9:00am 

MC: Shayma

(bi-lingual)

Good morning and thank you for joining us this morning. 

Please allow us to pause for 5 minutes until we have all guests on board of the Webinar.

9:05am

MC: Shayma

(bi-lingual)

Thank you for waiting patiently, we will now begin the briefing. 

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. My name is Shayma Ben Brahim. It is my pleasure to welcome you this morning. 

I would like to thank you for joining us today for this special briefing to mark the launch of EntelaQ, a highly anticipated program developed by Qatar SportsTech. 

For todays briefing, we would like to request for everyone to please maintain your audio on mute and for any questions, please submit them through the chat feature on Zoom. Unfortunately, we will not be holding a live Q&A after the briefing due to the short period of time. When submitting a question, we ask that you include your name and media outlet in the question for referencing. 

Following the briefing, we will send to you today the press release, as well as the transcript of the briefing along with answers to your questions in both English and Arabic.

Today’s briefing will be hosted in Arabic and all supporting information will be shared on our screen in English for all English-speaking Media.

At this time, I would like to welcome our guest, Sheikh Ahmad Faleh Al-Thani, Incubation Advisor at Qatar Development Bank who will give us more in-depth information about the initiative.

Sheikh Ahmad currently holds the position of Incubation Advisor at Qatar Development Bank, where he advises entrepreneurs and startups on the best ways to benefit from QDB’s accelerator programs. 

9:07am

MC: Shayma

(bi-lingual)

I would now like to welcome Sheikh Ahmed.

9:08am

Speaker: Ahmad

(Arabic) 

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome and thank you for joining us today on this special occasion.

First allow me to introduce myself, I am Sheikh Ahmad Faleh Al-Thani, Incubation Advisor at Qatar Development Bank. 

I am very pleased to be here with you today to discuss the launch of our newest program, EntelaQ, developed by Qatar SportsTech.

9:09am

MC: Shayma

Q1: Thank you Sheikh Ahmad, can you please first start by giving us some background information about QST?

Speaker: Ahmad

A1: Yes, thank you.

Qatar Sportstech is the region’s first startup accelerator and hub for innovative sportstech companies initiated by Qatar Development Bank, focused on growing the SportsTech sector in Qatar. 

QST aims to take the sports industry to a new level by facilitating partnerships between the most promising SportsTech startups and leading brands and organizations.

QST helps SportsTech startups scale globally through direct access to an international network of mentors, partners, and investors.

In 2019, Qatar SportsTech won the ‘Most Innovative Company’ award at the QFC’s 2019 Qatar Business Awards ceremony, which recognized QST’s commitment to innovation and the future of the SportsTech industry in Qatar and beyond. 

MC: Shayma

Q2: Is QST a private or a governmental entity and who are your partners? 

Speaker: Ahmad

A2: QST is initiated by Qatar Development Bank and powered by Startupbootcamp and is also supported by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, beIN Media Group, Aspire Zone Foundation, Qatar Financial Centre, and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. 

QST has also collaborated with different universities including Carnegie Mellon University, Hamad Bin Khalifa University and Qatar University.

We also have Incubation partners including Qatar Business Incubation Center, Fab Lab and Bedaya Center.

MC: Shayma 

Q3: Sheikh Ahmad, can you take us through the QST main Accelerator program? Why is it so popular?

Speaker: Ahmad

A3: QST’s Accelerator program is designed to help participating innovative startups accelerate their growth and further develop their solutions in the industry, in line with QST’s vision to be a catalyst for reshaping sports technology in the region and beyond.

Leveraging over a decade of experience within Rainmaking history, QST’s Accelerator program is a part-time program created to develop and accelerate the entrepreneurship journey.

The QST team travels the world to find and engage with startups that use cutting edge technology to reshape the sports industry. 

After an intensive recruitment period, QST invites the top 20 startups to Doha for a Selection Day event. 

Following the rigorous recruitment process, 10 selected startups get the opportunity to participate in the three-month intensive Accelerator program, held in Aspire Zone every 9 months.

The Accelerator program’s second cohort comprised 10 startups, from eight different countries scouted from 1500 startups from 43 countries. They have worked with top global organisations, including Qatar Airways, Microsoft, Serie A, Gucci, Primeira Liga Portugal, and Benfica TV amongst others.

MC: Shayma

Q4: How can start-ups benefit from joining the program?

Speaker: Ahmad

A4: QST’s Accelerator program will run from 20th September to 13th December this year. 

The program will provide specialized workshops hosted by international experts; one-on-one mentoring sessions with more than 250 industry specialists; partner support from world-class professionals and global leaders in sports tech; support from QST’s founding partner, Qatar Development Bank, including an initial investment, as well as media exposure.

Accelerated startups will also have access to QST’s global partners’ network, and the opportunity to work closely with key industry players driving Qatar’s sports industry, including QDB and QST’s strategic partner.

MC: Shayma

Q5: Thank you Sheikh Ahmad for the explanation, can you now take us through EntelaQ, how different is it to the Accelerator program?

Speaker: Ahmad

A5: EntelaQ, is QST’s newest program and is aimed at local entrepreneurs, nationals or residents, with an innovative sportstech idea or prototype which fits QST’s thesis that includes innovations that support the Athlete & Team; Fan & Viewer; Mega Sports Events; and E-Sports.  

EntelaQ will prepare entrepreneurs or teams residing in Qatar for QST’s upcoming fourth cohort of the Accelerator program.

EntelaQ aims to develop and accelerate the entrepreneurship journey and to help entrepreneurs, whether in teams or individually, develop their skills and to recognize business opportunities, kick-start their ideas from concept to launch, and implement their businesses in the local market. 

Participating entrepreneurs will also have the opportunity to meet potential co-founders and other like-minded individuals, and get access to QST’s strategic partners, mentors, and investors. 

MC: Shayma

Q6: When will the program begin? And how can interested candidates apply?

Speaker: Ahmad

A6: EntelaQ will launch virtually this year on 28th July to scout for candidates, and the recruitment process for the program will remain open until the end of October. The last day for candidates to apply for joining the program is 30th October.

On 30th October, the much-awaited Selection Day will be held to select the top 10 startups from the shortlisted applicants that will join EntelaQ in November.

On the Selection Day, all entrepreneurs will be invited to pitch their idea in front of QST and its partners in order to be selected amongst the top 10 winning teams or entrepreneurs who will join the first cohort of the program.

The program is set to start officially on 15th November.

EntelaQ will be a 12-week part-time program that will run for two days a week.

The program will engage entrepreneurs in guest lectures and specialized workshops, providing one-on-one coaching sessions with QST’s program managers and specialists, as well as keynotes and inspirational talks by leading local and international mentors.

Selected entrepreneurs will also be able to participate in local events including Hackathons, the region’s top digital event, QITCOM, and local conferences including GES, GIS, and many others. 

Entrepreneurs will be scouted by QST throughout various industry events and the ones with the best ideas or prototype will be recruited to join EntelaQ.