Rapid Innovation Accelerator

Rapid Innovation Accelerator

Plexal’s worked with UK innovators to support Oman with pandemic-related challenges.

COVID-19 has placed pressure on economies, healthcare systems and communities across the world. It’s also accelerated the pace of digital transformation, spurred on startup innovation and encouraged deeper collaboration between sectors and across borders.

And that collaborative spirit has seen Plexal being appointed by the UK Oman Digital Hub and the British Embassy in Oman to collaborate with AL JABR, an innovation development company, and support Oman’s startup ecosystem. Together, we’re supported startups with solutions to local challenges created by the pandemic.

Our innovation team analysed the response to the pandemic from UK startups, as well as the impact of COVID-19 on Omani society and businesses. We then designed a virtual programme that saw UK startups, corporate innovation specialists, academics and business leaders share what they’ve learned with counterparts in Oman through mentoring and workshops.

The Centre for Financial Technology at Imperial College London, RIYADA (an SME development authority in Oman) and Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications & Information Technology were strategic programme partners that helped Plexal and AL JABR deliver the course content. 

HIGHLIGHTS FROM DEMO DAY

Hear about the progress our cohort members made in our Demo Day wrapup blog

CONTACT OUR TEAM

Russell Gundry

Russell Gundry,
Director of innovation programmes

As our director of innovation programmes, Russell leads our work with our Rapid Innovation Accelerator, designed and delivered our OpenDoor accelerator and collaborates with partners to deliver ELIEZ: the East London Inclusive Innovation Zone. With over 10 years’ consultancy experience, he’s an advocate for inclusive innovation and action-oriented, user-centric solutions that involve systems thinking. If you’ve got an innovation challenge to bring to us or a question about a programme, get in touch with Russell.

OUR INNOVATORS

Meet the innovators taking part in our accelerator

Impact Integrated – an AI based talent development platform

ETTEQA – a cybersecurity training and services platform

Ala Darbik – an online freight management platform

Apimoth – A bee management company

Mskkn – a digital real estate platform

Muscateer – an online virtual community platform

Labaqah – an online gift shop

Maareb Technology – a provider of blockchain based digital solutions

Behar Market – an online fish purchasing platform

Tharwa Oman – an online livestock marketplace

Taafi Platform – an online medical shop

Taskit – a task-based marketplace

Data Academy – an online data science learning platform to support the fourth Industrial Revolution

Oclick – an online freelance marketplace

EWathiq – an edtech platform

PROGRAMME CHALLENGES

OMAN: As shopping has moved online, traditional offline shops in Oman faced an immediate challenge and are still fighting for survival.

Innovation in this space is already under way to enable traditional businesses to move online. For example, fishing is the largest sector in Oman and in April 2020 an online fish auction platform called Behar was launched with support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, as well as logistics company Asyad and the Oman Technology Fund.

UK: Retailers in the UK have rapidly adapted their business models, finding new routes to new customer bases. For example, Elchies Estates used to sell its produce at the Speyside Producers Market but when all markets were temporality closed it won over £30,000 from the government’s Fast Start Competition to install open-all-hours vending machines stocked with fresh and frozen farm produce.

How can technology enable more businesses to transition and thrive online?

OMAN: The pandemic has demonstrated the importance of making sure learning isn’t disrupted by a crisis. And in Oman, technology has enabled students to continue their education remotely.

The Ministry of Education has supported online learning through its digital learning platform, partnering with Ooredoo Oman (a telecoms company owned by Ooredoo) to deliver virtual classes. Meanwhile, the E-Wathiq edtech platform delivers audio and visual content for grade 11 and 12 students in Oman through paid memberships.

But there are challenges to edtech being adopted throughout the country: the population is spread across a vast distance and not everyone is able to access reliable broadband.

UK: The UK’s edtech sector continues to grow, and during the pandemic both schools and museums have delivered content virtually using innovative and immersive technology. For example, the Musemio app features interactive cultural content inspired by museums and cultural institutions while OBRIZUM received £1m from Innovate UK to redefine the future of digital learning for organisations using AI.

