Revive, a startup founded by Qatar University (QU) students Kateba Al-Ghazali, Sumaya Yusuf, and Nosheen Zehra was previously shortlisted for attending the international Hult Prize competition, which is the world’s largest startup program and is aimed at creating social impact. 42 teams from around the world competed for a US$1,000,000 seed capital award given by President Bill Clinton at the United Nations Headquarters. The final phase of their world-class Accelerator program was hosted at Ashridge Castle, United Kingdom where all teams went through an intensive 5-week long challenge to take their start-ups off the ground.
Revive has beat the odds, outperforming a record number of 350,000 program participants who began their journey this past fall. They were able to progress through multiple stages; starting from winning the On-Campus round at Qatar University, securing Top 6 at the Doha Impact Summit, and then winning the Wildcard Round through which they could join the Global Accelerator Program. At the Accelerator, they were able to meet and learn from world-class experts, engage with startups from different countries, build strong foundations for their own business and gain valuable insights and lifelong lessons. The Accelerator phase was divided into Digital and in-person stages.
Revive was listed in the Top 3 teams for 3 out 4 Pitch Friday competitions and top 1 in two consecutive weeks in the Digital Accelerator Phase, among 75 teams which made them progress to the in-person phase where they invited only 42 teams to the Ashridge castle in the UK. At the Castle, Revive was yet again listed in the Top 3 teams for 3 out 4 Pitch Friday competitions.
This year’s 2021 Hult Prize Challenge asks entrepreneurs to rethink food and food systems and build the foundations of a venture that will create jobs, stimulate economies, reimagine supply chains and improve the overall outcome for 10,000,000 people by 2030. Revive does that by preserving surplus food by bringing new technology to Qatar and redistributing it to those in need, which will not only help raise nutrition but also create a step towards reducing surplus food and increase food security within Qatar. You can follow their journey to impact by visiting @revivefood.qa on Instagram.
Dr. Tahra ElObeid, the head of the Human Nutrition Department, noted that this project is crucial both nutritionally and economically. Food production necessitates the use of a large number of natural resources, hence food waste or loss wastes resources and has significant environmental consequences. This initiative is critical because it decreases food loss and waste, resulting in more efficient resource usage.
Furthermore, improperly treated or reclaimed food waste can have a variety of detrimental environmental implications. Through the outstanding educative program at Qatar University, this project broadens the perspectives of future graduates, encouraging them to look for new ways to attain their goals and help the world.
Hult team Kateba Al-Ghazali, Sumaya Yusuf, and Nosheen Zehra stated that “It has been an incredible journey, one which would not have been possible without the tremendous support and motivation we have received. We would like to thank Qatar University, Nama Center for Social Development and Entrepreneurship, MBK Holdings, Innovation Cafe, and all the experts and mentors we have met along the way for their unconditional support. We hope we can take Revive much forward and bring the change we wish to see in the world”
Hult Prize Accelerator Program has a history of being life-changing experiences for attendees and brings together a community of people with an outlook of changing the world through business. Planned programming includes professional networking mixers, social events, inspirational keynote speeches, workshops, Pitch Fridays, Startups Expo, and the headline activity of the program - the final demo day of the million-dollar Hult Prize Challenge. This year saw 42 short-listed teams from different countries including Mexico, Jordan, Taiwan, Palestine, Lebanon, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, USA, India, and more - with Qatar being on the list for the very first time. These teams have created startups that solve this year’s UN-issued food challenge.
“We all are driven with one motive - to change the world for the better. It is not an easy mission, however with God's will, our hard work and dedication, In Sha Allah our dream comes true” - Cofounders of Revive.
Source: Qatar University