Qatar Foundation's Innovation Academy Announces Three Winning Teams - Seite 2

AIA is the first and the largest entrepreneurship program in the pan-Arab region, first brought to Qatar and the Middle East in 2018 through a collaboration between QSTP and the EIA, considered to be the world's largest extreme entrepreneurship program. Among similar accelerator programs, the AIA is distinguished by its unique accelerated mode of experiential learning to help techpreneurs turn an idea into a start‐up in only 10 days.

Following on the success of the first two editions, AIA 2020 received an overwhelming response and close to 800 applications. Selected applicants came from Palestine, Kuwait, Algeria, France, Oman, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco and Turkey, with Qatar-based students making up almost half of the participants. A student delegation from France also participated in the program for the first time, as part of the Qatar-France Year of Culture.

The AIA is geared to providing participants with expert knowledge and mentorship in all aspects related to 'starting your own business', including business development, marketing, pitching and seeking investment. For this edition, all participants had full access to more than 40 top mentors and coaches, from the United States, the United Kingdom and European Union, Singapore, in addition to the regional and local mentors in the field of techpreneurship and innovation.

Hayfa Al Abdulla, QSTP Innovation Director, said: "Congratulations to this edition's winners! They've shown true determination and brilliance. The AIA is one of the most successful platforms for bringing together regional capacities with young talents, and fostering innovative ideas. We are more than proud of the innovation shown by all participants and we have no doubt that their mindset will help us find solutions to the challenges we face in the region."

As a leading technology hub in the region, QSTP has continued to play a key role in the success of a number of startups over the past 10 years and through AIA assists aspiring entrepreneurs to realize their ambitions by helping their tech startup ideas to gain momentum. To date, the number of graduates from the first and second editions of the AIA program has reached over 300 students. The region's tech-based startups have benefited from the opportunities extended by EIA to leverage a stellar network of global mentors from Silicon Valley and all around the world.