Umniah, Plug and Play launch program to bring Jordanian startups to Silicon Valley
Startups in Jordan now have a new
opportunity to receive support from Silicon Valley.
Umniah, a Jordanian telecom
company, and Plug and Play Tech Center,
a California-based incubator, have announced
the Umniah-Plug and Play Tech Accelerator Program, which will
bring select Jordanian startups to the Valley to receive three
months of training.
The ICT Association of Jordan (int@j) and USAID are also joining as partners to support ICT startups in Jordan.
“Plug and Play got in contact with Umniah about trying to bring five companies to Silicon Valley to be incubated at Plug and Play,” explains Abed Shamlawi, CEO of int@j. “Then we found out about it and decided to support the program. Once USAID also got involved, the number of companies was expanded from 5 to 15 companies.”
The program, which officially launched on
July 3, aims to bring three to five Jordanian startups to Plug and
Play's headquarters in Sunnyvale every three months, in hopes of
graduating 15 by the end of next year.
“Silicon Valley is the place for the top leaders
of the ICT global ecosystem," says Shamlawi. "So a linkage between
Jordan and Silicon valley is a good thing for us, and that’s why
we’re encouraging it."
For Plug and Play, the move marks a return
to supporting startups in the Middle East; although the incubator
has hosted events in partnership with TechWadi, its presence in the Arab
world dwindled once activities at Plug and Play Egypt were put on
hold not long after its launch in 2011. Last year, the incubator
announced plans to build five centers that would serve as
bridges between the Arab world and Silicon Valley; this partnership
may be a start.
How it Works
Incubation will begin with a 4-day workshop introducing
entrepreneurs to Silicon Valley’s ecosystem, providing a legal and
tax overview and advice on pitching to investors, leveraging
networks, and examining local case studies.
Over the next three months, companies wlll receive coaching and mentorship on how to hone their business plans and connect with corporate partners. Each team will be assigned a “business relationship manager” who will track milestones. Companies also have access to office space, business resources, networking events, and several benefits and services.
Although incubation doesn’t come with any funding from Plug and Play, “The chance of getting funding is high from other business partnerships,” says Shamlawi. At the close of the program, each company can pitch their startup or product to investors and corporate partners at the Plug and Play EXPO.
"Our hope is for startups to discover
their true global potential in Silicon Valley and identify the
right path to get there," says Mohannad El-Khairy, International
Relations Manager at Plug and Play.
What's critical for gaining acceptance, he says, is that startups
have a clear plan in mind. "Our advice to applicants is to clearly
map out their goals and objectives to come to Silicon Valley."
Applications for the first round are due by the first week of August. Shortlisted startups will then pitch their ideas to a jury for acceptance into the program. interested startups can apply here.