Kuwait Finance House – Bahrain (KFH-Bahrain) has stepped in as a key partner for this year’s “StartUp Bahrain – University of Bahrain (UoB)” program, a major initiative aimed at cultivating student entrepreneurship. As part of its involvement, the Islamic bank has established a special award to recognize the best student-led project with a significant social impact, reinforcing the growing emphasis on purpose-driven ventures within Bahrain’s tech ecosystem.
Quick Facts
- New social impact award established by KFH-Bahrain.
- Program attracted over 1,000 university students.
- Student project “Ne3ma” named the inaugural winner.
Fostering Innovation from Campus to Market
The program, organized by StartUp Bahrain with support from the Labour Fund “Tamkeen” and in collaboration with the University of Bahrain, provided a practical pathway for students to turn their ideas into functioning startups. Over 1,000 students from various disciplines participated, forming more than 240 teams.
Participants moved through a structured process that included idea development, mentorship sessions, workshops, and several elimination rounds. This intensive journey concluded with the top 10 student teams pitching their projects at a final ceremony, which was attended by H.E. Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, and H.E. Dr. Mohamed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education.
A Corporate Push for Socially-Conscious Startups
KFH-Bahrain’s involvement went beyond financial sponsorship. Representatives from the bank joined the project evaluation committees, offering direct expertise and guidance to the young entrepreneurs. The bank’s new award specifically targets ventures that prioritize positive societal contributions alongside commercial viability.
At the closing ceremony, Dr. Shadi Zahran, Group CEO of KFH–Bahrain, presented the bank’s special award to the winning project, “Ne3ma.”
“The allocation of a special award named after KFH–Bahrain for projects with social impact underscores our belief in the importance of supporting ideas that transcend mere economic viability,” stated Dr. Zahran. “This partnership aligns with our ongoing commitment to support initiatives that build a knowledge-based and innovative economy, empowering young national talents to participate in sustainable economic development in Bahrain.”
Ms. Maram Murad, the event leader at StartUp Bahrain, commented on the collaboration, “The support of KFH–Bahrain as a key partner of the program reflects the importance of integrating the roles of the private sector in empowering student entrepreneurs and providing them with practical opportunities that help them develop their ideas and transform them into startups with real potential for growth and sustainability.”
About KFH-Bahrain
Kuwait Finance House–Bahrain is a leading provider of Islamic commercial and investment banking services. The bank is focused on delivering a broad range of Shari’a-compliant banking and investment products, operating as a subsidiary of Kuwait Finance House Group.
About StartUp Bahrain
StartUp Bahrain is the national platform for startups in the Kingdom of Bahrain. It brings together the entire startup ecosystem, from founders and investors to incubators and government bodies, to foster a supportive and collaborative environment for innovation and growth.
Source: Zawya