How can technology enable all students in Oman to learn online?

OMAN: Virtual communities like the Muscat Hub (a network developed and led by young people) are already coming together, while during the pandemic artisan traders who typically appeared at the Souq Es Sabt market turned to Instagram to connect with customers.

UK: Startups in the UK are tackling the isolation and loneliness brought on by the pandemic, while people have shown a desire to connect with each other and support neighbours, local businesses and the vulnerable.

For example, the NextDoor app was already being used before the pandemic to unite communities, and the app creators added new features to enable users to find or offer help as well as support local businesses.

How can technology support virtual communities that would typically gather offline?

Digitising Business

UK MENTORS

Andrew Roughan

Andrew Roughan, managing director, Plexal

Russell Gundry

Russell Gundry, head of innovation strategy, Plexal

Dave Rowley

Dave Rowley, commercial director, Plexal

Bruno Sussat

Bruno Sussat, head of business strategy, Plexal

Professor Deeph Chana

Professor Deeph Chana, co-director of the Institute for Security Science and Technology and the Centre for Financial Technology at Imperial College London 

Nelson Philips

Nelson Phillips, professor of Innovation and Strategy, co-director of the Centre for Responsible Leadership and the associate dean of External Relations at Imperial College Business School in London 

Helene Panzarino

Helene Panzarino, rapid innovation programme director, CFT, Imperial College London 

Dr Marc Sloan

Dr Marc Sloan, founder of Covid Tech Support

Mete Coban MBE

Mete Coban MBE, founder and Chief Executive of My Life My Say

Berta Pappenheim

Berta Pappenheim, co-founder and CEO, The CyberFish

Ian Hobday

Ian Hobday, Founder and CEO of Start-up-Gurus, Expert in Residence at Imperial College London

Parag Arora

Parag Arora, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Glowing.io

Dr Param Shah

Dr Param Shah, UK director, Federation of India Chamber of Commerce and founder of techXchange 

Olga Kravchenko

Olga Kravchenko, CEO, Musemio

David Ripert

David Ripert, co-founder CEO, Poplar Studio

Tommy Ekman

Tommy Ekman, innovation lead, Freshfields

Kushal Puri

Kushal Puri, head of growth, Licel 

Volunteero

Ashley Staines, founder, Volunteero 

Mtart

Yann Mathias, director of innovation at Mtart, entrepreneur, innovator and design expert

OMANI MENTORS

Ali Abdulhussain

Ali Abdulhussain, co- founder of OSH and investment associate, IDO

Saif Al ManjiM

Saif Al ManjiM, CEO & senior consultant, Quintal Ventures

Siddiqa Al Lawati

Siddiqa Al Lawati, alternative energy, OQ

Azzan Al Kindi

Azzan Al Kindi, CEO, Rihaal

Haider Al Zaabi

Haider Al-Zaabi, senior manager, innovation and intelligence, BankDhofar

Haneen Al Lawati

Haneen Al Lawati, freelance content creator

Qais Al Jedyani

Qais Al Jedyani, co-founder, CEO and CTO, Bon Coffee Store

Wadee Al Lawati

Wadee Al Lawati, general manager, sales and marketing, Thawani Pay

Husam Baqawir

Husam Baqawir, CEO & co-owner, Melon Minds Oman

Abdullah Al Shaksy

Abdullah Al-Shaksy, co-founder and CEO, Phaze Ventures

Ahmed Al Kindi

Ahmed Al Kindi, business development executive, eMushrif Inc, and co-founder of TelyPay

Ali Al Zaabi

Ali Al Zaabi, CEO, Bin Haider Darwish

Aljabr

Murooj Al Saadi, innovation and partnerships lead, AL JABR

DELIVERED BY

Aljabr
Plexal logo

OUR PARTNERS

UK Oman Digital Hub
Imperial College Business School
riyada