2 Nigerians Shine as the GIST Initiative Announces the 2016 GIST Tech-I Finalists

The Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST)is the brain child of the U.S Department of State, launched in 2014 to provide an avenue for young, aspiring entrepreneurs.

Last month, BellaNaija announced that 5 Nigerian tech talents made it to the GIST finals {Click here if you missed it}

The GIST Network has announced the 2016 Tech-I Finalists & 2 of them are Nigerians!

The 2016 GIST Tech-I Finalists representing 24 countries are:

Top 15 Idea Stage finalists are:

Omesmus Emeka, Kenya
Nikoloz Gachechiladze, Georgia
Layth Hamad, Jordan
Saima Hanif, Pakistan
Sana Hawasly, Syria
Sabina Ismailova, Kazakhstan
Ivan Jovanov, Serbia
Diego López Olivares, Ecuador
Maher Yousef Maymoun, Jordan
Musawwir Muhtar, Indonesia
Nnenna Chioma Okoye, Nigeria
Mary Christine Ong-Reyes, Philippines
Samina Sarwat, Bangladesh
Leyla Taghizade, Azerbaijan
Clarisse Uwineza, Rwanda

Top 15 Start Up Stage Finalists are:

Levon Aramyan, Armenia
Tania Lorena Cabrera Sanzon, Colombia
Jorge Daniel Cespedes Vega, Paraguay
Yap Chee Wei, Malaysia
Hoang Dao, Vietnam
Destiny Frederick, Nigeria
Amr Hussein Mohamed Hussein, Egypt
Ricardo Jaramillo Gaviria, Colombia
Yessica López Coyotzi, Mexico
Mykhailo Lytovchenko, Ukraine
Waqas Muhammad, Pakistan
Alexander Pizarro, Peru
Samid Razzak, Bangladesh
Jigme Tenzin, Bhutan
Charity Wanjiku, Kenya

Here’s an excerpt of the press release

This year the GIST Tech-I Competition received a record 1,075 applications from 104 countries and territories. Over 140 regional, scientific, and entrepreneurship experts from around the world participated in the expert review round of the competition. Following their assessment of each idea or startup’s technical feasibility, market potential, and significance, 102 impressive innovators from 51 emerging economies emerged as the 2016 GIST Tech-I Semifinalists. From April 1 through May 1, the 102 semifinalists embarked on a huge marketing campaign to advertise their projects and encourage people to vote on the GIST Tech-I Competition.

In total, GIST Tech-I Semifinalists received an amazing 431,655 votes. During the month of voting, semifinalists were recognized by government officials and business leaders and appeared on national and international television, in newspapers, in radio broadcasts, and on Voice of America. Their efforts and the incredible support they received highlight how amazing ideas and hard work can not only benefit an individual, but also a community, a country, a region, and the world as a whole.

The thirty GIST Tech-I Finalists (fifteen Idea stage and fifteen Startup stage) will now undergo web-based training prior to flying to Silicon Valley to participate in the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in June. During this internationally prestigious event, these amazing up-and-coming innovators will receive two days of intensive entrepreneurial skills training, mentorship, and networking access to global leaders in their fields. The GIST Tech-I Finals will culminate in an exciting live pitching event to decide who will return home with capital seed prizes to help grow their businesses

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Congratulations to all the finalists.