Qatar boasts of having some of the top startup accelerators set up with the aim of bolstering creativity and promoting a culture of innovation among entrepreneurs. The aim is also to convert entrepreneurial initiatives into fruitful projects to achieve the goals envisaged in the National Vision 2030.
Incubators in Qatar provide start-ups with a wide range of services to help them meet their specific needs. These services include a place to set up the project, consultancy, connectivity, and office supplies for both businesses and stakeholders. This ensures an environment that supports business growth, enhances competitiveness, and expands market activities.
1: Qatar Business Incubation Centre
The Qatar Business Incubation Centre (QBIC) is by far the largest and best accelerator in the Middle East. Located in the New Industrial Zone, it is the first incubator set up by the Qatar Development Bank (QDB), Qatar Projects Management, and Social Development Centre. QBIC’s aim is to not only support start-ups and entrepreneurs but also promote entrepreneurship in Qatar.
The QBIC enables business owners and entrepreneurs to establish companies by providing funds for investment, communication infrastructure, and workspace. To achieve this end, the incubation center promotes a spirit of work ethics and entrepreneurship. This helps the upcoming generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs with developing and incorporating companies in Qatar.
2: Digital Incubation Centre
The Ministry of Transport and Communications’ start-up incubator, the Digital Incubation Center (DIC), aims to boost innovation, specifically among promising businessmen who are in the early stages of setting up or growing technology-related businesses. This is to say that the DIC supports entrepreneurs who are capable of creating innovative products, services, or solutions, harnessing the power of emerging technologies to contribute to the nation’s digital economy.
3: QBIC Tourism
Qatar Tourism Authority, in collaboration with the QDB, has launched QBIC Tourism. This is one of the specialized start-up accelerators for businesses in the tourism sector. It enables entrepreneurs and SMEs to develop products and services that can enhance the experiences of tourists coming to Qatar. QBIC Tourism provides start-ups with tools for developing their businesses and seed funding. Entrepreneurs can also seek advice from top decision-makers in QTA. Qatar-based entrepreneurs with innovative tourism-related business ideas, specifically in priority niches such as business events, urban and family entertainment, sports, and recreational activities, and culture and heritage, are supported by Qatar Tourism.
4: Qatar University Business Incubator
The Qatar University’s Business Incubator offers personal coaching and high-quality education with the help of professional trainers, incubation space, access to funding, and a network of related entrepreneurs. Depending on the start-up, the Business Incubator offers the following services:
Business Ideation
Customer Validation
Sales and Marketing
Pricing and Profitability
Financial Planning
5: Qatar Science & Technology Park
The Science and Technology Park in Qatar, which opened in March 2019, is a Qatar Foundation member and has an area of 45,000 square meters. The Park, considered part of the Qatar Foundation’s R & D center, is a key incubation platform for tech start-ups in Qatar. The Park encourages innovation and maintains an entrepreneurial ecosystem to promote research and entrepreneurship as well as accelerate the commercialization of market-ready technologies. The four core areas focused on by the Qatar Science and Technology Park in accordance with Qatar’s National Research Strategy announced in 2012 are energy, health sciences, environment, and ICT.
6: Abu Issa Investment
Abu Issa Investment, a subsidiary of Abu Issa Holding, an internationally recognized leader in helping businesses grow and exploring new business opportunities, is by far the fastest-growing business incubator. The company has a strong foundation in Qatar, and the holding company boasts an employee strength of 2,595 and is committed to offering high-quality services.
7: Qatar FinTech Hub
Qatar FinTech Hub, a worldwide incubator and accelerator, helps innovative fin-tech start-ups not only in Qatar but also throughout the world. The incubator and accelerator programs of FinTech Hub are ideally suited for early-stage start-ups. Furthermore, these programs help mature FinTech start-ups scale up their operations. Besides, the incubator offers bespoke coaching to help start-ups succeed in their chosen field.
8: TASMU Accelerator
The TASMU Accelerator, a specialized initiative, is designed to nurture the innovation ecosystem by supporting start-ups that are focused on setting up businesses in strategic sectors specified by the Qatar government. In 2022, the focus of TASMU’s program is to fund start-ups in three primary sectors: environment, health, and logistics. Each start-up is supported and led by a "Track Champion," a global company such as Ooredoo, Microsoft, or others.
Benefits of joining the TASMU Accelerator program include:
100% ownership of the business
Funding up to $50,000
Flexibility to work from anywhere in the world
Direct access to the Qatari market via the TASMU’s Smart Nation Platform
Software and tools needed to succeed
Smart Nation Ecosystem membership
9: Startupbootcamp Qatar SportsTech
Qatar SportsTech, Startupbootcamp’s leading accelerator program, is for innovative startup companies that want to set up businesses in the sports industry. The platform enables start-ups to scale up their operations and demonstrate their products to leading corporations, at leading sporting events, etc. Selected Sportstech companies are provided with a 3-month intensive training program, access to one-on-one mentorship by industry experts, office space in Doha at the Aspire Zone, seed funding, and access to an international network of corporate partners and investors.
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