XLR8 Cycle 13 winners and program mentors during Demo Day.
Eight aspiring tech startups showcased their innovative solutions in front of investors, students, industry experts and fellow entrepreneurs at the Demo Day of Cycle 13 of Qatar Science and Technology Park’s (QSTP) flagship programme, the XLR8 Programme.
The event gave innovators an opportunity to demonstrate the commercial viability of their solutions and provided attendees with an opportunity to explore how technology-based inventions can fulfill market needs. Three promising startups – Blend-Stocks, Samples Yard and Darbi – won first, second and third places respectively.
Blend-Stocks is an innovative software solution that helps crude oil refineries automate large-scale blending schedules, maximizing resource utilization and minimizing costs.
Samples Yard is a digital sampling platform that connects architects and interior designers with building material manufacturers on a single platform.
Meanwhile, Darbi is an online platform that helps high school students in Qatar and the MENA region discover their passions, access career counselling and explore university options.
As part of its mission to promote tech entrepreneurship in Qatar, QSTP runs the “XLR8 Programme” twice a year for up to 40 teams. Comprised of 14 weeks of intensive training and mentoring, the programme helps participants realise their entrepreneurial ambitions by taking them from the ideation stage to a validated minimum viable product.
The Demo Day marks the culmination of the program and provides participants with a platform to pitch their ideas to potential investors and gain practical experience in launching a tech venture.
The winning team will receive intensive mentoring focused on launching their startup from QSTP’s international network of mentors, experts and investors, and will receive office space in QSTP’s innovation hub.
“It’s always inspiring to see the passion and creativity of XLR8 participants who are eager to showcase their innovative ideas,” said Mohammed Zebian, QSTP Acceleration Program Manager.
“We congratulate this cycle’s winners and recognize their contributions to Qatar’s innovation environment as they progress from the development stage to entering the local market.”
“My team and I noticed that there weren’t many software options in the market to assist with the gasoline production process, which was leading to inefficiencies and unnecessary financial losses. So we decided to create a solution that would help automate the blending process, optimize gasoline production, reduce inefficiencies and save costs,” said Mahmoud Abdulrasheed Ahmednooh, production planning engineer at Qatar Energy refinery and founder of Blend-Stocks.
Alaa Al Khatib, architect and co-founder of Samples Yard, said: “By connecting architects and interior designers with building material manufacturers, we simplify and speed up the arduous and time-consuming process of sourcing material samples. Our platform is nearly complete and we are excited to bring it to market soon.”
“High school students should be able to make informed decisions and take control of their future, and our online platform allows them to do just that – a one-stop shop to help them discover their passions, research and apply to universities,” said Sarah El-Amin, a teacher at Qatar Foundation Academie School and founder of Darbi.
QSTP is a member of Qatar Foundation (QF) and supports technology-based entrepreneurial ventures in Qatar through incubation, funding, training, mentorship and connections to the regional and global innovation ecosystem. Through year-round programs, QSTP fosters new product development, innovation and collaboration with QF’s research institutes.
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