Winners announced for TiE Women MENA 2026 - My Startup World - Everything About the World of Startups!

TiE Dubai has announced the five regional winners who will compete for the TiE Women MENA 2026 title at GITEX Global in December. Following virtual regional finals held between September 8 and 17, track winners were named from national and regional categories: Naglaa Mohamed, Co‑Founder of P‑Vita (Egypt); Lea Mehaweg, Co‑Founder and CEO of Maison Safqa (Saudi Arabia); Anuscha Iqbal, Co‑Founder and CEO of Qanooni AI (UAE); Rowan Alawi, CEO of Trase (Rest of MENA); and Aisha Alyassi, Founder and Brand Director of SCULP, who won the Emirati track. The 2026 cycle attracted 250+ licensed, women‑founded businesses — up from almost 200 in 2025 — with 228 founders shortlisted and 46 pitching in the regional finals.

“The quality of the candidates and their pitch decks was exceptionally high this year, and what stood out was the diversity of sectors represented,” said Carlina Marani and Shameema Parveen, Co‑Chairs of TiE Women MENA 2026. “We saw everything from Emirati food products and AI‑powered solutions for water conservation and fetal health to second‑hand and sustainability‑focused businesses. Across the program, there was a clear sense that these women are building businesses with the intention to create meaningful impact.”

Judges evaluated founders on idea strength, go‑to‑market strategy, team composition, competitive advantage, product‑market fit, financial objectives and operational and technical viability. The regional finals panels drew from venture capital, technology, banking, media and innovation: Egypt judges included Angeliki Karayianni (Nokia), Dina El‑Shenoufy (F6 Ventures) and Haifa A.; Saudi Arabia’s panel featured Abdulrahman AlJiffry (500 Global), Dalia Nabil (Nokia) and Roberto Croci (formerly Google and Microsoft). The Rest of MENA jury included Dalia Amin (Nokia), Dr. Islam Shdaifat (JoVision) and Nesma Abdel Azim (Wamda). UAE judges were Aamer Sheikh (Homegrown Ventures), Jacopo Carlo Canale (Global Ventures) and May El‑Rafie (Nokia), while the Emirati track was judged by Lucy Chow (Pact Ventures), Saeed Alnofeli (in5 Innovation Centers) and Sönke Peters (Nokia).

The cohort showcased a pronounced emphasis on AI and SaaS, AgriTech and FoodTech, HealthTech, sustainability and fashion, with AI powering solutions in legal services, construction, livestock health, prenatal care and community platforms. Sustainability‑oriented ventures included firms turning farm waste into fertiliser, upcycling yarn into premium textiles and deploying smart sensors that claim water savings of 30–45% in a water‑scarce region. The programme also highlighted products designed specifically for women, spanning safe mobility, mental wellbeing and maternal health.

• Applications and pipeline: 250+ licensed, women‑founded businesses; 228 shortlisted; 46 finalists.
• Regional support: five dedicated mentors (most TiE Charter Members) will continue support post‑finals.
• Prizes and exposure: winners receive a dedicated pod at Expand North Star in GITEX Global 2026 to showcase businesses and meet investors.
• Programme impact: TiE Women MENA has supported more than 1,000 women‑led businesses, curated 350+ pitches and awarded AED 380,000 in equity‑free prize money over four years.
• Funding context: MENA startups raised USD 150 million across 27 deals in April 2026, but female‑founded startups received just USD 2.5 million in H1 2026 — 0.14% of the region’s USD 1.7 billion venture funding in that period.

“Being named a TiE Women MENA Regional Winner is an incredibly meaningful milestone,” said Aisha Alyassi, Founder of SCULP. “The experience has pushed me to think bigger, sharpen my vision, and connect with a community of women who genuinely believe in what we’re building and where it can go.”

Danial Mausoof, Vice President MI Segment, MEA at Nokia, underlined corporate backing: “At Nokia, we believe that innovation thrives when diverse perspectives, bold ideas and entrepreneurial ambition come together. We are proud to partner with TiE Women MENA and support a platform that gives women founders across the region the visibility and mentorship they need to turn innovative ideas into businesses with real impact.”

Looking ahead, the five regional winners will continue one‑to‑one mentoring to refine pitches, go‑to‑market plans and investor materials before competing for the MENA title at the finals in December at GITEX Global 2026. The Expand North Star stage will provide direct investor access and a showcase opportunity designed to convert the programme’s visibility into tangible growth and funding prospects.