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THE 3RD INTEGRATOR AWARDS HONOURS THE INDUSTRY’S BEST

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Updated : June 16, 2015 01:00  pm,
By R. Narayan

1The 3rd edition of the Integrator ICT Champion Awards ceremony held on the 11th of June 2015 at the Oberoi in Dubai applauded outstanding performances of the year in the value-add segment of the ICT channel

The 3rd edition of the Integrator ICT Champion Awards ceremony held on the 11th of June 2015 at the Oberoi in Dubai applauded outstanding performances of the year in the value-add segment of the ICT channel. These Awards launched in 2013 are the only awards dedicated to the value segment of ICT channel in the MEA region and are among the initiatives from The Integrator print title, now in its fourth year of print and the unrivalled leader in its space.
The Integrator Awards come under the broader banner of the ICT Champion Awards initiative that include the highly popular VAR COC (Choice of Channel Awards) that have concluded 9 editions to date as well as the VAR Arabia Awards and the East Africa Integrator Awards. The organizer of these Awards is JNS Media International MFZE, a publisher of channel focused print and digital publications. These include VAR Magazine, The Integrator, www.varonline.com as well as East Africa Integrator and VAR Arabia, the latter two being digital publications.
The 2015 Integrator ICT Champion winners were chosen through a process that included accepting nominations in the first phase and an online survey executed via www.varonline.comin the second and concluding phase. A majority of leading companies in the region’s industry participated by sending across their entries for different categories. These nominees were entered into the survey which was communicated widely to the region’s SI (System Integrator) channel so that they could vote for their preferred choices.
The online survey ran for close to two weeks and saw over 100% increase in voting compared to last year’s voting. The massive voting in this year’s survey is a vindication of the prestige these awards carry as industry recognitions for the region. Those who polled maximum votes in each category were declared winners at the awards ceremony.
There were also a few select Editor’s choice awards categories which allowed for recognition of special achievements of Brands and companies. These recognitions were based on information that the editorial team has been privy to through interactions with those companies.
The year 2015 also heralds the 10th year of operations for the company which has now consolidated its various Media and Marketing services operations under the holding company JNS Media International MFZE from its previous name of VAR MEA Magazine. VAR Marketing Management is an entity that is the marketing services arm for the group and ICE Media Solutions is the third entity of this group based out of India and focused on support services for the group’s clients.
Mr. Vivek Sharma, CEO of JNS Media International and publisher of The Integrator said, “We continue to hold dear the values of recognizing the best in the industry. We are quite happy to see that industry is reciprocating equally to our initiatives and also the fact that these awards are today held in high esteem in the industry. My hearty congratulations to all winners of this year’s awards.”
Cloud Computing Vendor of the Year: Microsoft Gulf FZ – LLC
Virtualisation Vendor of the Year: VMware FZ-LLC
Converged Infrastructure Vendor of the Year: NetApp
SMB Storage Vendor of the Year: Western Digital
Video Conferencing Vendor of the Year: Polycom
Data Management & Analytics Vendor of the Year: SAP Middle East & North Africa LLC
Disaster Recovery and Backup Vendor of the Year: Commvault
Endpoint Security Software vendor of the Year:  Kaspersky Lab ME
Network Security Appliance Vendor of the Year:  Fortinet Middle East
IP Video Surveillance Solutions Vendor of the Year: Milestone Systems Middle East
Application Delivery Solutions Vendor of the Year: Riverbed Technology FZ LLC
Mobility Management Solutions Vendor of the Year: Sophos
Power Solutions Vendor of the Year: Schneider Electric FZE
DCIM Solutions Vendor of the Year: Emerson FZE
Print Management Solutions Vendor of the Year: XeroxMiddle East
Enterprise Networking VAD of the Year: FVC
Enterprise Security VAD of the Year: Scope Middle East
Enterprise Storage VAD of the Year: StorIT Distribution FZCO
Mobility Solutions VAD of the Year:  Oxygen Middle East
Unified Communications VAD of the Year: Granteq Distribution
Information Security Specialist VAD of the Year: Spire Solutions
Managed Services Provider of the Year: Dimension Data
Networking Integrator of the Year:           Gulf Business Machines
Storage Integrator of the Year:   STME
Telecom Integrator of the Year:  Prologix L.L.C
Security Integrator of the Year:   eSolutions Netcure
Software Solutions Integrator of the Year:             Finesse
Emerging Integrator of the Year:                Think Software Services FZ LLC
Emerging VAD of the Year:            EliteVAD
Visionary Integrator of the Year: F1 Infotech FZE
Visionary VAD of the Year: Aptec, an Ingram Micro Company
Fast Growing SMB Brand of the Year: Linksys from Belkin
Innovative IP Video Surveillance Vendor of the Year:  PROMISE Technology EMEA
Enterprise After Sales Vendor of the Year:  Barracuda Networks
KVM solutions VAD of the Year: Wave Tech Computers L.L.C
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SemanticPay: Pioneering Seamless AI Transactions for the Agent Economy

