In cooperation of the Dean of Students Office at Bethlehem University, the Hult Prize Organizing Committee held the local Hult Prize competition on campus and announced the name of the winning team, on Thursday, 2 March 2023.
The project of the winning team “Corn Closet” was to create a sustainable and eco-friendly cotton-like textiles made of corn fibers to reduce the amount of chemically produced clothing that harms the environment. All startups shared one common goal, which is creating an innovative social venture in the clothing and fashion to make it more sustainable. In other words, They focused on redesigning the fashion industry to ensure sustainability.
In an atmosphere full of energy and competition, five teams from Bethlehem University competed with high-quality ideas for a position in the quarterfinals stage. They pitched their ideas to a panel of three judges who were Mr. Firas Bali, the Director of the Bethlehem Business Incubator, Mr. Elias Mukarker, Instructor at Bethlehem University, and Ms. Sally Shami, the Founder of Salam Social Enterprise for Palestinian Embroidery.
Angela Salem, the Campus Director of the Hult Prize, said “I am grateful for the experience we had, as we got the chance to meet like-minded friends and widen our social network while giving something positive to our university. I am also happy that students will be representing Bethlehem University at the Hult Prize quarterfinals.”
The Organizing Committee consist of the students: Lujain Rabah, Khader Zoughbi, Jocelyn Qasis, Tarteel Sulaibe, Daniel Sleibi and Shahd Taqatah.
The Hult Prize inspires student entrepreneurs to solve the world’s biggest challenges through innovative social enterprises with positive global impact. It is an annual competition where university students work to create high-impact startups that address the annual challenge in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Finalists pitch their businesses to a panel of expert judges, and the winning team receives $1M USD in funding to make their idea a reality.
