Invest Qatar showcases startup ecosystem at Web Summit Vancouver
Doha
Invest Qatar, the Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar,marked its successful participation in the inaugural Web Summit Vancouver, held from 27 to 30 May. The event showcased Qatar's welcoming and dynamic startup ecosystem through the 'Startup Qatar' pavilion, which attracted significant attention from attendees and industry leaders.
The 'Startup Qatar' pavilion, a collaborative effort between Invest Qatar and key ecosystem partners including Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), Qatar Development Bank (QDB), Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), and Qatar Research Development and Innovation Council (QRDI) highlighted the exclusive advantages and extensive opportunities available to startups and entrepreneurs looking to establish and expand their ventures in Qatar.
Throughout the four-day summit, the pavilion facilitated connections between attendees and key stakeholders in Qatar's startup and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
It emphasised the country's thriving business environment, multi-sectoral opportunities, and tailored benefits designed to empower ambitious startups and support their long-term growth.
Senior representatives from the Qatar delegation actively engaged in panel discussions and networking sessions, highlighting the country's progress in driving innovation and technological advancement.
Hamad Al-Naimi, Strategy Manager at Invest Qatar, participated in a panel discussiontitled 'From Seed to Scale: Catalysing Startup Growth in Emerging Tech Hubs' alongside António Dias Martins, CEO of Startup Portugal.
During the discussion, Al-Naimi shared valuable insights into the policies and initiatives Qatar is pursuing to strengthen its position as a dynamic hub for innovation and startups.
He also highlighted Qatar's recently launched $1 billion incentives programme, aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability and global competitiveness of startups and fintech companies. The programme focuses on key sectors, including technology, with targeted support for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity and data-driven innovation, to foster a robust digital economy and attract high-impact investments.
The participation at Web Summit Vancouver builds on the significant interest and record success of the 'Startup Qatar' initiative during previous international tech events. The initiative, launched ahead of the inaugural Web Summit Qatar, has recorded over 450 business registrations facilitated by QFC and received more than 4,000 applications for the 'Startup Qatar Investment Programme' by QDB.
This programme offers funding of up to $500,000 for seed-stage and up to $5 million for growth-stage companies.
To date, the programme has awarded $23.5M in funding to 19 startups from across the world, including Italy, Oman, Singapore, the U.K., the U.S. and Turkey. These startups benefit from funding, mentorship and other support services in Qatar's innovation-driven ecosystem.The 'Startup Qatar' initiative is designed to support startups at every stage of their journey.
It provides an innovative one-stop online platform (startupqatar.qa), catering to all business requirements and enabling them to access Qatar's extensive network of support services, opportunities, funding, incubation programmes, government grants, networking events and various other resources.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
6 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
QFC partners with ILO, HBKU to launch skills study in financial sector
Tribune News Network Doha The Employment Standards Office of the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), a leading onshore financial and business centre in the region, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) – Doha Office and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), conducted a skills study in the financial sector. After study they havelaunched a landmark policy brief titled 'Identifying Skills Needs in Qatar's Financial Sector – A QFC Perspective for Policymakers'. The brief was published on a globally recognised ILO platform, underscoring Qatar's commitment to future-ready workforce planning and inclusive labour policy. The policy brief offers data-driven insights into the current and emerging skills most in demand across QFC-licensed firms, covering areas such as digital finance, risk analysis, regulatory compliance, ESG awareness, data literacy, and human capital leadership. It also serves as a practical guide for policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders to align talent development strategies with the country's economic diversification goals and national workforce agenda. The brief reflects the Employment Standards Office's broader mandate to promote transparent and fair labour practices and a human-centred approach to enhancing business performance and productivity, in line with the Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030, the Third National Development Strategy, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and the 'Social' element of the Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) metrics. By promoting and monitoring regulatory compliance, the Employment Standards Office ensures that employment standards and policies not only uphold the rights of individuals but also strengthen the integrity of the QFC ecosystem. Emphasising QFC's ongoing commitment to advancing Qatar's long-term development goals, QFC CEO Yousuf Mohamed Al Jaida said, 'Multi-stakeholder collaborations are critical in designing workforce policies that not only support Qatar's economic ambitions but also advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. By drawing on diverse perspectives and expertise, we can build more inclusive and resilient markets that deliver long-term value to both people and the economy.' QFC Commissioner of the Employment Standards Office Luigia Ingianni said, 'This study particularly reinforces our dedication to promoting and achieving SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 17 (partnership for the goals), and highlights the benefits of a collaborative approach to creating inclusive and sustainable employment practices in the financial sector.' Reflecting on the evolving role of the Employment Standards Office in supporting the State of Qatar in pursuing the Third National Development Strategy and its 'Future-Ready Workforce' objective, Maha Tawfik, Head of Monitoring and Labour Affairs at Employment Standards Office, QFC, remarked: 'Our responsibility is to ensure regulatory frameworks are informed by comprehensive and robust data, enabling targeted interventions that cultivate a resilient, adaptive, and inclusive financial sector workforce. For this reason, we have established the Labour Market Information System to collect and analyse labour market data and trends and define policies to address the gaps and make the workforce ready for the future of work. This alignment with both national priorities and international labour standards is essential to fostering sustainable growth and equitable opportunities in Qatar's fast-evolving economic landscape.' Since its establishment in 2015, the Employment Standards Office has championed ethical employment practices and regulatory excellence. The launch of this study and the subsequent publication of the policy brief mark a new phase in the Employment Standards Office's impact – supporting a resilient, inclusive, and future-focused workforce.
Qatar Tribune
7 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
QFC report outlines roadmap for real-world asset tokenisation
Tribune News Network Doha The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), one of the region's premier financial and business hubs, has released a landmark report on the future of digital assets, emphasising the urgent need for coordinated, forward-looking regulatory frameworks and collective stakeholder action to unlock the transformative potential of real-world asset tokenisation. The report, produced in collaboration with Global Stratalogues and the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC), captures the insights and consensus reached during the inaugural Digital Assets Policy Roundtable hosted in Doha. With participation from international thought leaders, financial experts, regulators, and innovators, the discussions revealed that tokenisation—when embedded in a coherent policy ecosystem—can significantly expand market access, strengthen financial inclusion, and create measurable value across economies. One of the central themes of the report is that while global regulatory alignment on digital assets is emerging, it remains inconsistent and fragmented across jurisdictions. Legal definitions, compliance requirements, and supervisory approaches differ substantially, creating hurdles for market participants aiming to operate across borders. This lack of harmonisation risks slowing the growth of tokenisation, particularly for institutions that rely on clear regulatory certainty to build trust and scale innovation. The findings urge policymakers to focus on pragmatism rather than perfection. Tokenisation, as a rapidly developing field, is still in its formative stage. Experts stressed that regulatory and industry priorities should be directed toward building resilient infrastructure and ensuring interoperability among systems, rather than attempting to craft ideal but impractical frameworks. By adopting a phased and pragmatic approach, stakeholders can create conditions for gradual yet steady progress. Another critical dimension highlighted in the report is the role of tokenisation in enhancing financial inclusion. Tokenised structures are already unlocking capital for underserved regions and micro-enterprises that have traditionally faced barriers to finance. By digitising real-world assets, financial institutions can create new instruments that allow smaller investors and enterprises to access markets once dominated by large institutions. The discussions further pointed to examples of best practices. Liechtenstein, for instance, was praised for its pioneering civil law definition of tokens, which provides a level of legal certainty unmatched in many other jurisdictions. Similarly, Qatar's regulatory sandbox was singled out as a global model for enabling experimentation and innovation within a secure and supervised environment. Such institutional sandboxes, combined with global standards, are seen as vital stepping stones toward the creation of inclusive and interoperable token ecosystems. QFC Chief Executive Officer Yousuf Mohamed Al Jaida emphasised the importance of building strong foundations for the tokenisation journey. 