Latest news with #StartUpBahrainPitch
Daily Tribune
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Bahraini startups tackle global business gaps
TDT | Manama Bahraini startups take on global gaps. Startups born in Bahrain are emerging as bold solution-makers for international markets, addressing challenges from small business logistics to travel finance and digital investment platforms. The latest edition of the 'StartUp Bahrain Pitch' competition spotlighted this momentum, with top honours going to homegrown ventures that blend innovation with impact. Backed by the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) and held in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Bahrain Economic Development Board, and Bahrain Development Bank, the event brought together high-potential founders, seasoned investors, and ecosystem champions under one roof. Tech-first solutions This year's winners reflect Bahrain's sharpened edge in innovation. First-place went to Tammam, an AI-powered app that streamlines order management for small operators in the food, retail, and beauty sectors. Second-place was awarded to BizBay, a digital marketplace that connects buyers, sellers, and investors, simplifies exits and safeguards business continuity through a single platform. Also in the spotlight were Rentat, a proptech platform for rent automation and landlord-tenant management, and Safer, a travel-focused fintech offering a secure 'Buy Now, Pay Later' service for trip bookings. Support drives success The judging panel featured a blend of regional and international voices, including Fatma Sultan Bahwan, CCO of AlJabr MENA; Sam Marchant, Partner at Inaugural; Karim Konsowa, Portfolio Manager at Hub71; and Laith Al-Khalili, Associate Director at Mumtalakat. Speaking on behalf of Tammam, Noor Alderazi said: 'Winning first place is a great honour. StartUp Bahrain Pitch gave us a valuable opportunity to showcase our work on a national platform among experts, investors, and startup ecosystem leaders.' Echoing the sentiment, BizBay's Ali AlSawad added: 'This experience allowed us to connect with the wider startup community and explore new avenues for growth and development.' Building innovation culture The event is part of a broader push to embed innovation deeply within Bahrain's economic fabric, supported by public-private partnerships and platforms like StartUp Bahrain. Organisers say future editions will continue to identify and empower ventures with global relevance and national roots.
Biz Bahrain
7 days ago
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
StartUp Bahrain Pitch competition announces new winners, celebrating more innovation in Bahrain's startup ecosystem
StartUp Bahrain, the leading platform for startups in the Kingdom of Bahrain supported by the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), proudly hosted the most recent edition of the highly anticipated entrepreneurial series, StartUp Bahrain Pitch, highlighting rising founders from Bahrain's dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem. The event was hosted in collaboration with key industry stakeholders—including the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), Bahrain Economic Development Board, and Bahrain Development Bank (BDB). The new edition builds on the remarkable success of the previous ones, which have helped cultivate a strong culture of innovation and creativity within Bahrain's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The recent edition featured a distinguished judging panel of industry experts and seasoned investors, including Fatma Sultan Bahwan, Chief Commercial Officer of AlJabr MENA and keynote speaker of the event, Sam Marchant, Partner at Inaugural, Karim Konsowa, Portfolio Manager at Hub71, and Laith Al-Khalili, Associate Director at Mumtalakat. The event featured a dynamic group of emerging Bahraini startups, including: Tammam, a smart order management app powered by AI that streamlines small-scale operations across food, retail, and beauty sectors; Rentat, a proptech platform that automates rent collection and enhances property management for both landlords and tenants; Safer, a travel-focused fintech solution offering a secure 'Buy Now, Pay Later' service for booking trips with ease and flexibility; and BizBay, a digital marketplace connecting buyers, sellers, and investors, simplifying exit processes and safeguarding investments—all through one unified platform. After a competitive round of pitches, the judging panel thoroughly evaluated the participating founders and their ideas, and announced this year's winning startups, awarding Tammam with first place, and BizBay with second place. Commenting on the occasion, Noor Alderazi, speaking on behalf of the winning team, said: 'We're proud to be part of StartUp Bahrain Pitch, an initiative that champions bold ideas and promising ventures. Winning first place is a great honor, and it gave us a valuable opportunity to showcase our work on a national platform among experts, investors, and startup ecosystem leaders.' Also sharing their thoughts, Ali AlSawad, representing the second-place winner, stated: 'We sincerely thank all the supporting entities and organizations that contributed to the success of this initiative. Being part of this experience offered us a valuable opportunity to connect with the startup community and explore new avenues for growth and development.'
Daily Tribune
27-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Raise opens investor doors
business TDT | Manama Bahrain's startup ecosystem is gaining traction with the return of 'Raise: The Art of Fundraising', a bootcamp designed to do what most founders struggle with: get them face-toface with investors. Now in its ninth cohort, Raise has opened applications for the next twoweek round of its investment readiness programme. Backed by The Labor Fund (Tamkeen) and delivered by Spring Venture Services in partnership with global VC firm Salica Investments, Raise goes beyond mentorship. It connects early-stage startups directly with investor networks across the MENA region, providing access to capital, industry leaders, and essential strategic guidance. Doors to capital The programme's track record includes eight completed bootcamps and 16 StartUp Bahrain Pitch events. Over 100 startups have benefited from tailored support in pitching, valuation, and deal negotiation. Standouts from previous cohorts, like DOO founder Ali Mohsen, credit the program for helping land funding and refine go-to-market plans. 'Raise was instrumental in refining our fundraising strategy and connecting us with investors,' he said. This time, selected startups will also join an exclusive Investor Mixer. The event places founders in front of key venture capital firms and angel investors, allowing for real-time feedback and potential deal flow. Bahrain's startup engine The initiative feeds directly into the national innovation agenda. In collaboration with the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Bahrain Economic Development Board, and Bahrain Development Bank, the program culminates in a live pitch competition under the StartUp Bahrain Pitch Series banner. Winners walk away with milestone-linked cash prizes and ongoing support from Raise partners. Applications are now open via the programme's official website. For Bahrain-based founders with scalable ideas and big ambitions, Raise may just be the shortest route from pitch to funding.
