From ideas into actions: 'Start-up Weekend' to empower youth
The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and thriving in Oman as the global innovation event 'Start-up Weekend' kicks off this weekend at Al Khabourah Vocational College. This internationally renowned competition, licensed by the US-based organisation Techstars, is held under the supervision of the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED) for three days.
Yahya bin Ibrahim al Niyadi, Director of Al Khabourah Vocational College, emphasised the importance of the event, saying: 'Hosting Start-up Weekend reflects our commitment to fostering a culture of innovation among students. It's inspiring to see so many young talents working together to create solutions that could shape Oman's future economy. This can be a major step in the entrepreneurial and innovation fields to encourage our youth to show their ideas turning into real projects and meeting expertises.'
Start-up Weekend is no ordinary event, it's an intense, hands-on experience that gathers entrepreneurs, developers, designers and marketers under one roof to transform raw ideas into real start-up concepts.
The participants form teams, develop prototypes and pitch their final projects to a panel of expert judges and all within one weekend. With the theme of 'Innovate, Build, Launch', this year's edition in Oman features the participation of 70 students from leading educational institutions, including Sultan Qaboos University, the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Nizwa University, the University of Buraimi, A'Sharqiyah University, Oman College of Health Sciences, and vocational colleges from Suhar, Shinas, Al Seeb, Sur and Al Khabourah.
The projects span across vital sectors such as technology, industry, healthcare, sustainability, agriculture, finance, sports and mobile applications, showcasing the depth and diversity of youth-driven innovation in Oman.
The competition will be in four phases: idea pitching, team formation, project development with expert mentorship and final presentations. It not only promotes a strong culture of entrepreneurship, but also builds lasting connections between students and real-world investors, developers and start-up coaches.
As the final day approaches, anticipation grows for the pitch session, where the most promising start-ups will be recognised – not just with prizes, but with the opportunity to move from prototype to product, from dream to enterprise.
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