Mrs. Safaa Al-Jassim’s success story after the Nema 4 incubation competition
Safaa Al-Jassim is a Syrian woman living in Turkey who founded “Unlimited” company for Student Services and the “JobLink” platform. Upon her arrival in Turkey, Safaa began her journey by helping Arab students enroll in Turkish universities, which earned her extensive experience in this field. In addition, she established the “JobLink” platform, which aims to provide internship and job opportunities for university students and recent graduates, connecting them with startup companies.
The Beginning and Sources of Inspiration
Safaa Al-Jassim’s journey in the field of student services began quite by chance in 2016. After graduating from high school in Turkey, she faced difficulties in enrolling in Turkish universities when she handled the process herself. This personal experience, along with helping her friends in obtaining university admissions, contributed to her accumulating expertise in this field. This activity has started as an individual effort to assist friends gradually evolved into a primary business, where Safaa established the company “Unlimited Education”.
Challenges and Development
Upon founding her company, Safaa faced numerous challenges in understanding the administrative, legal, and financial aspects of running a business, along with the accumulation of new responsibilities. These challenges coincided with the announcement of the NEMA 4 competition by the Bina Entrepreneurship Incubator, which provided support and guidance to entrepreneurs. Through the “Bina” program, Safaa learned how to manage a team, plan marketing strategies, and understand legal accounting and costs. Her participation also significantly expanded her network. This experience changed her vision for the project, transforming it from managing a traditional company into tech startup aim to solve problems for university students at all stages of their academic journey. She further enhanced her skills by joining a PMP training program to master project management.
JobLink Project
The idea for the “JobLink” platform emerged from the market challenges that Safaa observed while working at her company, “Unlimited,” and from the need of students and recent graduates to find suitable job aligned to their studies. while startups companies were searching for young talent without high costs. “JobLink” aims to bridge this gap by creating a network of qualified talents and connecting them with startups. Initially, JobLink started as a simple initiative by creating a Telegram channel to announce job opportunities for students, which led to the employment of 25 students in less than a month. This success indicated a substantial market demand for such services.
Success, Achievements, and the Role of Supporting Institutions
Through “Unlimited Education,” Safaa has helped hundreds of university students choose their academic majors and achieve their educational dreams in Turkey. With “JobLink,” she has provided training and employment services to many students. Safaa was honored with the Exceptional Performance Award at the final ceremony of the Nama 4 competition, ranking among the top 20 projects out of 850 applicants. Additionally, Safaa and her “JobLink” project were selected by the Jusoor organization in the “Supporting Women in Business Leadership”, among only five women chosen from the Middle East and North Africa region.
Conclusion
Safaa Al Jassim’s story is a living example of how success can be achieved through determination and continuous learning. Thanks to the support she received from the Bina Entrepreneurship Incubator, the SPARK Foundation, the Islamic Development Bank, the Qatar Fund for Development, and Qatar Charity, Safaa was able to turn her ideas into reality and achieve tangible success in the field of entrepreneurship. Safaa now aspires to expand “JobLink” services to include the Middle East region, with its focus on providing job and training opportunities for young talents.
Advice
Safaa offers advice to new entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of patience and believing in the power of small steps to achieve their goals. She also highlights the need for flexibility and the willingness to adjust their strategies and plans in case of any unforeseen events or circumstances. This is what distinguishes a successful entrepreneur and ensures continuity, success, and the ability to gain trust.
