As many as 75 entrepreneurs representing a wide range of sectors participated in a forum titled "Role of Incubators & Accelerators in a Startup Journey", hosted on Tuesday by Startup Grind Doha.
The forum featured for the first time in Qatar two startup accelerators and two incubators in a panel discussion led by Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) Accelerators programme manager Mohamed Zebian, A/Digital Incubation Centre (DIC) manager Duha Ali al-Buhendi, Qatar Business Incubation Centre (QBIC) head of Incubation Majed Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, and Qatar SportsTech’s Heba al-Masri.
Founded in Silicon Valley, Startup Grind has helped millions of entrepreneurs build their businesses, connect with strategic partners, and secure funding. The Doha chapter of Startup Grind was the initiative of 360 Nautica founder and chairman Dr Tejinder Singh.
He said Startup Grind is the largest independent startup community that is actively educating, inspiring, and connecting more than 2mn entrepreneurs in over 600 chapters. It nurtures startup ecosystems in 125 countries through events, media, and partnerships with organisations like Google for Startups.
“The cornerstone of its global community is monthly events featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators, and investors who share lessons learned on the road to building great companies,” Singh pointed out.
Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the forum, Singh explained that Startup Grind Doha Chapter was officially launched during the 2019 edition of the "Qatar Information Technology and Communication Conference and Exhibition" (Qitcom).
“The objective of Startup Grind Doha Chapter is to create a world-class networking platform for startups in Qatar,” he noted.
As a serial entrepreneur and investor, Singh said he stepped up to the challenge of being the chapter director of Startup Grind Doha “to make a bigger impact” on Qatar’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Singh stressed that Startup Grind Doha will be hosting similar events every month to create a platform for the startup community in Qatar, as well as to engage and build collaborations.
“In the coming months, Startup Grind Doha will feature angel investors, and venture capital organisations, as well as local and regional startups who have reached ‘Series A’ and beyond stages,” Singh added.
