Tech entrepreneurship is challenging but crucial to building a sustainable community

Doha: Tech entrepreneurship is a very challenging field, and requires persistence and determination to win over investors as well as customers and end-users, according to Yosouf Al-Salehi, Executive Director of Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), part of Qatar Foundation Research, Development & Innovation (QF RDI).

Al-Salehi was speaking at the fourth edition of Najah Qatari, an annual event focused on championing Qatar’s local entrepreneurial talent, and celebrating the stories of those individuals and businesses at the forefront of the country’s business landscape. Held at Qatar National Convention Center, panelists included key players in the market such as President of Kahramaa, His Excellency Eng. Essa bin Hilal Al Kuwari and President of Ashghal Works Authority, His Excellency Dr. Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi, among other high-ranking officials.

Highlighting that entrepreneurship is not only about forming a great business idea or developing prototypes in a lab, Al-Salehi said: “One needs to identify the target audience and understand customers’ needs for the product or service to fulfill those needs. Those in technology have chosen to be in a difficult, but one of the most rewarding sectors. Entrepreneurship in this sector is very challenging, but it is a crucial part in building a sustainable community.”

In the panel ‘Decision Makers’, moderated by media presenter Khalid Al Jumaily, Al-Salehi emphasized the importance of aiming Qatar’s applied research, technology development and entrepreneurial efforts towards addressing the national priorities and challenges, accelerating Qatar’s economic diversification and generating global impact.

Al Salehi also encouraged the young Qatari community to stay determined and seek the right support: “We have seen a large number of entrepreneurs give up on their ideas and passions even though they were so close to success, so we at QSTP encourage all tech entrepreneurs to approach us and take advantage of our various programs and platforms that are geared to making their journey of tech entrepreneurship a success.

“We at QSTP also recognize the importance of building access for local tech entrepreneurs to large public and private sector enterprises to facilitate testing or piloting of innovative tech products and services being developed here in Qatar. This bridge will undoubtedly provide a huge boost to Qatar’s RDI ecosystem, while enhancing national resilience and contributing to economic diversification and prosperity.”

At its booth in the exhibition hall, QSTP spokespeople and entrepreneurs who have received support, including AlHasan AlSammarraie, Abdulrahman Khamis and Abdulla Al Khenji, showcased the organization’s dedicated efforts in boosting Qatar’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through business acceleration, incubation, and impactful investment programs.

QSTP supports local startups and entrepreneurs via a range of programs and initiatives, including its Product Development Fund (PDF), Incubation and Stars of Science (SoS) programs.

PDF is a cost sharing fund wherein QSTP provides up to 50% of the total budget as a grant to encourage local startups and SMEs in the private sector to develop products and services relevant to local market needs, promoting new high-tech products and services.

AlSammarraie is the Founding Managing Partner at Applab, a startup that created ‘Hasanat’ (Social Charity) through the help of QSTP’s PDF. Hasanat is an online platform for charity donations and campaigning that is unique in its field, enabling users to donate to and campaign for their favorite organization or project anywhere in the world. Users can also track their donations and receive direct notifications on how their money is supporting a particular cause.

Khamis is the founder of Thakaa Technologies, an Internet of Things (IoT) hardware startup specializing in the design and manufacturing of smart and innovative hardware-based product. Part of QSTP’s SoS program, Thakaa Technologies and was later awarded the PDF, which helped build one of its first products, ‘Sajdah’, an award-winning smart educational prayer rug that teaches new Muslims and children the second most important pillar in Islam.

Al Khenji is the co-founder of Hapondo, a successful property rental platform that is user-friendly and allows customers to find available, high-quality real estate within Qatar in a simpler, cheaper, and more convenient way. Hapondo is not only a recipient of PDF, but is also currently incubated at QSTP.

Visitors to the booth also interacted with representatives of QF RDI’s Industry Development and Knowledge Transfer (IDKT) office, highlighting the successful Al Khabeer program that provides Intellectual Property (IP) expertise and technical assistance services to local entrepreneurs and inventors. The unique Innovation Coupon, a grant that helps Qatari entrepreneurs and Qatar-based startups scale their ideas, was also spotlighted for guests.

Al-Salehi said: “Through our participation at the Najah Qatari event, we aim to continue delivering on one of our key priorities, which is to build a mindset for innovation and tech entrepreneurship to augment Qatar’s local capacity, facilitate pathways to commercialization, and encourage high-potential tech businesses to scale”.

For more information on QSTP programs, please visit qstp.org.qa   

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Qatar Science & Technology Park

Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), part of Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation (QF RDI), is a Free Zone, accelerator and incubator for tech-product development in Qatar. The Park fosters an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Qatar that works to accelerate commercialization of market-ready technologies to realize Qatar’s national diversification drive.

QSTP’s focus ranges across four overarching themes, comprising Energy, Environment, Health Sciences and Information & Communication Technologies (ICT), in line with the Qatar National Research Strategy announced in 2012.

Located in Qatar Foundation's Education City, QSTP has access to the vital resources of a cluster of leading research universities. Members of QSTP’s Free Zone include Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), international corporations and research institutions. They are collectively committed to investing in new technology development programs, creating intellectual property, enhancing technology management skills and developing innovative new products.

QSTP supports QF RDI’s economic and human development objectives for Qatar and is increasingly recognized as an international hub for applied research, innovation, incubation, and entrepreneurship.

For more information, please visit the QSTP website at www.qstp.org.qa 

Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation (QF RDI)

The Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation (QF RDI) division’s role is to play an integral part in identifying and addressing challenges and opportunities across ICT, energy, environment and healthcare, in alignment with Qatar’s national RDI strategy and priorities. QF RDI is at the forefront of Qatar’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, accelerating economic development through supporting the commercialization of market-ready technologies and facilitating the creation of new high-tech products and services.

QF RDI is responsible for translating Qatar’s national RDI strategy into specific initiatives and actions for Qatar Foundation’s (QF) RDI entities. It also directs their efforts in relation to economic value creation, knowledge transfer and the establishment of mutually beneficial national and international RDI partnerships. To ensure these efforts deliver maximum impact, the QF Vice President for Research, Development and Innovation plans, coordinates and oversees all RDI-related activities across QF.

Qatar Foundation – Unlocking Human Potential

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) is a non-profit organization that supports Qatar on its journey to becoming a diversified and sustainable economy. QF strives to serve the people of Qatar and beyond by providing specialized programs across its innovation-focused ecosystem of education, research and development and community development.

QF was founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Amir, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, who shared the vision to provide Qatar with quality education. Today, QF’s world-class education system offers lifelong learning opportunities to community members as young as six months through to doctoral level, enabling graduates to thrive in a global environment and contribute to the nation’s development.

QF is also creating a multidisciplinary innovation hub in Qatar, where homegrown researchers are working to address local and global challenges. By promoting a culture of lifelong learning and fostering social engagement through programs that embody Qatari culture, QF is committed to empowering the local community and contributing to a better world for all.

For a complete list of QF’s initiatives and projects, please visit: www.qf.org.qa 

For any media inquiries, please contact: pressoffice@qf.org.qa 

© Press Release 2021