The fifth cycle of the REYADA program has officially launched at Hamad Bin Khalifa University‘s (HBKU) Office of Innovation and Industrial Relations (OIIR) – Innovation Center. Delivered in partnership with the Qatar Development Bank (QDB), the initiative focuses on nurturing student-led entrepreneurship within the university ecosystem. Over 25 early-stage ideas, spearheaded by both graduate and undergraduate students from across HBKU, have been accepted into this latest cohort.
Moving Through Customer Discovery And Validation
Over a focused two-month period, the accepted student teams will progress through critical early-stage startup phases. The curriculum covers customer discovery, business modeling, and prototyping. A primary focus of the program is ensuring founders test whether their innovative ideas genuinely solve a real pain point in the current market. As teams build upon their business cases, the top performers will advance to compete in the HBKU student hackathon, known as HBKU Ideathon 2026. According to the document vcxvxcvcx.pdf, the immediate next phases for the cohort include customer validation, prototyping, pitch practice, and competing.
Key Themes And Cohort Ventures
The 25+ student-led ventures in Cycle 5 are categorized into six core themes addressing pressing regional and global technological priorities. The startups within these categories include:
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Generative AI & Applications: EduNudge, TAWSEE, Conductor, Al Rihla, Resurtech Studio, AI Founder’s OS, and AIDOI.
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Health & Well-being: Orthoprint, REHABIT, Qatar Heatsafe, Siha, TwinRx AI, Mindful Mama Qatar, and Visionary Wear.
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Future Technologies: ShenaTech, Manarah, Jarreb, Qnnect, VOYGR, Yumpit, and AWDA.
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Islamic Ethics: SmartWaqf, Project Nexus, and Jama’ah Connect.
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Sustainable & Resilient Arid Cities: From Brine to Bottle and Waste2Value Qatar.
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Complex Ecosystems: Natahawar.
About HBKU Office Of Innovation And Industrial Relations
The HBKU Office of Innovation and Industrial Relations (OIIR) operates the Innovation Center to support the development of entrepreneurial ventures stemming from the university’s student body and research initiatives. By partnering with strategic national entities like the Qatar Development Bank, the OIIR bridges the gap between academic ideation and commercial realization, fostering a robust startup ecosystem within Qatar.
Source: LinkedIn
