In September 2024, StartUp Bahrain Weekend returned for its third edition. By the end of an exciting weekend, we celebrated four innovative startups that captured the spotlight, each offering solutions to make life easier, safer, and more connected. From revolutionizing car maintenance and connecting people with local activities to supporting parents with hearing difficulties and catering to those with dietary restrictions, these startups showcase the power of ideas to change lives. So, without further ado, let’s meet the brilliant minds behind SafeBites, CarPal, Tryouts, and I Need You Bracelet.
SafeBites are Making Safe Eating Easy
Living with food allergies or dietary restrictions makes dining a constant challenge. Every restaurant visit or grocery trip requires careful planning and research. SafeBites solves this by creating a direct connection between people with dietary restrictions and the businesses ready to serve them safely.
“Our platform simply answers two critical questions: what can I eat, and where can I find it?” explained the founding team. “Whether someone’s looking for gluten-free restaurants or nut-free grocery items, SafeBites makes that search straightforward and reliable.“
The idea came from Ms. Sharifa Jalil, who recognized this market need through her years of retail experience. During StartUp Bahrain Weekend, her concept evolved into a comprehensive solution through team collaboration. This focused development earned SafeBites second place in the competition. The market response was immediate – over 100 people joined the waitlist within days, validating the urgent need for this solution. “We saw how many people struggle with this daily challenge,” the team shared. “Our solution addresses a real need in our community.“
Now, SafeBites is strengthening its platform and building partnerships with local businesses. “We’re creating a trusted resource that serves both consumers and businesses,” noted the team, “launch preparations are underway.“
CarPal is Simplifying Car Maintenance for Busy Families
Adnan Jaberi is one of the co-founders of CarPal who recognized a common issue for multi-car families: keeping track of vehicle maintenance. “CarPal is about making it easy for families to manage their cars without the stress,” He explained. The app uses a small device that connects to each vehicle, offering real-time updates and maintenance reminders. Whether it’s alerting users about upcoming service dates or flagging potential issues before they become costly repairs, CarPal ensures car care is a breeze.
What did their path to winning at StartUp Bahrain Weekend look like? “We started with a strong idea but fine-tuned it as we received feedback throughout the event,” Adnan recalled. One of the biggest challenges was delivering a clear, impactful pitch in just three minutes. “We had to focus on the core value of CarPal and show how it addresses real-world pain points for our audience,” Adnan said. The hard work paid off, and CarPal swooped in as a winner at third place, and now their sights are set on partnerships with garages and service providers to enhance the app’s capabilities.
No Commitment? Not a Problem with Tryouts
Finding new hobbies and activities should be exciting, but for many people, barriers like social anxiety or lack of information hold them back. We’ve all been there! And that’s where Tryouts comes in. Abdulla Abdulaal, one of the co-founders of Tryouts, described the idea as an app that connects users with local activities, offering a subscription model that lets people try new things without long-term commitment. Whether it’s yoga, cooking classes, or fitness, Tryouts gives people the chance to explore their interests with ease.
“We wanted to remove the friction that stops people from trying new things,” Abdulla shared. “Our app makes it easy for users to find and join activities while overcoming barriers like traffic concerns or not knowing where to look.” The journey to victory at StartUp Bahrain Weekend was a whirlwind, but Abdulla credits his team’s collaboration and the mentorship they received for getting them there. As a winner of General Assembly’s Choice Awards, Tryouts is now gearing up to refine its discovery tool and expand partnerships with local venues, ensuring users have even more exciting activities to choose from.
I Need You Bracelet is Empowering Parents with Hearing Loss
“Our idea was born out of a simple need—to help parents with hearing difficulties interact better with their babies,” explained Yaqeen Ebrahim, one of the co-founders. “It’s not just about convenience; it’s about empowering parents to be more present in their child’s life.”
Designed as a unique baby monitor, this powerful bracelet aims to bridge the gap between parents and their children, sending real-time notifications to parents through vibrations and visual alerts, ensuring they never miss an important moment.
“Our goal was to make parenting easier for those with hearing impairments,” She further stated. “The bracelet connects parents to their babies in a way that wasn’t possible before.” Winning at StartUp Bahrain Weekend at first place came as a complete surprise to the team, the outpour of positive feedback and recognition validated their hard work. “We didn’t expect to win—we were just there to share our idea. But the response was incredible.” Now, the team is focused on refining their prototype and exploring partnerships with child care providers to expand their impact.
What’s Next?
Each of these startups represent the spirit of innovation that Bahrain’s startup ecosystem fosters. As they continue to grow, these founders are proving that with the right idea and a lot of hard work, it’s possible to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives. Even in the span of a single weekend.
For those thinking about participating in the next edition of StartUp Bahrain Weekend, the advice from all these founders is the same: go for it. As Safa from SafeBites puts it, “You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
