Throughout the application and review period for GIST Tech-I Competition we will be highlighting finalists from GIST Tech-I alumni who remain an integral part of the GIST community today. All details will be updated and available on this page.
Highlighted previous Tech-I Winners include:
- Donatus Njoroge (Kenya) won the 2019 GIST Tech-I pitch competition with his startup, Vinis Limited. Vinis Limited manufactures pesticides from essential oils in order to increase crop yields for farmers. You can watch this video to learn more about Vinis Limited.
- Wassim El Hariri (Lebanon) won the 2018 GIST Tech-I pitch competition with his startup, SASHA. SASHA has created a uniquely designed robot to fully automate food distribution in hospitals. The robot can eliminate errors in meal distribution by making sure every patient gets the right meal at the right time. You can watch this video to learn more about SASHA.
- Iffat Zafar Aga (Pakistan) won 2015 GIST Tech-I Best in Health prize with her startup, DoctHERs, a healthcare marketplace that connect female doctors to millions of underserved patients in real-time while leveraging technology. Home-based female doctors can remotely access patients via our cloud-based technology. This enables these doctors to circumvent socio-cultural barriers that restrict women to their homes, while correcting two market failures: access to quality healthcare and inclusion in the professional workforce for unemployed, qualified health professionals. Prior to Iffat’s participation in the GIST Tech-I Finals, DoctHERs had two clinics. They now have seven and aim to launch 36 clinics by then end of 2016. Watch this video to learn more about DoctHERs.
- David Gluckman (South Africa) won the 2014 GIST Tech-I Startup competition with his low cost fire detection and early warning system. Lumkani (formerly known as Khusela) is a technology startup with a vision to mitigate the loss of life and property associated with shack fires in South Africa and across the globe through proactive and early warning. Their device is an innovative heat detector, which is connected through a transmission network to other detectors in a community creating a community-wide alert to danger. To learn more, visit their website at www.lumkani.com and watch his video here.
- Mixon Faluweki (Malawi) won the 2014 GIST Tech-I Idea Competition with Padoko charger, a mobile phone charging device that enables individuals to charge their phones and other electronic devices using a bicycle as they travel between locations in remote Africa. To learn more watch his video here.
- Nermin Sa’d (Jordan) created an online platform enabling Arab women engineers to telework. Her venture provides culturally sensitive employment opportunities for hundreds of highly skilled women across the Middle East. Learn more
Full List of Past Winners
1st Place Startup: Donatus Njoroge, Kenya, Vinis Limited
2nd Place Startup: Syed Abrar Ahmed, Pakistan, AzaadHealth
3rd Place Startup: Varinder Singh, India, GFF Innovations
Outstanding Female Entrepreneur: Queenny Alvarado, Ecuador, Anuka
Spirit of Tech-I: Heriberto Solano, Colombia, Black Square
1st Place Startup: Wassim El Hariri, Lebanon, SASHA
2nd Place Startup: Ja'far Albadarneh, Jordan, ARtour
3rd Place Startup: Sadaf Naz, Pakistan, Her Ground
Amazon Outstanding Woman Entrepreneurs: Sadaf Naz, Pakistan, Her Ground
Best Alumni Pitch: Anwar Almojarkesh, Syria, Braci Limited
Outstanding Woman Alumna Pitch: Jihane Laraichi, Morocco, EducationCM; and Almas Taj Awan, Pakistan
Spirit of Tech-I: Shahd Douglas, Jordan, TechTeb
1st Place Startup: Hoang Dao Xuan, Vietnam, Monkey Junior
1st Place Idea: Samina Sarwat, Bangladesh, Astha Purifier
2nd Place Startup: Yap Chee Wei, Malaysia, HiGi Energy PTE LTD
2nd Place Idea: Maher Yousef Maymoun, Jordan, Solar PiezoClean
3rd Place Startup: Muhammad Waqas, Pakistan, WonderTree
3rd Place Idea: Layth Hamad, Jordan, Clev-G
Honorable Mention Startup: MD. Samid Razzak, Bangladesh, 10 Minute School
Honorable Mention Idea: Nnenna Chioma Okoye, Nigeria, ResSpot
