By Amy Gillett, Vice President, Education at the William Davidson Institute
The above playlist includes the top three winning pitches from Cohort 1 of the Entrepreneurship Exchange.
A wellspring of cross-border creativity, hundreds of young innovators, and three standout social enterprise ideas have made Cohort 1 of the Entrepreneurship Exchange an energizing start to this new program. Supported by the Stevens Initiative, this virtual exchange brought together 322 undergraduates from Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and the United States, demonstrating how powerful global collaboration can be when students connect across cultures and time zones to tackle problems that matter.
The William Davidson Institute has been offering global, team-based virtual exchange programs since 2017. Over time, one lesson has stood out: when students from different countries work together on challenges that matter, something remarkable happens. They develop global mindsets. They form relationships that bridge borders and often last well beyond the program. They begin to see themselves as changemakers who don’t have to accept the status quo. And they generate ideas that wouldn’t take shape in a single-country environment. Cohort 1 illustrated this in a powerful way.
Over eight weeks, participants worked in small international teams to pinpoint pressing challenges in their communities and design enterprise concepts to address them. They debated, prototyped, negotiated time zones, worked through cultural differences, and learned to see problems through one another’s eyes. Participants described the experience as “life-changing,” “unique,” and “deeply rewarding.”
The program mentors observed the impact just as clearly. Professor Irene Shaker, a mentor from the American University in Cairo (AUC) reflected, “We truly enjoyed being part of this program. Even with the challenges of different backgrounds and time zones, students still came up with remarkable ideas. It was meaningful to see them collaborate and really maximize their potential.” Noha Saada, another mentor from AUC added, “The program gave students meaningful interaction and international exposure. I saw one of my team members take the experience forward—she even applied for funding. Watching participants refine their ideas and learn from each other was truly inspiring.”
The cohort culminated in a pitch competition where teams shared the concepts they had been developing throughout the program. While every group contributed thoughtful ideas, three teams were recognized for especially strong clarity, creativity, and potential for social impact. Members of the first-place team will receive a coaching and mentorship package.
Drumroll, please… here are the winning teams:
- Ecopioneers, the first-place team, tackled Egypt’s staggering levels of restaurant food waste alongside the country’s ongoing struggle with food insecurity. Their solution—Baraka, a smart platform connecting restaurants, cafés, and hotels with customers and charities to redistribute surplus meals—impressed judges with its practicality, prototype, and clear business model.
- SheRides, an all-women team that earned second place, focused on a challenge affecting women in many countries: safe and accessible mobility. Judges praised their purposeful approach, strong social business model canvas, and clear explanation of the pain points facing women traveling daily.
- Atmo-Drop, the third-place team, addressed Morocco’s worsening water scarcity with an atmospheric water-harvesting device designed to provide sustainable access to clean water. Their pitch blended environmental urgency with technical innovation and included a well-developed financial analysis.
View the winning pitches above, or click on our YouTube playlist here.
WDI extends its congratulations to all of the winning teams for their outstanding work. We also want to thank our key partners—the American University in Cairo (AUC), BYTE in Libya, and Al Akhawayn University (AUI) in Morocco—for the support that helped make this first cohort a success.
And the momentum doesn’t stop here, with two more cohorts coming up soon. Applications for Cohort 2 are now open and will be accepted until December 15. The next cohort kicks off Jan. 20, offering another opportunity for students to build global connections and develop real-world entrepreneurial skills.
More details and the application link are available at entrepreneurship-exchange.org.