Ooredoo chief operating officer Waleed Mohamed al-Sayed and QBIC chief executive officer Aysha al-Mudahka shake hands after signing the agreement for the  “Digital and Beyond” incubator. Looking on are (from left) Ooredoo Qatar CEO Sheikh Saud bin Nasser al-Thani and QDB chief executive officer Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa. PICTURE: Thajudheen

By Peter Alagos
Business Reporter

Young entrepreneurs now have the opportunity to turn start-up ideas into viable business models through the “Digital and Beyond” incubator, a partnership launched yesterday between Ooredoo and Qatar Business Incubation Centre (QBIC).
Ooredoo and QBIC also launched the “First Incubation Contest,” an open competition for young entrepreneurs, who have creative ideas for a new digital product or service.
QBIC chief executive officer Aysha al-Mudahka said both the Ooredoo and QBIC websites are now accepting innovative concepts that could be submitted online. “The selected ideas will receive the support of mentors and business experts, and also access to testing and ‘trialling’ infrastructure, before the winning entries move on to full incubation at the ‘Digital and Beyond’ zone,” al-Mudahka explained.
Al-Mudahka said the 251sqm “Digital and Beyond” incubator, which will be located inside QBIC premises, encourages the creation of a new range of start-ups and technology-focused businesses.
She noted that Ooredoo and QBIC will also support a number of potential start-ups in QBIC’s LeanStartup Programme. “Unlike the fourth wave of the current LeanStartup Programme, which is being conducted for the first time in Arabic, the ‘Digital and Beyond’ incubator will be delivered in English,” al-Mudahka told Gulf Times on the sidelines of the event.
Al-Mudahka said the partnership will include coaching, mentorship, and a wide range of support services. QBIC will also provide connections to its key partners and affiliates, such as Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and the Social Development Centre (SDC) for financing support.
Ooredoo chief operating officer Waleed Mohamed al-Sayed said the partnership will enable Ooredoo to contribute to Qatar’s development by supporting economic diversification, new business creation, and encouraging entrepreneurship.
He pointed out that the incubator will also reduce the time to market new digital products and services in Qatar, and open new business opportunities for Ooredoo in adjacent markets.
Al-Sayed explained that Ooredoo will create a committee that will evaluate and select “disruptive ideas in the digital space,” and provide seed-funding for aspiring entrepreneurs.
“The first wave of ideas to be assessed will include innovative digital ideas focusing on customer experience, healthcare, education, sport, smart living and other areas,” al-Sayed said.
Ooredoo Qatar CEO Sheikh Saud bin Nasser al-Thani said he is optimistic that the incubator could play a central role in the creation of Qatar’s very own Silicon Valley of start-ups and developers.
“Ooredoo is making every effort to ensure that Qatar achieves its vision of being a truly smart society, driven by innovation and the ambitions of our younger generation… and enabling young Qataris to propel their ideas for new businesses to a global audience,” Sheikh Saud said.
QDB chief executive officer Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa said: “An entrepreneurial ecosystem is taking place in Qatar, and Ooredoo, along with QDD, SDC, the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), and other institutions have an important role to make this ecosystem functional.
“The QBIC is a cornerstone in that ecosystem, which is already supporting the small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) sector and Qatari entrepreneurs to ensure that they can convert their ideas into projects that can actually add value to the economy.”