QDB wraps up Business Incubation and Acceleration Demo Day

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) has wrapped up its 2024 Business Incubation and Acceleration Demo Day, with the participation of 14 startups that pitched their businesses to QDB partners, leading investors and experts.

The event was held in partnership with Ooredoo, Qatar Central Bank (QCB), Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), QAuto, and M7. Throughout demo day, entrepreneurs took turns showcasing their businesses, sharing their vision, and innovative products to investors. QDB also provided an interactive space for startups and investors to network and discuss future collaboration and investment prospects.

This year’s edition attracted startups from a variety of industries, ranging from fintech and sportstech to fashion design, supply chain management, and healthcare with founders showcasing innovative products to empower people with special needs among others. Startups demonstrated maturity in terms of product development and go-to-market plans and shared with the audience promising figures for revenue-generation and investment opportunities.

For the second consecutive year, the event brought together all QDB-affiliated incubators and business accelerators under one roof, garnering interest as the leading platform for startups and entrepreneurs to engage investors in Qatar.

QDB has been equipping startups with the necessary tools to succeed, offering technical and strategic training and providing access to investments and resources to help businesses develop and export their products, enabling them to compete on the local, regional and international levels.

Through such initiatives, QDB empowers startups to secure additional investments to accelerate their growth, which in turns attract new investors seeking to capitalise on their potential, ultimately contributing to Qatar’s economic growth and diversification.

This year’s edition of Demo Day featured the following startups: QPunch (qpunch.co), Ablelyf (ablelyf.com), Wafeeq (wafeeq.com), Juego Sportech (thejuego.com), artQart (www.artqart.com), SPOR (sporqatar.com), NavBuddy (navbuddy.qa), Appomatory (appomatory.com), ShipBee (shipbee.io), Samples Yard (samplesyard.com), Greenit (greenit.qa), PAY2M (pay2m.com), Alraie (alraie.com), and Ninth (ninth.qa).

Investors voted for the top startups across three categories with Wafeeq, a digital educational platform for the deaf and mute securing the ‘Best Presentation’ award, while PAY2M, which develops fintech solutions, won the ‘Outstanding Team Award’. Appomatory, the startup with a revolutionary programming platform, secured the ‘Innovative Product Award’.

Dr Hamad Salem Mejegheer, QDB executive director of Advisory and Incubation, said: “At Qatar Development Bank, we believe in the importance of Demo Day, which offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their creativity and innovation through ambitious projects.

“Demo Day serves as a distinguished platform that enables entrepreneurs to pitch to investors and leading figures in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, empowering them to access financing that propels their development and growth. The event also introduced investors to investment opportunities in innovative startups with a promising future.”

He added: “Over the past four years, Qatari startups have secured more than 150 million Qatari riyals from investment funds and angel investors, which reflects the growing interest in our startups on one hand, and their innovative nature on the other, contributing to Qatar’s economic diversification efforts.”

Qatar Development Bank will build on the annual event to further promote entrepreneurship and innovation in Qatar, collaborating with its partners to equip entrepreneurs with the necessary resources and expertise to deliver on their ambitions in an environment that celebrates entrepreneurship.