Al-Mudahka orients Crombe of the QBIC’s facilities during a tour. The centre is “world-class and a fantastic investment in the next generation of Qatari business leaders,” said Crombe.
The Qatar Business Incubation Centre (QBIC) has been cited by Entrepreneurs Organisation (EO) as “world-class and a fantastic investment in the next generation of Qatari business leaders.”
The statement was made by EO global chairman Gilberto Crombe during a recent tour of the centre’s facilities.
QBIC chief executive Aysha al-Mudahka discussed with Crombe best practices and a potential collaboration between the EO Qatar chapter and QBIC.
Al-Mudahka said it was agreed after the tour that the QBIC will be hosting the next EO learning event.
“It is hard to think of many other incubators that combine a strong training programme with world-class facilities and numerous financing support options. QBIC has a very clear understanding of what entrepreneurs need when they are starting out and is already supporting an interesting mix of incubated companies that are set to add something new to the local market. I am very impressed by how Qatar is investing in its future business leaders,” Crombe said.
During the visit, Crombe was also accompanied by EO Qatar chapter president Patrick Forbes, who noted that “entrepreneurs in the country are benefiting greatly from generous government support.”
“Qatar Development Bank CEO and QBIC chairman Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa has built a strong support system for entrepreneurs that we appreciate and value. EO members are benefiting from these services and we hope that several of our member companies are able to be among the next QR100mn companies that QDB and QBIC are working hard to create,” Forbes added.
EO Qatar chapter vice president Abdulsalam Abu-Issa added, “EO Qatar is committed to the local eco-system and we believe that the EO model of member-to-member learning and support can be of value to startups and SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) that face a ‘David vs Goliath battle’ each day against major international and established companies.”
QBIC is the region’s “largest” business incubator facility and was founded as a non-governmental organisation by QDB and Social Development Centre (SDC).
Its flagship “LeanStartup Programme” provides hands-on learning experience to participants with the aim to stray away from the traditional business approach that requires aspiring entrepreneurs to carry out feasibility studies and business plans.
The programme requires applicants to rely on a customer validation technique that places customers “at the heart of services and products before being launched.”
Crombe, a businessman from Monterrey, Mexico, was elected to lead EO’s 10,000 business owners in 46 countries. His visit to Qatar was part of a world tour, which included countries in North America, Europe, Middle East, and Asia.
EO Qatar Chapter members are multinational, self-made, and successful businesspersons that meet a global minimum annual sales requirement of QR3.65mn.
