Ending Soon! Save 33% on All Access

Startup Docswallet Wants To Help Your Company (And The Economy) Go Paperless Docswallet founder and CEO Avira Tharakan discusses his startup's growth as a former finalist of the Smartpreneur competition.

You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

On the sidelines of the launch of the third edition of the Smartpreneur competiton, Docswallet founder and CEO Avira Tharakan spoke about his startup's growth as one of the former finalists of the challenge. Tharakan explains Docswallet's purpose as a platform for digital documentation such as transcripts, certificates and degrees, among others, using blockchain tech to enable institutions to eliminate the use of paper.

As an idea that started six years ago, Tharakan shares how their solution is just like having a bank account- in the same way, you can have a document in a digital format that is authenticated and transferrable for various purposes. The startup started creating awareness and educating clients in India, signing up more than 500 institutions in the process, followed by agreements in the US for students to apply for college admissions without the use of paper transcripts to today's friendlier environment where concepts such as Docswallet's are being fostered by the government.

"When you have to do an ecosystem of change, that's where these [competitions] could help you," says Tharakan on their motivation to join the competition then. They regarded Dubai Chamber as a prominent beneficial stakeholder for the platform, one that could affect various entities such as governmental bodies and educational institutions, making the choice to apply to the competition an obvious one. He notes that the platform was an opportunity to validate his concept, "The faster you realize how valid the idea is, the better chances you got for success- and that's what happening here." Through the competition, Tharakan asserts they were also given opportunities to various networking events with introductions to industry leaders, as well as pitching competitions to direct decision makers, visibility options and credibility in the industry.

Applications for Dubai Smartpreneur Challenge 2018 are being accepted till April 9. For more details, follow the hashtag #DXBSmartComp on Twitter and Instagram and stay tuned to @DubaiStartupHub for updates and announcements. To submit your application, head to www.dubaichamber.com/smartpreneur.

Related: Ready, Set, Go: The Third Dubai Smartpreneur Competition Is Now Open For Entries

This article was originally published on Dubai Startup Hub and has been reposted on Entrepreneur Middle East based on a mutual agreement between the websites.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Side Hustle

These Brothers Had 'No Income' When They Started a 'Low-Risk, High-Reward' Side Hustle to Chase a Big Dream — Now They've Surpassed $50 Million in Revenue

Sam Lewkowict, co-founder and CEO of men's grooming brand Black Wolf Nation, knows what it takes to harness the power of side gig for success.

Starting a Business

Gateway To Growth: Here's How Saudi Arabia-Based Tamam Is Reshaping The Kingdom's Micro-Financing Landscape

A look at how the first fintech company in KSA to receive a license for consumer micro-financing from the Saudi Central Bank is ensuring that diverse populations receive financial services on an equal footing.

Growth Strategies

What Family Businesses Need To Know About The New Legal Framework Governing Their Operations In The UAE

Only around 10 to 15% of family businesses in the UAE make it to the third generation.

Starting a Business

I Wish I Knew These Four Things Before Starting My Own Business

Starting a business is hard work to say the least. These are four lessons I wish someone had shared with me before going solo, so I'm here to share them with you.

Business News

Now that OpenAI's Superalignment Team Has Been Disbanded, Who's Preventing AI from Going Rogue?

We spoke to an AI expert who says safety and innovation are not separate things that must be balanced; they go hand in hand.