'Tokenisation can unlock real value by making assets more accessible and easier to transfer. To realise this potential, we need a clear system that combines robust regulation, secure custody, and practical application. This will create a trusted environment that enables institutional adoption and drives sustainable market growth,' he said. Echoing this vision, QFC Chief Financial Sector Officer Henk J Hoogendoorn highlighted that tokenisation must be anchored in tangible outcomes. 'Tokenisation must serve a purpose. It should democratise access and create real-world value. Qatar is committed to making tokenisation of real-world assets a success,' he noted. The report goes beyond theoretical frameworks, offering regulators, financial institutions, and innovators a practical roadmap for building future-ready digital asset ecosystems. It calls for legal clarity, interoperability, and cross-border relevance as guiding principles. By embedding tokenisation into inclusive regulatory frameworks and strengthening collaboration between governments, regulators, and the private sector, the groundwork can be laid for sustainable growth in this emerging field. Qatar's proactive stance positions it as a thought leader in the Middle East's digital asset ecosystem. By aligning its regulatory and institutional capabilities with global best practices, the country is setting itself up as a hub for innovation in financial technology and tokenised asset markets. The QFC's role in steering these conversations through international partnerships reinforces Qatar's ambition to become a global player in shaping the digital financial future. As tokenisation gains traction worldwide, its promise lies not only in reshaping capital markets but also in redefining access to economic opportunity. By lowering barriers and creating transparent, efficient systems, tokenisation can extend the reach of financial services to millions who remain outside formal systems today. For advanced markets, it offers new instruments for liquidity and efficiency, while for developing regions it represents a chance to leapfrog traditional limitations. Freely accessible, the report offers valuable guidance to stakeholders across the financial spectrum, signalling Qatar's determination to play a central role in advancing the digital asset revolution.
Qatar Tribune
30-07-2025
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar, Saudi discuss boosting transport and shipping ties
Tribune News Network Doha The Qatar Chamber participated in the Qatari-Saudi workshop on the transport, shipping, and maritime sector, held in Riyadh on Wednesday. The Qatari delegation was headed by Eng. Ali bin Abdul Latif Al-Misnad, Board Member and Chairman of the Services Committee and the Qatari Committee for Shipping and Supply. The delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, The Permanent Committee for the Management of Seaports at the Ministry of Interior, the General Authority of Customs, Mwani Qatar, Milaha, QTerminals, and Gulf Warehousing Saudi side was headed by Hamad Al-Shuwaier, Head of the Saudi side of the Qatari-Saudi Joint Business Council. The workshop discussed bilateral cooperation in the transport and shipping sector and ways to develop and enhance it, encouraging Saudi companies to take advantage of the benefits offered by Hamad Port in maritime shipping. Presentations were delivered during the workshop by Milaha, GWC, and Mwani Ali bin Abdul Latif Al-Misnad stated that the private sector in both countries is a key pillar for strengthening cooperation, expanding partnerships, and building a more integrated and prosperous economic future. He noted that there are broad areas of cooperation in transport, shipping, and maritime services, especially in light of the advanced facilities and high-quality services provided by the State of Qatar particularly in transit (transshipment) operations through Hamad Port, one of the most modern and significant ports in the region in terms of infrastructure, efficiency, and speed of operations. Al-Misnad called on Saudi companies to capitalize on the facilities and services offered by the State to support shipping and logistics operations, which will enhance the smooth flow of goods and expand access to regional and international markets through an advanced and secure logistics gateway. He pointed out that shipping from Hamad Port to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia takes no more than five hours. He affirmed Qatar Chamber's commitment to enhancing direct cooperation between Qatari and Saudi companies in this vital sector, calling for the establishment of strategic partnerships that contribute to developing joint services and open new horizons for Gulf integration in the shipping and transport sector.
