Start-Ups Showcase Innovations at UM6P’s ‘Solutions Village’

As part of the “Voice of Africa” event organized at Mohamed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Ben Guerir, the university has launched its Solutions Village, a platform where start-ups can showcase their most advanced technological innovations, in particular those with impact on the African agricultural sector.

Ben Guerir – As part of the “Voice of Africa” event organized at Mohamed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Ben Guerir, the university has launched its Solutions Village, a platform where start-ups can showcase their most advanced technological innovations, in particular those with impact on the African agricultural sector.

The platform convened start-ups as well as more established companies, with the event shedding light on young people who wish to launch their own businesses and provide solutions to the African agricultural sector.

One of the entrepreneurs at the event was Mohammad Arhal, founder and director of Asolar, the first startup manufacturing patented solar ovens made in Morocco.

The oven allows the preparation of healthy meals while respecting the environment, and remaining 100% carbon-free.

The Solutions Village venue

“The oven functions solely with solar energy, which cooks the food in a very healthy way,” Arhal told Morocco World News (MWN) in an interview.

“The food we eat loses 30% to 50% of its nutritional value when cooked in the ordinary way, whereas the Asolar oven preserves it 100%,” the young entrepreneur explained.

Arhal received the Hassan II Prize for the Environment in the category of scientific and technical research as well as a certificate of distinction from the Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech.

Arhal advised novice entrepreneurs “to believe in the Creator and in their capacities, to be patient, and work hard to attain their goal.”

The “entrepreneurship” area of the venue

The second entrepreneur was Mehdi Nasreddine, CEO of NeuralTeks, an artificial intelligence services startup, whose goal is to help companies leverage AI to propel their growth.

NeuralTeks also has an AI facility, outputting many products including photographic analysis tools for commercial purposes.

“We are able to recognize and count particular microorganisms such as yeast, fungi, bacteria, and others, as long as we train our AI models,” Nasreddine told MWN.

Nasreddine recommended to young entrepreneurs that they have a mentor “with enough expertise and knowledge to support them during their development process.”