BIG by Orange celebrates Season 9 graduation and Season 10 onboarding

Orange Jordan’s Business Innovation Growth Startup accelerator program (BIG) recently celebrated its Season 9 graduation and Season 10 onboarding in an event held at the Orange Digital Village in Abdali Amman, marking the program’s 8 years of supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The event was attended by members of Orange Jordan’s executive committee, BIG steering committee, partners in the ecosystem, Seasons 9 and 10 startups, as well as the program’s partners, and media representatives.

Under the Orange Digital Center, implemented in cooperation with GIZ, the event featured the graduation of BIG Season 9 startups: Kader, a platform connecting hourly workers to employers, Kaleela for teaching Arabic online, JordiLight, the smart flashlight, Smart Green agricultural tech solutions, and StarFace platform for connecting fans with their favorite celebrities and launching famous people's NFTs.

Season 9 startups utilized network and media opportunities, in addition to technical and marketing support and mentorship offered by BIG that supported their journey toward growth and expansion.

During the event, 6 startups were selected for Season 10 of BIG, after evaluating the 10 finalists that pitched their projects to the jury. The total number of applicants for the new season reached 90 projects.

CEO of Orange Jordan, Thierry Marigny, said he was happy with the BIG program’s 8-year journey and its success stories, noting: “Since the launch of BIG in 2015, the program has supported 49 startups, with a focus on tech-based projects in several sectors such as agriculture, commerce, sustainability, and the empowerment of persons with disabilities, as entrepreneurship remains key to sustainable economic growth. Innovators must be supported to expand and provide feasible, efficient solutions and products”.

Marigny congratulated Season 9 and welcomed Season 10 startups, wishing them continued success. He also thanked the partners that share Orange Jordan’s vision to enhancing entrepreneurship, including GIZ that supported BIG in Amman, as well as the jury members who are dedicating their expertise and time to enable startups.

Season 10 welcomed Baladoor, the virtual queuing application, Talentspace, an interactive career platform for matching supply and demand in the job market, Fintesa, a platform for integrated online payments, eduhax, an app for children learning math, Jusoor which offers simulation and virtual labs for students and educational institutions and QuiqClaim, FinTech peer-to-peer settlement and investments platform, catering to the Medical Insurance industry.

The jury comprises the Managing Director of AB Ventures, Faisal Hakki, General Manager of Roya TV, Fares Sayegh, CEO of iPARK, Omar Hamarneh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Information and Communications Technology Association- Jordan (int@j), Amjad Sweiss, CEO of Oasis500, Luma Fawaz, and from Orange Jordan, the CEO, Thierry Marigny, Chief Enterprise Officer, Sami Smeirat, Chief Consumer Market Officer, Naila Al Dawoud and Chief Digital, Data, Innovation & Money Officer, Wilfred Yver.

Jordan’s BIG by Orange is one of the global group’s accelerators powered in 18 countries that provide entrepreneurial support including legal, accounting, guidance, access to investors, plan development, connection building, alongside a co-working space in Orange Digital Village in the heart of Amman.

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