Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), the home of international technology companies in Qatar and an incubator of startup technology businesses, has brought six more Qatar-based startups under its ambitious Product Development Fund (PDF).
Representatives from the newly funded Applab Software Trading, Majoor Marketing & Delivery, Digital Pulse, Bayyena Trading, Twyla Technology and Rawi Al Kotob attended the official ceremony held at the QSTP premises.
QSTP, Executive Director Mr. Yousef al-Salehi hailed the award winners on their efforts to address Qatar’s national priorities and challenges, accelerate economic diversification and create global influence.
QSTP Product Development and Grant Management Fund Director Ms. Aysha al-Hamadi stated that “At QSTP, we encourage all Qatari entrepreneurs to stay creative and focused on their ambitions and to seek the right support which is readily available via QF RDI’s ecosystem – an infrastructure built on the premise of supporting research, development, and innovation.”
“Our PDF is specifically geared towards helping Qatar-based startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) develop their products. The latest awardees share our passion for technology and innovation that not only contributes to the rapid growth and development of our economy but truly improves people’s lives and delivers real impact.” Ms. Al-Hamadi further added.
The six new award winners are from varied industries with solutions for wide topics, including healthcare, legal, charity, education, management systems, and e-commerce.
Applab Software Trading
Specializing in online platform development, Applab Software Trading strives to develop its ‘software-as-a-service’ platform to help charity and non-profit organizations provide a solution to manage their online and mobile donations and manage physical collection points and kiosk machines.
Majoor Marketing & Delivery
Qatar’s leading online pharmacy, healthcare app, Majoor Marketing & Delivery will use PDF to develop its all-in-one, integrated healthcare application to simplify the drug storage and delivery process. Booking lab tests and requesting a home service is an important difference of this service.
Digital Pulse
Qatar’s digital business specialist, Digital Pulse designs mobile apps for the creative industry. The team has received funding to further develop its Gooby platform, an online marketplace that connects talented and skilled freelancers to startups, SMEs, full-grown businesses, and even individuals.
Bayyena Trading
The legal technology company Bayyena Trading which specializes in providing smart solutions for the legal community in the Arab region is looking to build a legal news platform that will present complex, up-to-date content to keep practitioners and their clients informed.
Twyla Technology
The B2B provider of technology and audio-visual services, Twyla Technology is helping businesses to modernize their business operations, including a range of e-commerce, cybersecurity, and electronic medical recording solutions. Twyla is developing a Qatar-based online marketplace platform that enables buyers and sellers to do business through the e-commerce platform.
Rawi Al Kotob
Rawi Al Kotob, one of Qatar’s premier audiobook companies. The service aims to give dynamic, active and intellectually curious people in MENA and those living abroad access to modern and popular Arabic literature MENA region, to support their lifelong learning.
Product Development Fund (PDF)
Established in 2016, the QSTP Product Development Fund (PDF), a part of the Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation (QF RDI), offers up to half of the total budget as a grant, to encourage local start-ups and SMEs in the private sector to develop products and services relevant to national market needs.
The fund promotes new hi-tech products and supports the commercialization of market-ready technologies. To date, the PDF program has awarded subsidy grants to more than 35 SMEs.