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SemanticPay

A cutting-edge AI startup emerges from stealth, announcing the launch of SemanticPay, a groundbreaking solution designed to power the emerging AI agent economy. SemanticPay is set to become the essential infrastructure that enables AI-powered agents to seamlessly transact and create value in the digital world. Developed by a team of AI, FinTech, and Web3 experts, SemanticPay will establish the monetization layer necessary to support autonomous AI agents, positioning itself as the first mover in this transformative space.

The rapid evolution of AI, decreasing compute costs and breakthroughs in AI models like DeepSeek R-1 are democratizing access to powerful AI leading to the proliferation of autonomous “AI agents” – intelligent systems capable of executing complex tasks, optimizing workflows, and unlocking new revenue streams. However, the current internet infrastructure, designed for human interactions, presents significant challenges for AI agents to transact seamlessly. “The internet was built by humans for humans, not agents,” says one of the co-founders of SemanticPay. Challenges arise such as compatibility issues with human-centric systems, regulatory uncertainty that slows adoption rate, restrictive firewalls that misidentify agents as bots, and outdated monetization models not suited for microtransactions.

This is where SemanticPay steps in – building the “Visa for AI” – a comprehensive platform that addresses these challenges and empowers AI agents to become full participants in the digital economy. SemanticPay builds a robust transaction infrastructure that allows AI agents to securely interact, access services, and engage in economic activity. By developing a specialized infrastructure, they will eliminate these constraints and unlock new opportunities for an AI-powered economy.

Key Features of SemanticPay Include:

  • Access: SemanticPay’s Agentic API layer ensures that AI agents can access web services and data sources seamlessly, unlocking new opportunities for interaction and information retrieval.
  • Identity: Traditional internet structures often categorize AI agents as bots, blocking their ability to perform legitimate tasks. Through Agent ID and “Know Your Agent” (KYA) protocols, SemanticPay establishes a secure, compliant framework for transactions, building trust and ensuring regulatory adherence.
  • Payment: The platform will offer optimized payment rails, supporting fiat currencies, stablecoins, and cryptocurrencies for high-frequency, low-value transactions crucial to the AI agent economy.
  • Empowerment: Value-added services such as data analytics, decision-making tools, and access to specialized AI models will enhance the capabilities of AI agents, driving efficiency and growth.

Rooted in the GCC, SemanticPay aims to scale globally, with its team currently having a presence in APAC and Europe. They are building the foundation for a new AI-powered economy that bridges the gap between web operators and AI agent builders – paving the way for a future where these intelligent agents play a vital role in our digital world, driving innovation and creating value for all stakeholders.

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Hasnae Taleb and Jeff Ransdell to Drive Innovation in UAE with a $45 Million to Support UAE Startups

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Mintiply & Fuel Venture

Jeff Ransdell, Managing Director and Founding Partner of Fuel Venture Capital, and Hasnae Taleb, Managing Partner of Mintiply Capital, are making waves in the UAE investment landscape by introducing a $300 million vintage fund. This ambitious initiative dedicates $45 million specifically to fuel the growth of startups within the GCC region. The fund is strategically structured to offer regional investors a rare opportunity to capture exponential returns by backing high-growth ventures before they reach public markets.

The collaboration between Mintiply Capital and Fuel Venture Capital takes the form of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), leveraging both firms’ unmatched expertise in capital markets and venture investments. With decades of collective experience, Ransdell and Taleb are uniquely positioned to guide companies through the critical phases of growth, scaling, and eventual public listings. Their shared vision is built on the understanding that private market investments in pre-IPO companies have the potential to generate immediate returns of up to 200% from day one, presenting a transformative proposition for investors across the UAE and broader GCC region.

The vintage fund provides access to an elite portfolio of high-potential startups backed by Fuel Venture Capital. Notable names include:

            •           Betr – A disruptive sports betting platform co-founded by Jake Paul, integrating real-time engagement with microbetting.

            •           Curve – A fintech innovator providing a single card that aggregates all financial accounts into one seamless experience.

            •           CookUnity – A chef-to-consumer platform redefining meal delivery with curated, gourmet-quality meals.

            •           Novopayment – A fintech infrastructure company driving digital payments innovation across the Americas.

            •           Aexlab – A pioneer in virtual reality gaming and social engagement technologies.

These companies are not just building market-leading products; they are poised to reshape industries and create outsized investment returns when they enter the public markets.

