Qatar SportsTech (QST), a leading startup accelerator and hub for innovative sports tech companies, has announced the completion of the third cohort of its accelerator programme.
QST’s intensive three-month accelerator programme supported 10 innovative startups in accelerating their growth to further develop their solutions in the industry, in line with QST’s vision to be a catalyst for reshaping sports technology in the region and beyond.
The selected startups had the opportunity to engage in specialised workshops hosted by international experts and one-on-one mentoring sessions with more than 100 industry specialists and partners, as well as receive mentor support from world-class professionals and global leaders in sports tech.
During the programme, the accelerated startups also had the opportunity to work closely with key players driving Qatar’s sports and entrepreneurial ecosystems, including QST’s founding partner, Qatar Development Bank (QDB), as well as strategic partners like Startupbootcamp (SBC), Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), Qatar Stars League (QSL), beIN Media Group (beIN), MBK Holding, Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), Aspire Zone Foundation (Aspire), and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoCI)
To wrap up the third cohort, QST will hold the final Demo Day on December 14 where all 10 startups will showcase their innovations to QST’s partners and global mentor and investor network.
This cohort’s groundbreaking innovations cover “the most disruptive technologies,” including coach-player wireless communication, drone and AI-based remote health monitoring, virtual reality fitness gaming platforms, gym and fitness activities tracking, broadcasting platforms and mobile apps for fan engagement, and developing and managing e-sports talents amongst many others.
Demo Day will be streamed live for QST’s global mentor network and wider sports tech community to watch online; the pitches will be available on QST’s Demo Day website for potential investors to connect with the startups.
After Demo Day, QST will continue supporting each company’s growth with targeted connections, hands-on commercial and fundraising support, in addition to events that bring together a wealth of Startupbootcamp alumni companies worldwide.
Ibrahim Abdulaziz al-Mannai, executive director of Advisory and Incubation at QDB, said: “QST’s third cohort will play a vital role in supporting Qatar on its path to positioning itself as a leading sports hub globally. Innovative sports tech startups that are bold enough to make a difference will reap significant benefits from QST’s accelerator programme, including access to a global network of investors, as well as many incentives to register their company with 100 percent foreign ownership in Qatar.”
QST managing director Heba Qadri Almasri said: “Despite these unprecedented times and the current challenges faced globally, we are proud of this cohort’s determination and dedication, as well as the high calibre of innovations they presented.
“With support from our esteemed partners and dedicated mentors, QST has successfully accelerated a new batch of sports tech talents, to join a myriad of other startups who have already started registering growth and increasing their revenues in Qatar”.
Collectively, the third cohort have raised nearly $6mn in funds and are currently in late stage talks with QST’s myriad of local partners to run pilot tests and test their technologies. The pioneers will join another 20 alumni from QST’s accelerator programme who have already raised major investments and worked with international brands and organisations to accelerate their growth.
