Damascus, Oct. 9 (SANA) Syria’s first national build competition, “Syria Build Week,” concluded Thursday at Tech Town in Damascus, showcasing 12 startup projects developed over five days using artificial intelligence tools to address needs in the Syrian market.
Organized by Startup Grind Damascus in cooperation with global software development company Replit, the event brought together participants from more than seven Syrian governorates, presenting ideas in technology, healthcare, tourism, e-commerce, legal services and child protection.
AI solutions for everyday needs
Among the projects was Sanad, a platform developed by Judy al-Kharbatli, a master’s student in artificial intelligence at Damascus University. It uses AI to analyze official Syrian documents, identify missing paperwork and flag potential inconsistencies or forgery, helping individuals, organizations and law firms handle administrative and legal procedures.
Another project, 3dots, developed by Syrian Virtual University information technology student Rania Hamza, aims to connect trip organizers across Syria with people seeking travel experiences. The platform allows users to browse and book trips in different governorates, with plans to launch in Syria before expanding to Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
Both participants said they had built initial versions of their platforms during the five-day competition, which they described as an incentive to turn ideas into practical products quickly.
From prototypes to investment
Shaker Amayriyeh, a competition judge and Replit’s director of partnerships and business development for the Middle East, said the company provided participants with free credits to help them build their products.
Judges assessed projects based on originality, market demand, the effectiveness of the proposed solution, practical use and the founders’ ability to present their ideas clearly.
Startup Grind Damascus head Majd Lababidi said around 100 people applied to participate, individually or in teams. About 32 applications were selected, with 12 participants ultimately presenting projects after five intensive days. Three projects took the top places, while the panel also recognized a fourth participant for the quality of the idea.
Projects were evaluated against five criteria: the problem addressed and suitability of the solution, technical soundness, potential market size, business model and revenue potential.
Lababidi said the competition aimed to help entrepreneurs turn concepts into prototypes that could be developed and introduced to the Syrian market. Winners are expected to receive further support through the entrepreneurship ecosystem, including incubation, logistical services, development tools and opportunities to connect with potential investors.
Syria Build Week is part of Startup Grind’s efforts to strengthen the country’s startup community through events held in different governorates. The initiative was organized with Replit, hosted by Tech Town, and supported by Bedaya, which offers startup development assistance, and Yalla Business, which provides consulting services to entrepreneurs.
TS/ABD
