Israeli Youth Win Unistream Competition with Innovative Confidence-Boosting App and Eco-Friendly Projects
A team of third-year participants from the Unistream Kinneret Entrepreneurship Center, named after Robert Weiner, won the Unistream competition with their project crowned "Project of the Year 2026." The teenage girls developed an AI-based app designed to boost youth self-confidence by offering personalized hair styling advice, practical tips, and a supportive community. The creators, Gili Mor (17), Naomi Ido (16), and Shira Kaplan (17), all from Kibbutz Kinneret and Ashdot Yaakov, explained that the app addresses common adolescent insecurities related to appearance and hair management.
The second-place team from Unistream Beersheba, called Altshuler Shaham Relife, created a process to convert harmful agricultural waste into biochar fertilizer through pyrolysis, revitalizing soil health. Third place went to a group from Unistream Or Yehuda, who developed Drincup, an ecological device for washing reusable cups to replace disposable ones in businesses and public institutions.
Additional winners were announced across various categories and age groups, including projects like DUET, AllergiesWarrior, SafeHeat, Virtual Teacher, Flighttherapy, EasyCart, FRESH BOX, and FROSTSTEPS. The competition featured over 100 youth teams from diverse sectors across Israel, including Jewish, Arab, Druze, Bedouin, secular, religious, and immigrant communities.
The event, held at Expo Tel Aviv, was attended by hundreds of business, tech, and government leaders, including judges from major corporations and public offices. The competition showcased youth entrepreneurship focused on real-life needs, such as the NOVA WATCH, a smart watch aiding Alzheimer’s patients, and innovative products like cooling gel socks for athletes and an app to guide parents.
Roni Tzareum, Unistream’s founder and chairman, emphasized the challenge of maintaining youth motivation amid ongoing national conflicts and community fatigue. He highlighted the organization’s commitment to empowering youth across Israel’s periphery and center to be active creators of the future despite adversity.
