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Who is Qatar SportsTech?

With over a decade of experience in startup investments and acceleration, we are now in Doha to accelerate the sports industry to new heights. We are one of the frontiers in disrupting this vibrant market by facilitating partnerships between the most promising SportsTech startups and leading brands and organizations. Qatar SportsTech is initiated by Qatar Development Bank, powered by Startupbootcamp and supported by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, Qatar Stars League, beIN Media Group, Qatar Financial Centre, Aspire Zone Foundation, MBK Holding and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Our Accelerator Program

Our vision is to transform Doha into one of the leading sports hubs and contribute to Qatar’s diversification goals through the facilitation of corporate startup collaboration through our accelerator program. 

Following a rigorous recruitment process, 10 selected startups are invited to participate in the three-month intensive accelerator program in Aspire Zone, the beating heart of sports in Qatar. Each startup is incentivized and invited to register their company with 100% ownership in Qatar.

Leveraging over a decade of experience within Rainmaking history, a 12 week, part-time program has been created to develop and accelerate the entrepreneurship journey.

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Recruitment

Our Accelerator program requires the founding team to relocate to Qatar full-time for three months. We scout the world for startups that use cutting edge technology to reshape the industry of sports. The goal is to accelerate the startups’ growth and is applicable for early and/or seed-stage startups, who contribute to one of the categories in our thesis (below). 

After this intensive recruitment period, we invite the top 20 startups to our virtual Selection Day event. Here we lay the fundamentals for collaboration between the startups and our corporate partners for the duration of the Accelerator program. During the event decision-makers from leading local and global organizations inquire which startups can help them obtain their strategic objectives, which results in selecting ten startups. Check out the FAQs section for more details!

Thesis

Click on each category below for more details.

athlete

Athlete & Team

Innovations that improve how athletes train individually and as a team; and how they engage and compete in sports.

fans

Fan & Viewer

Innovations that will improve participation for sports enthusiasts; fan experience and engagement in-stadium and through digital media. 

sports events

Mega Sports Events

Innovations that create a personalized, memorable, and innovative experience for major international sports events in Qatar, such as the FIFA World Cup 2022™, the FINA Swimming World Cup 2020, the ITF World Tennis Tour and others.

esports

E-Sports

Innovations that will transform and enhance how gamers participate in and experience esports. 

Our Team

Meet the engine driving Qatar SportsTech!

Ibrahim Al Mannai

Ibrahim Al Mannai

Executive Director of Advisory & Incubation
Hamad Al Qahtani

Hamad Al Qahtani

General Manager
Heba Almasri

Heba Almasri

Managing Director

Startupbootcamp

Salman Surti

Salman Surti

Operations Manager

Startupbootcamp

Joumana El Naggar

Joumana El Naggar

Marketing Manager
Ali Khadjavi

Ali Khadjavi

Pearls Of Qatar Manager

Startupbootcamp.com

Sheikh Ahmad Al Thani

Sheikh Ahmad Al Thani

Incubation Advisor
Tahani AlHajri

Tahani AlHajri

Senior Incubation Advisor
Rayane Fodil

Rayane Fodil

Program Associate
Shayma Ben Brahim

Shayma Ben Brahim

Events & Community Associate
Sarah Al Habibi

Sarah Al Habibi

Operations Coordinator
Adam Majeed

Adam Majeed

Marketing Associate

Partners

Sportstech is a fast-growing domain that is complex. The business activities are ranging from ticket sales, sponsorships, and merchandising to media rights and more. That’s why we’ve partnered up with the very best in the industry, to give our startups the full backup that they need! These individuals have made the industry into what it is today and they’re eager to embrace new technologies to take the world of sports to the next level! Therefore, through these essential partnerships with leading organizations and brands below, startups participating in our Accelerator Program have the support of the entire sports and entrepreneurial ecosystems in Qatar.

Founding Partner

Powered by

Strategic Partners

QST strategic partners

Mentors

Are you passionate about innovation in the sports industry?

Do you want to share your expertise with entrepreneurs and help put their ideas into practice?

We’d love to connect with you and discuss how we can take this forward! 

Alumni

FoV logo

Field of Vision

ComeTogether logo

ComeTogether

BBox Sports logo

BBox Sports

Stable Innovations

Stable Innovations

Ai Abacus logo

Ai Abacus

Navbuddy

NSAtech

StretchSkin logo

StretchSkin

Sentio Sports

Fancision

Fancision

Yoomedoo

GymCraft

Armony
Fate Esports

FATE Esports

Golazzos

Golazzos

HotSwitch

GymStory

ClassTap

Sponix Tech

12th Player

Torq Labs

HiQ Nano

Horse Analytics

News

Cohort 4 Picture

Qatar SportsTech selects 10 startups for fourth cohort of accelerator program

Read The Peninsula article here Qatar SportsTech has announced the launch of the fourth cohort of its Accelerator Program. QST’s intensive three-month Accelerator Program aims to give startups the resources necessary to accelerate their growth and further develop their solutions in the industry. Congratulations to the top 10 startups selected: Ai Abacus, BBox Sports, ComeTogether,…

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Armony & Fancision

Armony and Fancision: Sportstech startups reimagine football experience

Read The Peninsula article here Armony and Fancision, two of our cohort 3 alumni, were interviewed by the Peninsula, where Armony ‘s CEO, Mo Malkawi, and Fancision ‘s CEO, Alejandro Echeverria, spoke about how major upcoming events in Qatar offer their startup a great opportunity that they are determined to seize. According to the startups,…

