Eleven ambitious startups pitched their ideas to members of Qatar’s innovation community at the ‘Demo Day’ of the 10th XLR8 program cycle at Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), part of Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation (QF RDI) I pitched it. ).
The general public, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts participated in the event by following online pitches before voting for their favorite teams. There were three winners: 1st place “Karty”, 2nd place “Lease”, and 3rd place “Sahatech”.
The unique final day of pitching was held virtually for the first time after a 10-week online training and coaching program amid Covid-19 restrictions.
Yosof Abdulrahman Al Salehi, Executive Director of QSTP, said: In these unique circumstances, the 10th group of the program was a complete success.
“The participating teams came out with great ideas and I am delighted to report that the standard of entry from enthusiastic teams was as high as ever. We were able to celebrate and recognize the efforts of our team.”
At this event, alumni teams presented their chosen startup ideas to an online audience of experienced technology professionals, investors, and industry experts. The event aimed to give XLR8 attendees hands-on experience pitching their technology-based ideas, attracting potential investors, and getting a head start. -UPS.
Mohamed Suleiman and Abdulaziz Al Marri, founders of Karty, said: “Karty is a financial technology startup that aims to improve the spending experience of everyday users by leveraging technology and leveraging transaction data to deliver customized financial experiences.”
“We are delighted to have won first place in the 10th cycle of QSTP’s XLR8 program and can’t wait to bring KARTY to the people of Qatar. The XLR8 program has enriched us and helped us improve our products. We are excited to be part of the QSTP Incubation Program.”
Of the 11 finalists, nine teams were selected through an intense QSTP selection process, and the remaining two teams were selected from the popular TV show Stars of Science. The team included ‘Lease The Look’, an online dress and accessory rental platform. Bab is an e-commerce platform for the construction industry. Qatra is an online platform for artisans from low-income countries to sell their products to international markets. A “scanscope” is a handheld scanning device used to detect fractures in children without exposing them to harmful radiation.
Since its inception in 2015, more than 150 teams (consisting of approximately 400 individuals) have participated in the program. To date, 26 XLR8 teams have launched startups. Currently, nine startups are growing beyond Qatar, and several of them have secured further investment (including Meddy, Stellic, MaktApp, Bnocle, EasyBroadcast, and WakeCap). Additionally, we now have an established network of 30 experienced mentors.
