QBIC lists 15 projects for ‘incubation and support’

People behind the 15 chosen projects pose with QBIC officials.

Some 15 projects chosen to be ‘incubated’ and receive support were announced by Qatar Business Incubation Centre (QBIC) yesterday.

This follows recent presentations by entrepreneurs at the recent LeanStartup event.

QBIC will now provide the entrepreneurs with a range of globally-benchmarked services, designed in partnership with leading experts, to help their projects become fully viable. These include office space and industrial workshops, as well as administrative, technical and financial assistance.

QBIC chairman and Qatar Development Bank CEO Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa praised the entrepreneurs’ efforts and said, “All of the projects won today. We will offer 11 start-up projects with incubation services and office space for two years in addition to an initial conditional seed-funding worth QR100,000 while four scale-up projects will be offered our services for two years in addition to potential funding opportunities.

“We are proud of the high level of projects and ideas presented, which reflect their ambition to play an active part in the nation’s economic diversification and journey towards a knowledge-based economy.

“I urge all budding entrepreneurs to pursue what they love with passion - we exist to help you achieve your goal in any way we can. QBIC focuses on turning challenges into opportunities – we want to see more commercial success stories.”

The ‘Incubator’ is part of a wider government push to support and encourage Qatari entrepreneurs to build and grow businesses. QBIC was founded by two of Qatar’s leading institutions supporting local entrepreneurship: Qatar Development Bank and the Social Development Center.

Its goal is to “develop the next QR100mn companies and success stories” in Qatar.

Besides al-Khalifa, the panel of judges included, Prof Nitham al-Hindi, dean, Business and Economics College at Qatar University; Hamad al-Kubaisi, executive director (strategy & business development) at QDB; Munther al-Dawood, manager (projects & investments), Social Development Centre; Raed al-Emadi, chief operating officer and Deputy CEO, Silatech; and Saleh al-Khulaifi, head (business development) at QDB.

The chosen projects are:

• Barkom, a mobile application which assists consumers’ purchasing decisions.

• MoneyBuzz Mobile Payments Solution, which will facilitate secure, fast and convenient mobile payments.

• AR Next, mixing playing Tarneeb via phones with augmented reality to create a new entertainment experience.

• Embrace Qatar, a cultural consulting centre offering a comprehensive range of services for newcomers.

• LEBES, which produces modest formal and semi-formal clothing for Muslim women.

• Shaikha Produce, 100% natural luxurious perfumes that are formulated with sacred geometry principles.

• Qatar Golf Ladies build customised mini-golf fields in malls and other public spaces.

• Khaliji Startups is a first-of its-kind free portal to bring co-founders and entrepreneurs together.

• Mada Innovation is developing software to provide services such as ERP, and synchronisation with Microsoft, Google and other major platforms.

• E Grab, an online portal that helps shoppers pick up shopping for others.

• Q-CAB Transportation utilises new technology to enable customers to order taxi services using mobile applications and social media.

• The first Qatari social media company offers community and campaign consultation and management.

•l Nanotechnology that allows event registrants to register without queuing and helps event managers to improve crowd management.

• Oryx lifestyle, which will produce sports cloth in Qatar which meets international standards such as that of the German Bundesliga.

• Seero Engineering Consulting, a professional engineering firm that provides design and consultancy services in the transportation sector.