The RC Angels, a new initiative under the Roudha Centre and a first in Qatar to catalyse women investors in the region, held its inaugural meeting this week.
Roudha Centre (RC), focused on fueling the economy through entrepreneurship, is a one-stop shop for women entrepreneurs, innovators, and future leaders.
Chaired by Sheikha Hanadi Nasser bin Khaled al-Thani, RC has reached out to more than 6,000 local women through innovative workshops, lectures, and initiatives that focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership and impart confidence, skills, and ambition.
The RC Angels, will turn High Net Worth Individual (HNWIs) based in Qatar into savvy and socially motivated Angel Investors, who will help cultivate innovation, create jobs and wealth, and make the world a better place.
With the patronage of its founder and First Angel, Sheikha Hanadi, the RC Angels intends to help fill the vacuum of angel investors in the Middle East ecosystem and put Qatar on the map as the home of serious and seasoned investors.
RC Angels is managed and supported by proven local entrepreneurs, including the founders of Namshi.com and Doha-Delivery.com, and advised by established finance leaders from firms like Balthazar Capital.
Shareefa Fadhel, Roudha Centre co-founder and managing director, pointed out that financial backing is a challenge that many women face in Qatar when opening a business.
“The RC Angels will give them the funds they need to turn their dreams into a reality,” she explained.
During the first half of 2013, the RC Angels will be working to recruit additional HNWIs in Qatar through its network and planned recruiting events. In the fall, the first class of Angels will be brought onto an awareness and training programme. Angels will start investing from 2014, after they have received intensive training, mentoring, and advising.
Maher Hakim, associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, gave a presentation on Angel Investing.