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The BENEFIT Virtual Hackathon
The BENEFIT Virtual Hackathon
Posted by: BENEFITBahrain

Judges

  • Yasmeen AlSharaf

    Yasmeen AlSharaf - Head of the FinTech & Innovation Unit
    Theme: Optimizing SME Credit Scoring
    Organization: Central Bank of Bahrain

    “Yasmeen Al-Sharaf is Heading the FinTech & Innovation Unit at the Central Bank of Bahrain (“CBB”), tasked with setting up a conducive ecosystem to facilitate a robust regulatory framework that fosters innovation within the financial services sector. She has been working with the CBB for the past 15 years were she held the post of ‘Superintendent – Licensing Research & Development’ within the Licensing Director at the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) for 7 years. Prior to that she was a Senior Analyst within the same Directorate. During the time spent within the Licensing Directorate, Yasmeen got to work closely with banks, investment companies, insurance companies, financing companies and ancillary service provider both local and international, as well as gaining insight and a thorough understanding of Bahrain’s regulatory framework governing all sectors within the financial services industry. Prior to joining the CBB, Yasmeen worked briefly at Bahrain Islamic Bank within the Corporate Finance Department. Yasmeen is also the Vice Chairman of the Regulatory Sandbox Applications Committee at the CBB and is a member of the Advisory Committee of Bloomberg LP’s GCC gender diversity initiative, ‘A Fair Share’.
  • Wesam Baqer

    Wesam Baqer - Chief Corporate & Institutional Banking
    Theme: Optimizing SME Credit Scoring
    Organization: Bahrain Islamic Bank - BisB

    Mr. Wesam Baqer is an experienced Banking professional with a diverse career in Corporate Banking, Private Banking, and Business Development; he joined BisB in 2008 as the Head of the Corporate Banking. Previously, he held the lead the corporate banking division at National Bank of Kuwait, prior to which he managed corporate relationships with HSBC for 8 years. Mr. Baqer completed an Executive Management Leadership Diploma from Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia, in the U.S. He also holds an M.Sc. in Finance and Investment Management from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, and a BS in Business Administration from the University of Bahrain. He is a Certified Financial Adviser (CFA), and a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers. Mr. Baqer is a board member representing BisB in various companies across Bahrain, and is an active member in several local charities and community service societies.
  • Latifa AlMutawa’

    Latifa AlMutawa’ - Manager - Bahrain Credit Reference Bureau Company
    Theme: Optimizing SME Credit Scoring
    Organization: The BENEFIT Company

    A certified risk management professional with 15 years of experience in the financial sector. Latifa has worked with different banks in Bahrain and is currently managing the Bahrain Credit Reference Bureau and the eKYC services in BENEFIT. Passionate about credit risk, analytical models and digitizing the financial services. She currently focuses on empowering SMEs and facilitating their access to fund as well as making the best use of Big Data through Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
  • Tariq Alawi

    Tariq Alawi - Director – Information Technology Directorate
    Theme: Digitizing SME payments
    Organization: Central Bank of Bahrain

    Tariq Al Alawi is a proud Bahraini IT professional who has graduated from the University of Bahrain and has various IT certifications. Tariq possesses over 25 years’ experience in planning and deploying various IT technologies in the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), the country’s financial regulator. Currently he is the Director of Information Technology. During his stint in the CBB, he has gained vast experience in the areas of IT Infrastructure, Cyber Security & Business Process Management. As Director, Tariq has been focusing on enablement of CBB’s objectives in introducing futuristic financial technologies that are getting adopted globally and would revolutionize the way financial transactions are conducted in the country. Tariq has always been passionate about technologies and in encouraging global technology players to enter the local market
  • Hazem Janahi

    Hazem Janahi - Founder and Managing Director
    Theme: Digitizing SME payments
    Organization: Alchemy Capital d.o.o

    Angel Investor, Serial Entrepreneur and Mentor. A bachelor degree holder from the university of Bahrain in accounting, Hazem started his career as Staff Accountant with Ernst & Young Advisory Group and Islamic Financial Services Group, he then left to pursue a new career in real estate development and venture capital, he started his first venture in 2007 which is the first “Air Taxi” in the Middle East & North Africa called Rizon Jet and served as the executive board member and co-founder, he then founded his Private Equity Advisory firm “Vanguard W.L.L.” late 2007 and was able to focus on pursuing his dreams in forming new ventures and assisting budding entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams, he served as board member in Gulf Air “2010 – 2012” and was able to expand his advisory practice beyond borders to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and has affiliated practices in Singapore and Maldives.
  • Hamad Salmeen

    Hamad Salmeen - Supervisor - Business Services & Development
    Theme: Digitizing SME payments
    Organization: The BENEFIT Company

    Hamad Salmeen is a Supervisor at the Business Services and Development Department in The BENEFIT company with 5+ years hands on experience in the Product Development and Project Management of various products within the payments sector by company. Currently he co-manages the company's flagship product 'BenefitPay', and is a key contributor of various initiatives in the payments sector within Bahrain in collaboration with different banks and stakeholders, especially with regards to the design of products and business flows, creating a complete optimum user experience, and overall product management & delivery to end users. Hamad holds a Bsc of Computer Science from University of Bahrain, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) from PMI Institute.


