Middle East Technology Excellence Award 2022 for Startup in Education was presented to Zendy
Dec 6, 2022 |
4 Mins ReadThe platform won the award for startup in the education category, joining the league of past winners such as Du, Amazon (MENA), the Entertainer, & BLOOVO to become one of the most innovative companies in the Middle East.
For tech startup Zendy, it is simply unfair that students, researchers, and professionals in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and other developing regions cannot access the same depth of research as those in developed countries. This is despite the rapid shift in the academic publishing spectrum.
Zendy is a product of Knowledge E, a private technology company providing access to digital libraries, training, consulting, and publishing services in the academic sector. Co-founded by entrepreneur Kamran Robert Kardan, it was built in response to the high cost of access to scholarly literature and the limitations of access to academic content in emerging and developing regions.
As such, Zendy, being a fast mover in the industry, offers an alternative to traditional access models. The startup works with publishers and researchers to bridge the gap in equality in emerging regions. It also offers a unique hybrid model for accessing content to meet the consumption needs of academic and non-academic professionals whilst offering publishers a share of the subscriptions’ revenue.
It offers users two options to access content: Zendy Plus and Zendy Open. The former is a subscription-based solution that provides individuals and organisations unlimited access to premium journals from major publishers, whilst the latter is a global open-access solution that features millions of OA resources from leading academic publishers.
Zendy Plus offers unlimited access to research for an average monthly cost of $15, whilst Zendy Open is free and available from anywhere around the world.
Zendy’s monthly user growth rate is 11%, with a sign-up projection of 35,000 by Q4 2022.
Zendy is also an avid supporter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals relating to equality and inclusivity in education to promote lifelong learning opportunities for everyone.
“We’re delighted to be recognised amongst leaders in the technology sector in MENA. What started as a simple concept of creating an affordable and accessible digital library, has now developed into a meaningful platform that empowers individuals to leverage research. The best part is that we’re just getting started. Our recent launch in Nigeria and soon-to-be-released feature updates are all designed to continue our mission to support lifelong learning opportunities for everyone, everywhere,” said Zendy Co-founder Kamran Kardan.
It has won the Startup - Education category in the recently held Middle East Technology Excellence Awards for this innovation.
The prestigious awards programme honours outstanding companies in the region that have made exceptional contributions in the pursuit of technological innovation in their respective industries.
This article orginally appeared on Asian Business Review.
We Are Speaking at the Charleston Conference 2024
We are excited to announce our participation in this year’s Charleston Conference, where we will address critical issues in the academic world: accessibility and affordability in research. In our session, “New Perspectives: Exploring Hybrid Access Alternatives to Promote Accessibility and Affordability in the Global South,” Zendy’s Co-founder, Kamran Kardan, advisor and retired distinguished librarian emeritus David Hirsch, and Zendy’s Partnership Relations Manager, Sara Crowley Vigneau, will discuss the current barriers to accessibility and affordability and latest models that combine open access and paywalled resources for more inclusive knowledge access in the global south. Join Our Session "New Perspectives: Exploring Hybrid Access Alternatives" Wednesday, November 13 | 4:00 PM | Cypress Ballroom South, Courtyard Marriott What is Charleston Conference: The Charleston Conference is an annual event focused on issues in scholarly communication, academic publishing, and library management. It brings together librarians, publishers, vendors, and research professionals to discuss developments, trends, and challenges in the fields of libraries, publishing, and knowledge access. The theme for this year’s conference is “The Sky’s The Limit!” If you’re attending the Charleston Conference, we’d love to connect! Email hello@zendy.io to book a meeting, and let’s discuss how we can create a world with greater accessibility together.
