Egyptian startups act fast as COVID-19 uncertainty spreads

Cairo:As COVID-19 – known as the “coronavirus” – has been causing confusion throughout the world, Egyptian startups are quickly moving to implement new technohies,  helping their customers and communities get through this phase by either amending or introducing new services, as well as offering free products and services.

As companies are gradually implementing a work-from-home strategy for its employees, events are being cancelled and educational facilities have closed their doors to contain the virus-spread, startups in the services, groceries, delivery, food, education, healthcare, IT and other sectors are working on disruptive solutions to rise to the occasion.

Here are some of the highlights of the ecosystem:

• Robusta announces 5 winners of #FlightNotFight Hackathon

In an effort to counter the socioeconomic impact of the spread of COVID-19, digital agency Robusta initiated the #FlightNotFight Hackathon and movement, where startup teams came together to find solutions to the problems that are about to arise. The winners were carpooling app Raye7, medical self-reporting app Hodhod, online consultation app VAX, daily health planner INNOVA, and e-commerce platform AntiVirus. The idea of the hackathon is to pitch to the European Union (EU) how useful these kinds of activities could be in times of crisis.

• Mumm informs customers of cook temperature, introduces contactless delivery option

Virtual cafeteria Mumm now informs customers of their cook’s and delivery-man’s body temperatures before the order is placed, in order to make sure that those handling the food are healthy and not carriers of the virus. Additionally, Mumm allows the contactless delivery option, where no contact takes place between the delivery-man and the customer, and also instructed its runners to stay two meters away from the house door while dropping off the food. Lastly, Mumm adds a 70%-alcohol sanitization gel sachet as a giveaway to every order. Mumm is an online service connecting online virtual kitchens with hungry consumers to give them access to wholesome fresh clean food, from professional chefs and home-chef kitchens.

• Goodsmart ensures enough groceries for all and a contactless experience

Household shopping application Goodsmart announced that it will take the necessary measures to ensure their customers’ well-being by allowing customers to order a maximum of 10 items per product. This aims to make sure that Goodsmart’s stock fulfills the needs of all customers. The business provides an isolated box next to the customer’s house door with a lock and an application from which one can order groceries, stationery, meat, baked goods and medications. The house owner can order daily needs through the app before 9:00pm, and wakes up the next morning to find his products in the box next to the door, with gel packs to keep them cool.

• Mermaid offers sanitizing services for homes

Mermaid, the online platform connecting professional trusted cleaners with customers, is adding sanitizing services and safety kits to its offering, including: masks, gloves, alcohol-based hand sanitizers gel. This aims to ensure that customers’ households are sanitized and as clean as possible, protecting them from possible virus threats.

• Youspital waives fees for home check-ups

Digital healthcare platform Youspital is offering free diagnostic services in their customers’ homes, while also offering immunity checkups. The immunity checkups help people determine deficiency levels of certain vitamins in their systems, and whether it is advisable to for them to stay at home during this phase or not. Moreover, the business dedicated a free hotline for medical consultations about COVID-19. Youspital is a digital platform that provides healthcare services at a 70% discount for the uninsured, with the option of paying online.

• DXWand launches COVID-19-focused chatbot Nameesa

Conversational artificial intelligence company DXWand launched its coronavirus-focused chatbot Nameesa, which answers people’s questions about the virus’ threat, precaution and other details through Facebook Messenger. The chatbot retrieves its information from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Egyptian Ministry of Health. DXwand owns conversational AI platform helps businesses have automated conversations with customers via Facebook, WhatsApp, SMS, Voice or on a website. It can understand/reply in both Arabic slang and English.

• Orcas provides free online academic Q&A over WhatsApp, online homeschooling

To support mothers with homeschooling during this phase, tutoring application Orcas launched a WhatsApp group where students can ask any questions related to English, Arabic, Science and Math subjects, and receive answers from teachers for free. Additionally, the business also kicked off online homeschooling on the Orcas platform where teachers are available twice a day to explain different subjects and review homework. This service supports all subjects for academic school grades 1-5, and three subject bundles for academic stages above grade 5. The homeschooling service will be available for free for the first two days, and after that at a discounted rate.

●     Eventtus partners with Sawarly to ensure events are not cancelled

Digital event management company Eventtus partnered with media production house Sawarly, to transform the on-ground event experience into a digitized experience. This way, attendees can be anywhere around the globe and still check into your event, attend sessions, network together and more with a simple click on Eventtus’ event apps.

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To get in touch with these startups, please contact:
Maged Ali
+2 01023331586
maged.ali@publicistinc.com 

© Press Release 2020