Welcome to Wamda's weekly startup news ticker, which will offer quick announcements and stories relevant to the region. If you have a quick news release to share about your startup, let us know at editor@wamda.com. 

Hmizate.ma wins Best Moroccan Consumer Brand during Morocco Awards

After securing US $1.6 million dollars in investment this past August, daily deals websites Hmizate.ma won an award for "Best Moroccan Brand" at the Moroccan Awards held in Rabat this December.

Morocco Awards is a yearly event organized by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Public and the Moroccan Industrial and Commercial Property Office.  “It is the first time an online company wins such an award,” says Kamal Raggad, founder of Hmizate.ma. Although the company is only three years old, it was ranked third by the public out of 65 known Moroccan brands, he says.

Google bringing Android to car systems

After Apple announced the launch of Siri, a voice-directed task management system, Google will be bringing Android to car entertainment systems. 

In a recent blog post, Internet giant Google announced a partnership with manufacturers such as Audi, Honda and others, to bring Android to car entertainment systems. “Common platforms allow for one connected experience across our phone, tablet and PC, so we get the right information at the right time, no matter what device we’re using,” the blog post mentioned, “but there’s still an important device that isn’t yet connected as seamlessly to the other screens in our lives – the car.”

Mudarrisi, a network for connecting teachers with students

In an attempt to improve education, Jordanian entrepreneur Aseel Hamarneh launched Mudarrisi.com (which means my teacher in Arabic).

Mudarrisi.com is a network that connects students with teachers, who sign up and create a profile on the platform and list the subject they teach, their expertise and experience. Hamarneh launched the platform after her husband wanted to learn Arabic in Jordan. “We searched a lot but couldn't find enough information,” she says in an email, “so we decided to start Mudarrisi”, which is available for free in Arabic or English.

- RF