We Are Speaking and Sponsoring the Forum for Open Research in MENA
Doha, Qatar - October 2024, We are a silver sponsor at the 3rd annual event Forum for Open Research in MENA 2024 (FORM), held from October 21 to 23. This year’s conference theme is: Transforming Knowledge Into Action, The forum will take place in Doha, Qatar and is hosted in collaboration with Qatar National Library and Knowledge E Foundation. FORM is a non-profit member of the Open Science organisation, acting as a spark for positive change towards more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable research and education models in the Arab region. The aim is to help libraries, universities, research councils, and policymakers collaborate on projects and resources that support open research. As a result, they can better meet the needs of local research communities. FORM focuses on guiding these groups by sharing the latest insights and practical solutions toward a more 'open' world and encouraging collaboration across different regions. About Zendy Zendy is an AI-powered library established in 2019 to enhance accessibility and discoverability for researchers, students, teachers, and professors. Over 636,000 users worldwide utilise our in-house AI tools in their pursuit of knowledge and the latest findings. About F.O.R.M 2024 The highly anticipated 3rd annual event, F.O.R.M. This October, will present panel sessions on research development in the Arab world and valuable case studies, in addition to a series of workshops led by experts to "Transform Knowledge Into Action" To register for online or in-person attendance, please visit https://forumforopenresearch.com/
Zendy and UNESCO Sign Partnership Agreement to Amplify Global Report Impact
Pictured (left to right) are Laura Frank, UNESCO; Cristina Puerta, Editorial Specialist UNESCO; and Sara Crowley Vigneau, Partnership Relations Manager Zendy. Dubai, UAE – October, 2024 – Zendy, the AI-powered research library, and UNESCO have signed a partnership agreement to increase the impact and discoverability of UNESCO's flagship global reports and other publications. This collaboration will make UNESCO’s critical resources available to a broader audience, especially in the global south and underserved regions. With over 700,000 users in 191 countries and territories, Zendy has become a trusted resource for researchers, students, and knowledge seekers worldwide. By integrating UNESCO's publications into its platform, Zendy is furthering its mission to ensure that key scholarly and policy resources reach those who need them most. This agreement with UNESCO complements Zendy’s ongoing efforts to reduce barriers to accessibility and promote educational equity. UNESCO’s publications include flagship global reports on the state of education, water resources, scientific advancement and research, and cultural industries; monographs and technical reports that provide specialists with expert knowledge drawn from UNESCO’s fields of competence; and unprecedented regional history series projects. These publications are an important means of maintaining, advancing and sharing knowledge, which will now be more discoverable to researchers, educators, and policymakers around the world. “Partnering with UNESCO is a pivotal step towards our mission of reducing inequalities in access to knowledge,” said Zendy Co-founder Kamran Kardan. “This collaboration reinforces our shared commitment to increasing the accessibility of essential information, empowering communities that have long been excluded from the global flow of ideas and research. Together, we aim to create a more inclusive knowledge ecosystem where everyone has the opportunity to learn, contribute, and thrive.” UNESCO’s resources will now be available to Zendy’s growing user base, supporting informed decision-making and research endeavors across diverse fields. Translated into over 70 languages, UNESCO’s publications illustrate the Organization's mission to promote multilingualism, essential factor in harmonious communication among peoples. This partnership aligns with UNESCO’s vision of fostering inclusive knowledge societies and supporting the free flow of ideas, ultimately driving forward the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For more information, please contact:Monica ChinsamiHead of MarketingEmail: m.chinsami@zendy.io About ZendyZendy is an AI-powered, mission-driven library dedicated to increasing the accessibility and discoverability of scholarly literature, particularly in the global south and underserved regions. The platform currently serves over 700,000 users across 191 countries and territories, offering a comprehensive collection of academic journals, articles, and reports to empower researchers, educators, and students around the world. About UNESCOWith 194 Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization contributes to peace and security by leading multilateral cooperation on education, science, culture, communication and information. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO has offices in 54 countries and employs over 2,300 people. UNESCO oversees more than 2,000 World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks; networks of Creative, Learning, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities; and over 13,000 associated schools, university chairs, training and research institutions. Its Director-General is Audrey Azoulay.