UTB wins first place at BisB Next-Gen Islamic Investment Innovation Product Hackathon
Students from the University of Technology Bahrain (UTB) won first place in the Next Generation Islamic Investment Innovation Product Hackathon, organised by Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) in collaboration with INJAZ Bahrain, outperforming 20 teams representing 14 universities and educational institutions across the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The UTB team claimed the top honour with Tarakum, an innovative Sharia-compliant micro-investment solution designed to help young people transform everyday shopping discounts into long-term financial wealth. Tarakum enables discounts earned through purchases made using the vevo card at partner merchants to be automatically transferred into a personal investment account based on the Islamic finance principle of Mudarabah through Bahrain Islamic Bank.
The solution seeks to promote financial literacy among young people while encouraging smart investment habits through a seamless integration of everyday spending and long-term wealth creation.
A Testament to Student Innovation
Dr Hasan Almulla, President of UTB, congratulated the students on their achievement and praised their ability to develop solutions that address real-world challenges in the Islamic finance sector.
“Winning first place in this significant national competition is a testament to the quality of education at UTB and the ability of our students to develop practical and impactful solutions for the Islamic banking and finance sector. At UTB, we are committed to empowering students with the skills, knowledge, and innovative mindset required to thrive in the future economy.”
He also expressed his appreciation to Bahrain Islamic Bank and INJAZ Bahrain for organising the hackathon and providing a platform for young innovators to showcase their talents and ideas.
The Winning Team
The project was developed by a multidisciplinary team of UTB students comprising:
- Abdelrahman Jalal – Bachelor of Science in Mechatronics Engineering; Team Leader, Presenter and Financial Analyst
- Abdallah Tantawy – Bachelor of Science in Computer Science; Technical Lead and Project Manager
- Abdalla Elsiddig – Bachelor of Science in Informatics Engineering; Artificial Intelligence Specialist
- Issa Mohamed – Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Major in Networking and Cybersecurity; Operations and Software Engineer
- Walaa Salah – Bachelor of Science in Informatics Engineering; User Interface and User Experience Designer
- Jana Abogamal – Bachelor of Science in Computer Science; Presenter
A Milestone Achievement
Reflecting on their success, the students described the victory as a significant milestone in their academic journey and credited the University’s supportive learning environment, practical approach to education, and emphasis on emerging technologies and artificial intelligence for helping bring their idea to life.
The team noted that Tarakum represents the power of collaboration and innovation in addressing modern financial challenges while contributing to the future of Islamic financial technology.
The achievement further reinforces UTB’s commitment to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry-focused learning experiences that enable students to create meaningful solutions with real-world impact.
Learn more about UTB’s academic programmes, research initiatives, and international collaborations by visiting the UTB website.