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QST MD at Demo Day

QST Managing Director: Qatar startup ecosystem growing at accelerated rate

Read The Peninsula article here At QST’s third cohort’s Demo Day, our Managing Director, Heba Qadri Al Masri, emphasized the accelerated growth rate Qatar’s startup ecosystem has witnessed in the past recent years. She also pointed out the importance in bringing in innovative startup companies from across the world that are eager to embrace new…

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QDB CEO at QST Demo Day

QDB CEO: Bright year ahead for startups in Qatar

Read The Peninsula article here QDB CEO Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa spoke at QST’s Demo Day about the success QST has had in shaping the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Doha and the massive impact it will have on Qatar’s development as an innovation hub. He also stressed the importance of providing startup entrepreneurs with greater…

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FAQs

Accelerator Program

When can I apply to the Qatar SportsTech Accelerator program?

We are accepting applications from the 1st of July 2021 until 11:59PM GMT+3 on the 30th of September 2021.

How do I apply to Qatar Sportstech?

The application link is at the top of our website, or you can click here: www.f6s.com/sbcqatarsportstech2021/apply

What happens after I submit my application?

Our team will be in touch with startups who made the shortlist and will schedule a video conference.

We will then invite the top 20 startups to our virtual Selection Day and will make the final selection of 10 startups from that group.

When will I know about being invited to Selection Day?

We aim to notify all applicants as soon as possible after the application deadline whether or not they are invited to attend the Selection Days. You will be informed, at the latest, three weeks in advance of Selection Day with all the necessary practical information.

When and where will the Selection Days take place?

Due to the ongoing pandemic, Selection Day will be held virtually on Thursday, 28th October (to be confirmed).

About You

Who can apply?

For the Qatar SportsTech Accelerator, we are specifically looking for startups who are working on solving problems and creating opportunities within the SportsTech industry. The basis for all of our partnerships is, that we want to collaborate with people who share our values and our vision.

To qualify, you must:

  • have a sports-focused product.
  • have a working MVP.
  • have traction.
  • have more than 1 team member.
  • be willing to be based in Qatar full-time for the duration of the program.
  • be looking to register a branch in Qatar through Qatar Financial Centre.

How many members of the team can join the program?

Up to 4 members of your team can attend Qatar Sportstech for the full 3 months.

About the Location

How do I get to Qatar?

You need to fly to Hamad International Airport in Qatar. Expenses for traveling to Qatar are not covered by Qatar SportsTech. To find our office location, check the Google maps link below.

Do I need a VISA to join the program in Qatar?

You will need a VISA to enter Qatar and, in most cases, a tourist VISA will suffice. Find more information here about how long your VISA will last: http://www.visitqatar.qa/plan/visas-requirements.html

Apply for a VISA here: https://www.qatarairways.com/en/qatar-tourist-visa.html

About the Program

Can I take part in the program without moving to Qatar?

1 – 4 core team members are required to attend the program.

Do I need to stay in Qatar after the program is finished?

No. After the program, you are free to move anywhere. However, keep in mind that we do look for startups that are looking to establish a branch in Qatar. So as long as you’re registered in Qatar and spend 6 months of the year here, you can move anywhere.

I have other commitments, can I join the program for less than three months?

Once your startup qualifies to join the program, our partners, mentors and team are fully committed to investing in your success. So, your team is expected to be equally committed and on-site for the 3 months. However, team members can rotate on who is present throughout the program.

What happens during the program?

To accelerate your startup throughout the 3-month program. Your startup will benefit from:

  • Having privileged access to Qatar Sportstech prototype and test labs.
  • Working directly with the global partners and leaders such as innovation engineers, product category owners, innovation & creative leaders, value chain experts and professionals.
  • Attending startup classes and workshops – tailored to your needs for building your company.
  • Receiving hands-on support from our experts – on topics such as business development, UX, design, growth hacking and fundraising.

The program will end in December with a large Demo-Day event, where each of the 10 startups will showcase their business  and their progress during the program, to the partners, external investors and the press.

What is your approach to taking out equity?

QST invests $150,000 of which, $20K is in cash and $130K in the discounted in-kind value, for 7% equity stake. Startups who have a valid MVP and traction may be eligible for an additional $20K in funding, based on approval from our Investment Committee. 
There is the option for special cases – special cases are considered for startups who have previously raised at a higher valuation and can provide proof through 1) investment contract and 2) finances received. All special cases are subject to approval through a committee and may delay response.

You can find a template of our Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Convertible Note here:

How can people outside the program see what is happening?

Throughout the program, we regularly update our website and social media channels with photos and footage of our ongoing partner events, specialist workshops, social events, community events and other content. We also have close relations with the local media and our startups and their innovations are often featured in local articles. 

There will be a Demo Day in February. To keep the focus of this day on supporting our 10 startups, this event will only be open to external investors and the press. However, you can follow our Demo Day updates through our and our startups’ social media channels. 

Is accomodation provided as part of the program?

No, Qatar Sportstech will not provide accommodation. However, we will help you to find accomodation.

We provide free office space for your team (1-4 people) for the three months duration of the program and for three months to settle in after the program. 

I have more questions!

Great! Please schedule a session with us using the Calendly popup on our website or email us on hello@qatarsportstech.com

Code of Conduct

Join us, and disrupt the sport industry!