Outstanding Female Entrepreneur: Samina Sarwat, Bangladesh, Astha Purifier
Science and Technology Prize: Maher Yousef Maymoun, Jordan, Solar PiezoClean
Spirit of Tech-I: Amr Hussein, Egypt, Koshk Comics
People’s Choice Startup: Charity Wanjiku, Kenya, Strauss Energy
People’s Choice Idea: Maher Yousef Maymoun, Jordan, Solar PiezoClean
1st place startup: Carlos Francisco Bernal, Mexico, Eido Innova with GlucosAlarm
1st place idea: Rudi Cooke, South Africa, Water Bros
2nd place startup: Taita Ngetich, Kenya, Illumininum Greenhouse
2nd place idea: Mojisola Ojebode, Nigeria, BioResources
3rd place startup: Blessing Mene, Nigeria, UNFIRE
3rd place idea: Charles Batte, Uganda, Tree Adoption Uganda with Tree Capital
Honorable mention startup: Gabriel Gurovich, Chile, Snapp
Honorable mention idea: Sabira Mehrin Saba, Bangladesh, Bhitti
Best in Health: Iffat Zafar Aga, Pakistan, DoctHers
Best in ICT: Ibrahim Bernardo, Philippines, Sari Software Solutions
Best in Energy: Rudi Cooke, South Africa, Water Bros
Best in Agriculture: Mojisola Ojebode, Nigeria, Bioresources
Best Female Entrepreneur: Mojisola Ojebode, Nigeria, Bioresources
Spirit of Tech-I: Samson Fiado, Malawi, EasyBooks Accounting Package
Science and Technology Excellence Award: Patricio Avila, Chile, Platech
Potential for Societal Impact: Tendekayi Katsiga, Botswana, Deaftronics
1st place startup: David Gluckman, South Africa, Lumkani
1st place idea: Mixon Faluweki, Malawi, Padoko
2nd place startup: Mawano Kambeu, Zambia, Bus Tickets Zambia
2nd place idea: Cynthia Ndubuisi, Nigeria, Kadosh Production Company
3rd place startup: Edmund Ainebyona, Uganda, Cipher256
3rd place idea: Alim Khamitov, Kazakhstan, RobiGroup
Most Potential for Societal Impact: Onyedikachukwu Igili, Nigeria, DS-Project Waste to Point
Best Female Entrepreneur: Cynthia Ndubuisi, Nigeria, Kadosh Production Company
Honorable Mention in Agriculture: Juan Carlos Guaqueta, Colombia, Acuacare
Honorable Mention in Energy: Dilmurod Eshmuradov, Uzbekistan, UZSolar
Honorable Mention in Healthcare: Charles Akhimien, Nigeria, MobiCure
Honorable Mention in ICT: Shahzeb Mirza, Pakistan, Magision
Science and Technology Excellence Award: Felipe Varea, Chile, Kaitek Labs
Spirit of Tech-I Award: Wassim Zoghlami, Tunisia, Allervoid
1st place startup: Tonee Ndungu, Kenya, Kytabu Education
1st place idea: Badreddine Zebbiche, Algeria, GuideMe
2nd place startup: Chris Asego, Kenya, Eneza Education
2nd place idea: Anum Imtiaz, Pakistan, NANOTECH
3rd place startup: Dr. Lojain Jibawi, Lebanon, Votek Technology
3rd place idea: Ala' Kalifeh, Jordan, Presto Wireless
4th place: Sandra Aoun and Wissam Daou, DAWTEC
5th place: Alex Muriu, Kenya, Farmspace Africa
6th place: Mert Kucukozkan & Serkan Ari, Turkey, TaxiBUL
7th place: Mo Shahin & Adam Eldaba, UAE, AdvanTag
Best female entrepreneur: Nermin Sa'd, Jordan, Handasiyat
People's Choice Award: Alvin Chai, Malaysia, Netizen Testing
1st place: Natali Ardianto, Indonesia, Tiket.com
2nd place: Mohamad Taha, Lebanon, ma2too3a!
3rd place: Khaled Wagdy, Egypt, Motion Capture Systems
4th place: Saman Khan & Syed Irteza Ubaid, Pakistan, Nanocides
5th place: Laurent Liautaud, Senegal, Niokobook
6th place: Rachid Harrando, Morocco, COREvidence
7th place: Bassam Seif & Nadi Chemali, Lebanon, Kactus
8th place: Tamer Ahmed, Egypt, Assly
9th place: Abedul Azez Kasaji, Jordan, Mallna
Best female entrepreneur: Jolene Sim, Malaysia, Centsless
Most online votes: Ahmad Mubiden, Jordan, Mubstar
1st place: Najwa Sahmarani & Zyad Sankari, Lebanon, Cardio Diagnostics
2nd place: James Khoo Chen, Malaysia, SecQme
3rd place: Mahmoud Shattel, Jordan, Taquetna
4th place: Farhan Masood, Pakistan, Bloodline
5th place: Rofaida Awad Abdelaal, Egypt, With Love from Me
6th place: Moshin Islam Tiwana, Pakistan, Artificial Brain Controlled Upper Limbe prosthesis
7th place: Momal Mushtaq, Pakistan, Saltech
8th place: Anwar Almojarkesh & Saif Shoqerat, Jordan, Movement Charger
Best female entrepreneur: Iraq, Smart Crib
Most online votes: Karim Mohammed & Mees Alotaibi, Lebanon, Silver Nano Particles of Milk