Mentors

  • Abe Karar

    Abe Karar - Digital Transformation Advisory
    Theme: Optimizing SME Credit Scoring
    Organization: Fintech Galaxy

    Abe Karar leads Digital Transformation advisory at Fintech Galaxy. He strategically guides the development of new products, processes, technologies and management information systems to drive business performance, client engagement and operational excellence. Abe has tremendous expertise in executing large-scale transformational initiatives across key strategic enterprise programs (+$200M), developing and implementing operational controls and action plans, and transforming strategic plans into business solutions that streamline business processes, improve customer experience, mitigate risks, reduce costs, increase productivity ratio and enhance overall ROI. He is a subject matter expert on Open/ Digital Banking, Digital Transformation, Digitization, Digital Strategy, Customer Experience Management, Business Architecture and Data Analytics. Proficient in recognizing and retaining individual talent, building high-performing teams and cultivating a culture of collaboration and winning.
  • Amanda Perry

    Amanda Perry - Founder and CEO
    Theme: Digitizing SME payments
    Organization: Vitality

    Amanda is one of the Middle East’s leading CEOs, with over 20 years’ experience empowering entrepreneurs in building and growing companies to the highest levels of success. A regular columnist, media commentator, International keynote speaker and board advisor to a handful of carefully-selected businesses, Amanda’s background in the field of Wealth Management, gained from the major offshore centres around the world, means she is able to impart invaluable experience and knowledge to clients and audiences alike. • Corporate Trainer • Professional Speakers • International Speaker • Motivational Coach • Empowerment coach and Speaker • Growth Strategist for female leaders Recently awarded the title of ‘Most Influential Woman In Wealth Management Planning’ and ‘Best Business Start Up Solutions Company in the UAE’ by the Global SME Awards 2017, Amanda believes there is always a business to be built and money to be made with enthusiasm, determination and a specific solution. Combined with a passionate and personable approach to her consulting work with her female clients and mentors, Amanda ensures support and success in line with their goals and aspirations, through a holistic and collaborative approach.
  • Dr. Husam Wafai

    Dr. Husam Wafai - Programs Manager & Technical Advisor
    Theme: Digitizing SME payments
    Organization: Hatch Quarter

    Husam combines his experience as an analytical researcher with a passion for entrepreneurship to solve real-world problems through Data and technology. Currently, he designs and manages startup programs in Hatch Quarter, guides research, and mentors tech startups through their idea development and validation, market research, and business planning. Recipient of four academic awards, speaks four languages, and with over 10 years of R&D, Husam delivered engineering projects for large clients such as Airbus, Alcan, First Solar and Sabic, and advised young startups in the fields of automotive, AR, AI, recruiting, mental health, and authored and co-authored more than a dozen scientific papers.
  • Mo Salah

    Mo Salah - Country Manager - Jordan
    Theme: Optimizing SME Credit Scoring
    Organization: Startup Grind

    Mo Salah is holding a BA in Business Technology and Diplomas in E-Business, Digital Marketing, and Entrepreneurship. Mohamed has 5+ years of experience in the Digital Industry in Jordan and Egypt in addition to 8+ years of involvement in the Entrepreneurship ecosystem across the MENA region with Startup Grind, TechStars, Seedstars, and many local and international entities.
  • Mo Hamdouna

    Mo Hamdouna - Creative Director
    Theme: Digitizing SME payments
    Organization: Mo Works

    Mo Hamdouna brings over fifteen years of product design, business development and problem-solving experience to the table. Over the last 6 years, he has successfully built a full-stack creative and creative agency from the ground up, Mo Works. Mo has become a rising advocate for digital innovation, launched himself headfirst into disruptive technology, and co-founded Hatch Quarter – a startup incubator for entrepreneurs, startups and professionals that bridges the gap between Australia and the MENA region.
  • Vishal Gupta

    Vishal Gupta - Co-founder, Chief Ecosystem Officer
    Theme: Digitizing SME payments
    Organization: Kabeela Life

    Vishal is a globally experienced professional with 15+ years’ experience across corporate and startup ecosystem. A former Investment Banker, he worked in various roles at JP Morgan, ABN AMRO, Lloyds and Commerzbank, starting in Hong Kong and moving to London in 2005. He was instrumental in setting up and leading cross-product solutions and teams, as a Director in the Corporate Solutions team during his time at Lloyds and Commerzbank. He has directly invested in and managed portfolios across funds, global equities, fixed income, PE/ VC, real estate and other direct investments. Vishal set up Kabeela Life Ventures (The Global Startup Tribe) in 2016 with a mission to build a globally connected ecosystem for commercialisation and investment in startup led innovation. He has been instrumental in conceptualising and operationalising various ecosystem programmes by forging partnerships with startups, corporates, investors and other stakeholders. Some of the programmes he has orchestrated include the Global Ecosystems Summit, 3 editions of the India-UK Tech Summit, India-UK X-over Innovation. Programme, Global Fintech Innovation Lab, and, most recently, the India Innovation Day.
  • Vivienca Luong

    Vivienca Luong - Business Analyst
    Theme: Optimizing SME Credit Scoring
    Organization: Hatch Quarter

    As an active advocate and enthusiast for emerging technologies and business transformations in Australia, Vivienca currently works in a leading startup incubator utilising her background in mathematics and analytics. Vivienca has worked closely with a range of startups from various industries to design plans and define solutions to the most complex business problems backed by data and research.

Participants
31

Team size
2-5

Registration Start Date
Jul 16, 2020

Registration End Date
Aug 20, 2020

Shortlisting Date
Aug 27, 2020

Hackathon Start Date
Aug 31, 2020

Hackathon End Date
Sep 06, 2020

View Finalists
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