Qatar Business Incubation Center (QBIC)- owned by Qatar Development Bank (QDB)- launched their 12^th wave of the LeanStartup Program on February 17^th, 2019.

QBIC’s LeanStartup Program (LSP) is the most successful of its kind within the MENA region, attracting hundreds of applications per wave, with over 420 graduates to date. More than 800 applications were submitted for the 12^th edition of the program, which were thoroughly vetted, and 60 startups were selected to take part in the program, represented by the most promising entrepreneurs in Qatar.

The program focuses on empowering entrepreneurs and providing them with the tools, hands-on experience and know-how to successfully bring their business ideas to life, which is at the core of QBIC’s mission of developing Qatar’s next QAR 100 million companies.

Mr. Hamad Bin Dashin Al-Qahtani, General Manager of QBIC commented; “I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the new wave of LSP entrepreneurs. QBIC has had an incredible five years helping over 160 startups come to life and the energy this wave radiates is something special; we’re all looking forward to the ideas that’ll be developed over the coming weeks as the next big Qatari success story is quite possibly amongst this cohort”.

He continued; “With our efforts and QDB’s guidance in developing Qatar’s next generation of successful entrepreneurs, QBIC has contributed to Qatar’s Entrepreneurship Index Ranking- putting Qatar in 1^st place within the GCC region and 22^nd place globally- and we can’t be any more proud”

By leveraging the “lean-startup” methodology during the LSP 12 program, Qatar’s aspiring startups will work on developing and transforming their ideas into viable startups, with significant emphasis on “customer validation”. At the end of the 10-week program, participating entrepreneurs will get a chance to earn incubation (smart funding, office space & coaching) by pitching their refined business ideas to a judging panel during Demo Day, which is set to take place on May 1.