ARC Ride Wins Regional DHL Fast Forward Challenge 2023 in Dubai

ARC Ride, which specializes in providing electric solutions for mass-transportation in rapidly-growing cities, held its own during the DHL Fast Forward Challenge regional event in Dubai, securing a coveted victory.

In a live pitch, ARC Ride won over the audience and industry experts with their innovative idea: creating a scalable model that incorporates a fleet of electric vehicles and the infrastructure for battery charging.

The winner will now have the opportunity to participate in the DHL Fast Forward Challenge: Sustainable Solutions Edition final in Valencia this April, competing with regional DHL Fast Forward Challenge winners from across the globe.

Amadou Diallo, CEO at DHL Global Forwarding, who was one of the six judges to pick the winner said: “This is the second time that we have hosted the DHL Fast Forward Challenge in Dubai, where we witnessed as many innovative ideas as in the first edition.

"Every single one of the ideas and pitches were path-breaking, but ARC Ride really stood out for revolutionizing e-mobility through safe and reliable EV solutions in Africa. I’d like to congratulate the team at ARC Ride for their unique and efficient solutions to address expanding mass transportation needs in rapidly-growing African cities."

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Joseph Hurst-Croft, CEO at ARC Ride, adds: “It’s amazing to win this award because it shows the team’s commitment to roll out our sustainability solutions across Africa.

"The process has been great – coming here, meeting other innovators and seeing how the circular economy is really going to be an integral part of the future”.

Biotic, a start-up from Israel, took home the People’s Choice Award, chosen by the audience at the event and those watching the live stream. Biotic developed an innovative solution using macroalgae to create fully bio-based, fully biodegradable PHBV polymers.

This enables an optimal transition from plastics produced from fossil fuels with a scalable, fully biological, environmentally friendly process that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with a zero-waste approach and a circular economy.

The Fast Forward Challenge: Sustainable Solutions Edition is a competition organized by DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation for companies across the globe to showcase their innovative technologies and solutions to the world in relation to the logistics industry and with a focus on sustainability.

In this regional final, five shortlisted companies, two from Africa, two from the Middle East and one from Europe with plans to enter the Middle East market, had the opportunity to pitch their cases to six judges:

Amadou Diallo, CEO at DHL Global Forwarding; Dominik Baumeister, Partner and PwC Global Lead at Transport & Logistics; Mohsen Ahmad, CEO of Logistics Dubai South; Nadia Boumeziout, Head of Sustainability & Information at Governance Zurich Insurance; Nissrine Elqobai, CEO at ENY Consulting; and Sara Jackson, Founder at Green Ethics FZ LLC.

As the winner, ARC Ride will work together with DHL on the proof of concept which will be displayed in the DHL Innovation Center in Dubai. The winner will also be a jury member for the next Fast Forward Challenge in Dubai in 2024.

ARC Ride will now join the three other winners from the regional DHL Fast Forward Challenge finals (Americas, Europe, and Asia) as well as a judge-favorite wild card to participate at the DHL Fast Forward Challenge: Sustainable Solutions Edition in Valencia this April.

The Challenge is part of the DHL Era of Sustainable Logistics Global Summit, a three-day event that brings together decision-makers, thought leaders, and stakeholders to promote the development of cleaner, greener logistics.

All DHL Fast Forward Challenge finalists presenting their solution at the Global Summit will benefit from increased visibility and reach by presenting their solution to an audience of senior executives from some of DHL's largest customers.

Cash prizes will also be awarded with the first place receiving €50,000, followed by €10,000, and €5,000 for second and third place, respectively. The global winner will also enjoy the benefits of collaborating with DHL in developing and marketing their solution.

The solution may even find a new home and be showcased at one of the four DHL Innovation Centers around the world (Dubai, Cologne, Chicago, Singapore), which are visited by thousands of customers, partners, and other innovative thinkers each year.

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