The Mega Green Accelerator (MGA), one of MENA Innovates’ flagship initiatives, exemplifies this mission. “Programs like MGA are about providing innovators with the tools, mentorship, and funding they need to make a real impact,” Rona explains.
For Rona, MENA Innovates is a program and a movement that embody PepsiCo’s belief in the power of bold ideas emerging from the region.
“The people we work with aren’t just entrepreneurs,” she says. “They’re the dreamers, thinkers, and architects of the region’s future. We are committed to driving innovation in a region we believe in, which is why we launched MENA Innovates. Our aim is to champion entrepreneurs and businesses leading change across the region.”
And the MGA Prize Goes To
In October, PepsiCo hosted the 2024 Mega Green Accelerator Demo Day in Riyadh, a culmination of six months of hard work, mentorship, and collaboration among top innovators across the region.
Out of 350 applicants, eight startups showcased transformative solutions in fields like circular economy, clean energy, and food security, in front of industry and government leaders, as well as key stakeholders from our founding, investment, and ecosystem partners.
Viridia Tech (Greenalytics) from Egypt took home the grand prize of $100,000 recognizing its advanced crop analytics platform aiding sustainable farming. Runner-up Mirai Solar, a Saudi startup, was awarded $30,000 for its retractable solar technology.
With partners like SABIC, AstroLabs and others, PepsiCo is committed to driving change across the region through initiatives that champion innovation and nurture talent.
We are proud to invest in regional talent, playing our part in helping transform the supply chains, address climate challenges, and promote innovation in sectors like artificial intelligence and agriculture as part of MENA Innovates.
Inside the WIn Fellowship
PepsiCo has proudly supported for last three years the WIn Fellowship in partnership with the Atlantic Council and the U.S. Embassy Saudi Arabia. This initiative is dedicated to advancing the leadership and entrepreneurship of women with a focus on innovation — empowering participants to drive positive change and economic growth in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
We have firsthand witnessed the incredible transformation of Saudi Arabia in the past few years, and we have also been part of it, from employing our first female employee 16 years ago to having more than 30% of our Saudi workforce being women today.
About a third of all businesses in the region are started by women, but in 2022, these companies received just 2% of all capital invested in startups. This is exactly what the WIn Fellowship aims to tackle, creating opportunities for women to succeed and making a positive impact on our communities.
The WIn Fellowship is part of PepsiCo’s MENA Innovates program, and further showcases our belief in the power of people and taking chances on them.
Tamakani at Hia Hub
PepsiCo celebrated its commitment to women empowerment at Hia Hub in Riyadh — the region’s largest lifestyle conference, powered Hia Magazine.
As part of our Tamakani initiative, which aims to inspire Saudi Women across all fields, the Tamakani Inspiration Hub provided a dynamic lineup of talks, panels, workshops, and podcast episodes.
Through insightful discussions on the stage and podcast sessions in the studio, Hia Hub allowed us to celebrate the achievements and success stories of some remarkable women.
We heard from many inspiring women, such as Yara Al Zouman, PepsiCo General Counsel, Nour Al Saadoun, CEO of 21verse, and Amal Dokhan, MENA Managing Partner at 500 Global, Rasha Al Khamis, VP of the Saudi Boxing Federation, on their journeys in building successful businesses and striving in sports, along with the importance of women empowerment.
PepsiCo’s Tamakani initiative is a cornerstone of our drive to support women to reach their full potential, providing them with the resources, networks, and opportunities to further redefine their industries.
During Hia Hub, PepsiCo announced its partnership with Women Choice to establish the Tamakani House, a physical hub at the heart of Riyadh to be home for all of Tamakani’s women empowerment initiatives.