Biz Bahrain
27-05-2025
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
Applications Open for Cohort 9 of 'Raise" to Empower Startup Founders in Investment Readiness
Spring Venture Services announced that applications are now open for the 9th cohort of 'Raise: The Art of Fundraising,' a two-week intensive bootcamp designed to equip startup founders with the skills and knowledge needed to secure investment and scale their businesses. The programme is supported by The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) to prepare startups for institutional fundraising, with participation in the ongoing StartUp Bahrain Pitch Series as one milestone along the way. The programme is facilitated by Spring Venture Services, and global venture capital firm Salica Investments, providing founders with capital, expert in-house capability, and access to MENA's leading investors to increase the likelihood of startup success. Since its inception, 'Raise' has successfully conducted eight bootcamps in preparation for 16 StartUp Bahrain Pitch events, helping 114 startups refine their investor readiness and secure essential funding. The programme provides entrepreneurs with hands-on workshops, fireside chats, and one-on-one office hours, ensuring they gain a strong foundation in fundraising, pitching, and business strategy. A key highlight of the programme is the StartUp Bahrain Pitch Series, where participating startups will have the opportunity to showcase their businesses before an esteemed panel of leading regional venture capitalists and investors. These events are organised in collaboration with key industry stakeholders, including the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), Bahrain Economic Development Board, and Bahrain Development Bank (BDB), and StartUp Bahrain. The events conclude with the announcement of the 2 winning startups, which receive a cash prize deployed against key milestones, along with potential further funding and support from programme partners. Commenting on the success of Raise, Ali Mohsen founder of DOO, a winner of the 16th edition of StartUp Bahrain Pitch, stated, 'Raise was instrumental in refining our fundraising strategy and connecting us with investors. The mentorship and expert guidance we received gave us the confidence and tools to take our business to the next level.' The upcoming cohort will feature enhanced networking opportunities and increased access to industry leaders, potential partners, and investors. Startups will also participate in an Investor Mixer, where they can pitch their businesses to a network of investors. Interested startups are encouraged to apply by visiting the programme page on [
Biz Bahrain
21-04-2025
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
Mumtalakat Sponsors the Second Edition of the 'Startup of the Year' Competition in Collaboration with Tamkeen
Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain, in partnership with the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) announces its sponsorship of the 'Startup of the Year' competition for the second consecutive year, following the successful launch of the competition's inaugural edition. As part of this collaboration, Mumtalakat will conduct a comprehensive feasibility study of winning companies from last year's StartUp Bahrain Pitch events. Based on this assessment, Mumtalakat will select one or more companies deserving of the esteemed title of 'Startup of the Year' and invest in them via direct capital injections, subject to a predetermined set of pre-approved terms and conditions, in light of this evaluation. Commenting on this occasion, His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, CEO of Mumtalakat, said, 'We are pleased to collaborate again with the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) through the Startup Bahrain platform for the opportunity to identify innovative and pioneering startups locally. Following the success of last year's inaugural edition of the competition, in which 'Lumofy' and 'Early Riser' were announced as winners, Mumtalakat will provide the necessary support to help this year's winners achieve growth and success'. 'This aligns with Mumtalakat's ongoing efforts to support the national economy by investing locally in innovative and promising projects that will generate employment opportunities, promote economic diversification, and enhance the role of public and private sector partnerships in the Kingdom,' he added. Tamkeen Chief Executive, Her Excellency Ms. Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, expressed her enthusiasm to collaborate once again with Mumtalakat within this strategic initiative that aims to enhance entrepreneurship in the Kingdom and create a supportive and nurturing ecosystem for entrepreneurs in Bahrain. She added, 'The Startup Bahrain Pitch initiative was launched to address the challenges faced by startups in obtaining the necessary funding to expand their projects. This initiative has also contributed to equipping many entrepreneurs with the skills required to present their projects to attract potential investors with at the hands of entrepreneurship experts and specialists. We are proud of the innovative Bahraini startups that have achieved their funding goals and expanded their projects through this initiative and look forward to the participation of more entrepreneurs in this year's second edition.' This collaboration underscores Mumtalakat and Tamkeen's commitment to fostering innovation, nurturing the spirit of entrepreneurship, and contributing to achieving economic diversification in the Kingdom by leveraging their respective expertise and resources within the 'Team Bahrain' to create an empowering environment for startups to thrive, grow, and contribute to enhancing national economic growth. More than 100 entrepreneurs have gained valuable experience through the training program, which emphasises investment strategies, business expansion, and project development, with 82 entrepreneurs successfully qualifying for the pitch events since the StartUp Bahrain Pitch initiative's inception. The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) provides a variety of programs designed to support diverse enterprises and strengthen the private sector's role as a key driver of economic growth in the Kingdom. In addition, Tamkeen offers employment and career development initiatives aimed at positioning Bahraini talent as the preferred choice for employment.
