Visa, Bahrain Islamic Bank and Bahrain FinTech Bay announce the winner of the “She’s Next” program in Bahrain

• Announcing the winner of the “She’s Next” program during an awards ceremony held at the “Innovate for Bahrain” Center in the Pioneers Complex.

• Haya Al-Jassim, founder of Mayowa, won the grand prize worth 45,000 US dollars.

• Areej Maatouk, founder of Fermented Natural Fermented Foods, wins the $10,000 Audience Award.

• An independent jury selected the winners from a group of more than 100 entries from all sectors in Bahrain.

Visa (NYSE: V), the global leader in digital payments, in collaboration with Bahrain Islamic Bank and Bahrain FinTech Bay, today announced that Haya Al Jassim, founder of Mayowa, has won the “She’s Next” initiative grant program in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The winner was announced during the awards ceremony held at the “Innovate for Bahrain” Center in the Pioneers Complex.

The winner was chosen from a pool of more than 100 entries from across the Kingdom, with women-owned small business Maywa, a brand specializing in providing nutritious snack options, winning a grant of US$45,000. In addition, Areej Maatouk, founder of Vermandite, won the Audience Award worth $10,000.

The jury evaluated the entries based on the following criteria, which describe the development of the participants’ entrepreneurship journey: The strength of their work standards; digital presence; The ability to solve problems confidently. The judging panel included: Ali Bailoun, Regional General Manager at Visa, Suzy Al-Zeera, Chief Operating Officer at Bahrain FinTech Bay, Fatima Al-Alawi, Acting CEO of Bahrain Islamic Bank, Marwa Al-Eskafi, Director of Partnerships at Tamkeen, and Her Excellency Huda Janahi, award-winning entrepreneur. .

All female entrepreneurs participating in the program were also able to obtain practical ideas from women leaders in Bahrain, in addition to valuable educational tools and resources, including: the Practical Business Skills Program from Visa, designed to help them grow and develop their businesses.

On this occasion, Fatima Al Alawi, Acting CEO of Bahrain Islamic Bank, said: “We are proud to participate in this initiative for the second year in a row, as part of our ongoing efforts to support entrepreneurs in the Kingdom. We are also pleased to congratulate the distinguished winners on their influential business ideas and their spirit of… Entrepreneurship: At Bahrain Islamic Bank, we are committed to investing in women-owned businesses and providing them with a platform that enables them to thrive within their communities. We also emphasize our continued support of women across various fields, including: “The framework of our endeavors to achieve the goals of Vision 2030.”

Mohammed Al-Subaie, Director of the Bahrain Innovation Center, said: “We at the Bahrain Innovation Center are proud to facilitate hosting the “She’s Next” program and its prizes in our new center in the “Entrepreneurship Complex.” This program highlights the amazing talents and creativity of female entrepreneurs in the Kingdom of Bahrain, who are succeeding. In overcoming barriers and redefining the meaning of innovation and leadership despite the challenges facing the entrepreneurship sector today, we congratulate both Haya Al-Jassim and Areej Matouk on their well-deserved victory, and we are excited to include all applicants for the program and graduates through a series of initiatives planned in 2025 in partnership with Visa.”

According to Visa’s “Women-Owned SME Digitization Index” study in the Kingdom of Bahrain, women-owned business creation depends on personal finance (43%) and angel investors (44%). These results underscore the importance of programs such as “She’s Next” in providing financial support and basic resources to these companies and enabling them to grow and succeed.

Ali Bailon, Regional General Manager of Visa in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman, said: “At Visa, we believe in the potential of women to lead innovation and economic growth. The “She’s Next” grant program initiative in Bahrain reflects our commitment to supporting female entrepreneurs by providing them with the necessary resources, guidance and financing. For success. We are pleased to extend our congratulations to this year’s winners and finalists for their wonderful contributions to the entrepreneurial scene of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and we look forward to supporting them through this program to enable them to achieve success. Continue to grow their business.”

It is worth noting that the “She’s Next” program initiative provided more than $3 million in grants and training to women entrepreneurs around the world, to enable them to expand their businesses and contribute to economic growth.

On the other hand, the “She’s Next” program initiative honored the female finalists who presented exceptional, pioneering ideas and innovations. Among them are; Mona Rabieh, founder of iWonderThin; Aqeela Abbas, founder of Arab Quest; The co-founders are Reem Al-Jamea and Samar Ishaq from Campinia.