Startup news ticker: eTobb out of beta; Feeditch launches English version
Welcome to Wamda's weekly startup news ticker, which will offer quick announcements and stories relevant to the region. If you have a quick news release to share about your startup, let us know at editor@wamda.com.
Thursday November 21th, 2013
eTobb launches out of beta
Medical Q&A platform eTobb is now out of beta and has announced its official launch just yesterday.
eTobb connects patients with doctors where they can anonymously ask questions related to their health and get professional advice. The platform hosts 700 physicians who cover 38 medical specialties, according to the press release. The Lebanese startup was co-founded by Paul Saber, Sara Helou and Jad Joubran who met during the Seeqnce Accelerator Program in 2012, quit their jobs, and became fully dedicated to eTobb.
Food discovery app Feeditch launches its English version
Founded by Lebanese entrepreneur Alia Khatib, Feeditch is a mobile app that caters to foodies in the Arab region.
The app allows users to discover meals, review and share them. The startup recently participated in the Webit Congress in Turkey this November and was among the 21 semi-finalists among 800 startups. Feeditch recently launched its English version in beta and can be downloaded on OS.
- RF
Wednesday November 20, 2013
Arabic Web Days launches this November to boost Arabic content on the web
Arabic Web Days is a regional initiative that aims to enriching Arabic content on the web. After it took off last year with a set of events to boost Arabic language use online, it is now launching its second edition.
From November 17th to December 18th - which falls on World Arabic Language Day - Arabic Web Days will host different events including a ‘tweetup’ at American University in Dubai with the support of Twitter, Kharabeesh and twofour45, a workshop in partnership with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority in the UAE, a YouTube event in Saudi Arabia focusing on creating short videos in Arabic, as well as a Google Hangout series to share tips and tricks with online Arabic web users.
For more information on the initiative,follow Arabic Web Days on Google Plus or visit their website here.
Microsoft launches Office 365 in Lebanon
Yesterday, Microsoft announced the launch of Office 365, a new software for individuals and businesses of all sizes in Lebanon.
Office 365 brings together Microsoft Office, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Exchange Online and Microsoft Lync Online in a cloud service, for a monthly fee of between $5 - $15 per month depending on the size of the company.
“The software runs with Office Web Apps, Microsoft Exchange Online, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Lync Online and an external website in just 15 minutes,” the press release mentions, “these tools put email, voicemail, enterprise social networking, instant messaging, Web portals, extranets, video conferencing, web conferencing and more at everyone’s fingertips,” according to the press release.
- RF
Tuesday November 19th, 2013
AUC Venture Lab is calling for applications for the Spring 2014 cycle
AUC Venture Lab, the recently launched incubator at American University in Cairo, is calling for applications for its Spring 2014 cycle which starts in February 2014.
Eight to ten promising startups will be selected to receive a 20,000 Egyptian Pound award in addition to mentorship, office-space and business training. Other services will include access to networking events, investors, professors and interns, as well as the AUC library of resources.
Mubser, one of the first companies incubated at AUC Venture Lab, has won first place in the ICT Track at the Idea to Product (I2P) competition 2013 at Sao Paulo, Brazil after competing against teams from the U.S., England, Ireland, Germany and Brazil.
Those interested in applying to the AUC Venture Lab can register by filling out this form.Wasalny launches a new version to celebrate its 3rd year anniversary
Wasalny, an Egyptian app that targets traffic in Cairo, has launched its third version of its mobile app for iOS and Android to celebrate its third year anniversary.
In addition to the revamped user interface, “the new version offers a bunch of brand new features, like a ‘Quick Report’ button, which is now placed on all app views, allowing users to add a traffic report with one screen touch”, according to the press release. The app also “provides ‘3D Maps’ which allow driving users to view their location... on colored roads reflecting the state of traffic.”
The app can be downloaded on iOS, Android and Windows.
- RF