Jeff Ransdell and Hasnae Taleb believe in creating pathways for local investors to participate in the most promising global opportunities. This vintage fund provides GCC-based investors exclusive pre-market access to disruptive businesses that would otherwise remain out of reach until a much later stage.

Jeff Ransdell, founder of Fuel Venture Capital, brings a remarkable career spanning decades in public markets. As a former Managing Director at Merrill Lynch, he led a team responsible for managing a staggering $130 billion in assets for some of the world’s most influential investors. His deep understanding of capital markets, asset management, and scaling high-growth companies provides him with a unique ability to identify and nurture disruptive startups poised for exponential success.

Hasnae Taleb shattered barriers as the youngest equity trader on Wall Street and the first Arab African woman to achieve such recognition in global capital markets. Known for her sharp analytical mind and fearless decision-making, Taleb earned the nickname “Shewolf of Nasdaq” for her unparalleled ability and navigate high-stakes trading scenarios with precision. Now, as Managing Partner of Mintiply Capital, she leverages her expertise in trading, equity markets, and entrepreneurship to build ecosystems that empower innovators and investors alike.

“Both Jeff and I understand what it takes to list companies and the immense value creation that occurs before a company goes public,” said Hasnae Taleb. “We are bringing this opportunity to investors in the region to give them access to exceptional returns and a strategic advantage over traditional investment avenues.”

Jeff Ransdell added, “The GCC market is evolving rapidly, and there’s a growing appetite for sophisticated investment vehicles. This fund delivers exactly that — it empowers investors to support transformative businesses while capturing the kind of returns typically reserved for institutional players.”

The introduction of this vintage fund and the strategic partnership between Mintiply Capital and Fuel Venture Capital reflect a shared commitment to enhancing the financial ecosystem in the UAE and KSA. By supporting visionary entrepreneurs and scaling innovative businesses, the duo aims to foster sustainable economic growth and establish the region as a hub for entrepreneurial excellence and venture capital success.

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SEE Holding and Arabian Gulf Steel Industries Forge Partnership to Advance Sustainable Construction Practices

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SEE Holding & AGSI

SEE Holding, the parent company behind The Sustainable City brand, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Arabian Gulf Steel Industries (AGSI), marking a significant step towards advancing sustainable construction practices in the region. The partnership will prioritize the integration of low carbon steel in future projects, reinforcing SEE Holding’s commitment to selecting sustainable materials to achieve its net zero ambitions. Additionally, both entities will explore opportunities to promote circular economy practices, focusing on recycling and repurposing steel products to minimize waste and environmental impact.

The MoU signing ceremony was held at SEE Institute, SEE Holding’s knowledge partner and the region’s first operational net zero emissions building, underscoring a shared commitment to environmental responsibility.

Faris Saeed, Chairman & CEO of SEE Holding, stated: “Achieving net zero emissions requires a holistic commitment to reducing both embodied and operational emissions across every facet of the built environment. Our partnership with Arabian Gulf Steel Industries reaffirms our dedication to selecting materials that align with our net zero strategy while driving innovation in sustainable cities and communities. Through this collaboration, we aim to inspire transformative change in net zero construction practices across the region, redefining how sustainable infrastructure and cities are designed and built.” The collaboration extends beyond material selection, focusing on research and development (R&D) to innovate and refine techniques that enhance the adoption of low carbon steel in construction processes. Both parties will work together to develop new methodologies that optimize energy efficiency and reduce embodied emissions in building projects.

Asam Hussain, the AGSI’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “The partnership with SEE Holding represents a significant step forward by driving sustainable transformation in construction practices in the UAE. Our collaboration will ensure that we structurally embed demand for low-carbon materials to seize the opportunity of accelerating decarbonization of the hard-to-abate sector. Together, we are advancing environmental sustainability and driving positive economic and social impact.”

AGSI is the World’s first Carbon Neutral Steel Plant and Low Carbon Steel Manufacturing Facility based in the UAE. The company is pioneering low carbon products play a critical role in decarbonizing not only the steel industry but also the built environment. By incorporating 100% recycled low carbon steel SEE Holding aims to significantly reduce embodied emissions while maintaining the highest standards of durability and strength required for modern construction. AGSI’s state-of-the-art facilities are designed to minimize waste and energy consumption, aligning seamlessly with SEE Holding’s ethos of responsible urban development.

AGSI has also signed the Memorandum of Understanding with SEE Institute with a shared vision of advancing knowledge. Both companies will work together to introduce training programs targeted at architects, engineers, and construction professionals to raise awareness of low carbon steel benefits and foster its adoption across the sector. The partnership will also prioritize performance monitoring, implementing robust reporting mechanisms to track environmental impact, measure emission reductions, and enhance project transparency.

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