The SCALE7 hub, an initiative founded by Qatar Development Bank (QDB) in partnership with M7, has officially concluded the sixth wave of its Future Creators Hackathon. The four-day intensive event brought together 14 teams to develop innovative prototypes across the sectors of Creative Tech, Artificial Intelligence, Immersive Media, Gaming, and Digital Culture, further cementing Qatar’s position as a regional center for creative innovation.
Sustainable Fashion and Gaming Platforms Secure Top Honors
The hackathon saw a diverse array of digital solutions, with three standout startups securing podium finishes and cash prizes to further their development:
- First Place (QAR 25,000): WeAre WEAR – A sustainable fashion rental and resale platform empowering local designers, founded by Nouka Puriël and Tasneem Hassan.
- Second Place (QAR 20,000): Refyner – The first Arabic-supported, data-driven esports platform built for the Middle East, connecting players, teams, and federations, founded by George Dabit, Ayman Qaddoura, and Maryam Al-Marri.
- Third Place (QAR 10,000): Khayaal – An AI platform that animates children’s drawings into characters for personalized education, founded by Hamad Aldous.
Expert Mentorship and Strategic Ecosystem Support
The success of the 14 participating teams was supported by a robust network of industry mentors who provided critical guidance on technical feasibility and market scalability:
Mentors and Experts: Majed Lababidi (Alchemist Doha), Małgorzata Filipowska (Seedstars), Chris Wallace (Yes&), Marcel Dridje (EBAN), Dženan Škulj (Grudva LLC), Karan Pinto and Ollie Graham-Yooll (Utopia Capital Management), Ahmad Nazzal (A-typical Ventures), Fadi Soufi (COREGAME Studios), and Ina Nistoras (MagnaQore Inc).
The event was held in collaboration with strategic partners, including the British Council and Geekdom, alongside ecosystem supporters Nestwork and Innovation Cafe.
Distinguished Jury and Evaluation
The final prototypes were evaluated by a panel of high-level judges featuring leaders from both the public and private sectors:
- Abdulla Jassim Al-Mosallam – CEO at Geekdom
- Dr. Waseem Kotoub – Country Director at British Council
- Dr. Chawki Tawbi – AI Sales Leader at Google Cloud
- Caroline Abi Saleh – Head of Ecosystem Development at Qatar Development Bank
About SCALE7
Founded in 2021 by Qatar Development Bank in partnership with M7, SCALE7 is the first business incubator in Qatar dedicated to the creative and cultural industries. Based in Msheireb Downtown Doha, the hub provides entrepreneurs with specialized mentorship, workshops, and access to state-of-the-art technology to transform creative ideas into commercially viable startups. SCALE7 plays a pivotal role in diversifying Qatar’s economy by fostering a vibrant community for designers, tech innovators, and creative professionals.
Source: LinkedIn
