. Forbes Media’s brand extensions include real estate, education and financial services license agreements.
About Aviram Family Foundation
Aviram Family Foundation was established in 2021 by businessman and entrepreneur Ziv Aviram and his family with a sense of duty and commitment to promote values of community and providing professional, educational and financial resources for people, ventures and solutions that have the power to change the day-to-day reality of the citizens of Israel and the Middle East.
The foundation promotes social and community involvement using education for action, mentoring, and creating opportunities. The foundation has set itself a goal to harness the experience and tools of the business world and combine technology and entrepreneurship with doing good in order to fulfill ideas and solutions that will enhance the quality of life in the society and environment.
