DOHA: Ooredoo and Qatar Business Incubation Centre (QBIC) yesterday announced partnership to launch ‘Digital and Beyond’ incubator. The incubator will encourage the creation of a new range of start-ups and technology-focused businesses. After signing of the partnership agreement, Ooredoo and QBIC launched a national contest for new start-up ideas.
The incubator will empower young people to start and grow a diverse range of companies.
It will include three zones designed specifically for start-ups, a community zone for relaxation and regeneration, a collaboration zone to encourage communication and teamwork and private zones for meetings and innovative thinking.
“Ooredoo is making every effort to ensure that Qatar achieves its vision of being a truly smart society, driven by innovation and the ambitions of our younger generation. We believe that the ‘Digital and Beyond’ incubator within QBIC could play a central role for Qatar, creating our own ‘Silicon Valley’ of start-ups and developers, and enabling young Qataris to propel their ideas for new businesses to a global audience,” said Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani, CEO of Ooredoo Qatar.
The one-year agreement, which includes the option to renew every year, will enable Ooredoo to contribute to the development of Qatar’s economy, by supporting economic diversification, new business creation and encouraging entrepreneurialism.
It will also reduce the time to market for new digital products and services in Qatar, and open new business opportunities for Ooredoo in adjacent markets.
Through the partnership, Ooredoo will form a committee to evaluate and select ‘disruptive ideas’ in the digital space, and provide seed-funding for the aspiring entrepreneurs.
The first wave of ideas to be assessed will include innovative digital ideas focusing on customer experience, healthcare, education, sport, smart living and other areas.
In addition, Ooredoo will manage a 251sqm space within QBIC, that will provide a modern working space for these start-up entrepreneurs.
Waleed Al Sayed, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Ooredoo Qatar, said, “Ooredoo has helped to drive innovation and development in Qatar throughout its history, and in recent years —because of the power and versatility of the Ooredoo Supernet and Ooredoo’s support for a range of dynamic smart services — we have played a key role in the growth of knowledge-based enterprises and new start-ups.”
Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa, QDB CEO and QBIC Chairman said, “QBIC and QDB are committed to developing the SME sector in Qatar, and by supporting technology-focused businesses, we will play a major role in offering employment, enrichment and development opportunities for young people. With the support of Ooredoo, we will be able to offer the kind of environment that enables start-ups to grow and flourish, and transform digital ideas into international business opportunities.”
Aysha Al Mudahka, QBIC CEO said: “We are pleased to witness how our flagship Program, the LeanStartup Program, is being introduced with a more specialised focus as the number of new entrants increases. As QBIC is expanding into more sector-specific incubators, at the “Digital and Beyond” incubator we are now looking for entrepreneurs with tech-savvy ideas, and innovative approaches to the ever-evolving digital world.”
Young people with a creative idea for a new digital product or service can submit their concepts via a special page on the QBIC website or through a link to that page on the Ooredoo website.
The Peninsula
