The fintechs' rapid development in Doha is promising to enable the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) to facilitate retail investment in debt securities, wherein individual investors will soon be able to trade in small lots.
"Instimatch Global, a fintech startup that recently established operations in the Qatar Financial Center (QFC), is planning to introduce a solution that breaks down bond tranches to sizes that can be traded by retail investors," said a joint report of the QFC and Refinitiv on Qatar's Capital Market.
The report said incorporating fintech solutions in the development of the QSE’s trading infrastructure would improve investor access to the market, as well as enhance the transparency and cost-efficiency of issuing and trading equity and debt securities.
The incorporation of block-chain, or distributed ledger technology, within Qatar’s capital markets infrastructure would result in more streamlined, efficient and cost-effective trading, clearing and settlement processes on the QSE.
However, to reap the full benefit of this technology, market participants would need to start investing in block-chain and work with the Qatar Financial Market Authority (QFMA), the QSE and other institutions to design block-chain solutions specific to different asset classes.
Besides, various market stakeholders would need to adapt their internal systems to incorporate block-chain in their trading systems, as well as make necessary changes to their post-trade activities and processes, the report said.
The QFC is home to an emerging venture capital and angel investment sector, with key players keen on funding fintech and technology startups in Qatar.
"Looking forward, Qatar’s economic diversification strategy, which includes a focus on fintech, finance, logistics and manufacturing and PPs (public private partnerships), present unique opportunities for the investment community,” said Sheikh Hamad al-Thani, senior vice president (Investment and Treasury), Qatar Insurance Company.
The Qatar Development Bank (QDB) has already unveiled its fintech accelerator in 2020, in collaboration with local and international partners, with the aim of providing financial backing for fintech companies in Qatar.
These partners include eight funds: Romulus Fund, ERA Fund Accelerator, Alchemist Accelerator, Iris Next Capital Fund and SpeedInvest Fund through its direct investment programme to help Qatari companies grow outside Qatar.
The fintech accelerator is expected to benefit from a $100mn fund-of-funds, previously established by QDB to support companies, funds, and partner funds in developing Qatar’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.
More than $60mn from the fund-of-funds has been committed to more than 30 Qatari startups and seven venture capital firms since its inception in 2018.
Qatar has also encouraged angel investing through the QFC, which hosts Doha Tech Angels (DTA) — Qatar’s first private angel fund launched in 2018. It focuses on providing seed funding for early-stage technology startups in Qatar and the rest of the world.
The fund comprises a private network of 15 investors that includes seasoned angel investors, strategy consultants, and C-level executives. DTA has invested in 10 companies, with 30% of the fund invested in Qatar, while the remainder is invested in foreign markets like the US, Singapore, Oman, and elsewhere.
The report said incorporating fintech solutions in the development of the QSE’s trading infrastructure would improve investor access to the market, as well as enhance the transparency and cost-efficiency of issuing and trading equity and debt securities.
The incorporation of block-chain, or distributed ledger technology, within Qatar’s capital markets infrastructure would result in more streamlined, efficient and cost-effective trading, clearing and settlement processes on the QSE.
However, to reap the full benefit of this technology, market participants would need to start investing in block-chain and work with the Qatar Financial Market Authority (QFMA), the QSE and other institutions to design block-chain solutions specific to different asset classes.
Besides, various market stakeholders would need to adapt their internal systems to incorporate block-chain in their trading systems, as well as make necessary changes to their post-trade activities and processes, the report said.
The QFC is home to an emerging venture capital and angel investment sector, with key players keen on funding fintech and technology startups in Qatar.
"Looking forward, Qatar’s economic diversification strategy, which includes a focus on fintech, finance, logistics and manufacturing and PPs (public private partnerships), present unique opportunities for the investment community,” said Sheikh Hamad al-Thani, senior vice president (Investment and Treasury), Qatar Insurance Company.
The Qatar Development Bank (QDB) has already unveiled its fintech accelerator in 2020, in collaboration with local and international partners, with the aim of providing financial backing for fintech companies in Qatar.
These partners include eight funds: Romulus Fund, ERA Fund Accelerator, Alchemist Accelerator, Iris Next Capital Fund and SpeedInvest Fund through its direct investment programme to help Qatari companies grow outside Qatar.
The fintech accelerator is expected to benefit from a $100mn fund-of-funds, previously established by QDB to support companies, funds, and partner funds in developing Qatar’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.
More than $60mn from the fund-of-funds has been committed to more than 30 Qatari startups and seven venture capital firms since its inception in 2018.
Qatar has also encouraged angel investing through the QFC, which hosts Doha Tech Angels (DTA) — Qatar’s first private angel fund launched in 2018. It focuses on providing seed funding for early-stage technology startups in Qatar and the rest of the world.
The fund comprises a private network of 15 investors that includes seasoned angel investors, strategy consultants, and C-level executives. DTA has invested in 10 companies, with 30% of the fund invested in Qatar, while the remainder is invested in foreign markets like the US, Singapore, Oman, and elsewhere.
