Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) recently hosted a Demo Day to celebrate the graduation of the third cohort from its flagship Tasmu Accelerator program. The event, a cornerstone of the nation’s commitment to fostering digital innovation and entrepreneurship, showcased 10 graduating startups presenting their solutions to an audience of government officials, investors, and corporate partners.
A Highly Competitive Cohort
The third cohort of the Tasmu Accelerator attracted significant global interest, receiving over 1,100 applications from founders across 78 countries. Following a rigorous selection process, 47 startups were chosen for the pre-acceleration phase, with 26 advancing to the full acceleration stage.
Over an intensive six-month journey, the participating companies benefited from a comprehensive program that included investment facilitation, sales support, capacity-building workshops, and access to specialized talent and industry expertise. The program focused on helping founders align their solutions with the needs of the Qatari market, develop effective go-to-market strategies, and build local commercial momentum.
Top Innovators Awarded
The Demo Day culminated in an awards ceremony recognizing the cohort’s most outstanding ventures. Nexx Group, Blueroom Innovation, and Juleb were named the top-performing startups, each receiving a QAR 200,000 cash prize. The awards were presented by the program’s track leaders: Ooredoo Qatar, Qatar National Bank (QNB), and Deloitte, rewarding the companies for their excellence in developing innovative digital solutions.
The event also highlighted the crucial role of strategic partners, including Commercial Bank, Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), and Qatar Development Bank (QDB). These organizations provided comprehensive support to the startups, offering essential infrastructure and services such as company registration, financing facilities, banking services, and investment opportunities.
Driving National Economic Impact
The program’s success underscores Qatar’s strategic commitment to building a competitive digital economy. Since its inception, the total portfolio value of startups supported by the Tasmu Accelerator has surpassed QAR 4 billion.
Mrs. Eman Al Kuwari, Director of the Digital Innovation Department at MCIT, commented on the program’s achievements, stating, “The Tasmu Accelerator reflects our vision to develop the digital entrepreneurship environment by promoting innovation and enabling startups to achieve sustainable growth in line with national priorities and the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. The third cohort achieved a 40% growth in sales since joining the program and succeeded in generating local sales opportunities exceeding QAR 330 million within Qatar.”
This sentiment was echoed by partners. Mr. Hassan Ismail Al-Emadi, Head of Corporate Services at Ooredoo Qatar, said, “Through our close partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and our strategic partners, we enable startups to transform their ambitious ideas into scalable, market-ready solutions that meet Qatar’s priorities and accelerate the pace of digital transformation.”
Mohammed Madhoun, Partner and Head of Government and Public Services in Qatar at Deloitte Middle East, added, “Programs like Tasmu are a fundamental pillar for building a strong digital economy, enabling entrepreneurs to scale their promising ideas and transform innovation into tangible economic impact. We congratulate the graduating startups on their achievements and look forward to continuing our support in empowering the next generation of innovators.”
About Tasmu Accelerator
The Tasmu Accelerator is a flagship initiative of Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), operating under the Tasmu Smart Qatar Program. It is designed to cultivate a vibrant digital ecosystem by empowering local and international startups to address national priorities. Since its launch, the accelerator has supported 75 startups selected from over 2,200 applications. These companies have collectively achieved sales exceeding QAR 670 million, with 40 now officially registered in Qatar, solidifying the nation’s position as a regional hub for high-growth digital enterprises.
Source: Al-Arab
