Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             20 Oct 2018

Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), part of Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation, has opened registration for the second edition of its Arab Innovation Academy (AIA) – the largest entrepreneurship boot-camp of its kind in the region that will see participants establish a startup in just 10 days.

Undergraduate students and young entrepreneurs in Qatar are invited to apply to this hands-on and groundbreaking entrepreneurship program – a collaboration between QSTP and the European Innovation Academy (EIA) – which will introduce participants to an accelerated mode of experiential learning, including how to develop and launch new tech ventures in a real marketplace with genuine customer feedback.

Yosouf Saleh, Executive Director, QSTP, said: “The AIA provides an unprecedented opportunity for young and aspiring tech entrepreneurs to gain invaluable insights and guidance from some of the world’s leading experts who will help to accelerate their startup ideas.

“We encourage students and young entrepreneurs in Qatar with a passion for technology development to apply, as this exciting initiative will serve as a launch pad for their startup ambitions. The first edition was an incredible success, introducing several new startups to the local and regional markets. We look forward to assisting the second cohort and helping participants take their tech products to market,” Saleh added.

Throughout the two-week startup boot-camp, 200 entrepreneurs can expect to be put through their paces while working under the guidance of leading Silicon Valley mentors and leveraging an extensive global network comprising top experts in the field.

Alar Kolk, President, EIA, said:  “The Google founders were from Stanford and the Facebook founders from Harvard. The next game-changing companies will come from students’ dreams to make the world a better place. Our mantra for the Arab students is that the greatest danger for most of you is not that your aim is too high, but that it is too low and you reach it. Be the change you want to see in the world. Make the dream true: the next Snapchats, Fornites, and Spotifys will come from the Arab world.”

The EIA is the world’s largest extreme entrepreneurship program, offering aspiring techpreneurs from across the globe the necessary support and mentorship to launch a startup in just 15 days.

The first edition of the AIA saw the participation of more than 100 aspiring entrepreneurs from Algeria, Lebanon, Oman, Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, and Qatar, who went on to launch startups that address challenges facing the region. The inaugural AIA instilled in participants a mindset of creative collaboration driven by diversity and open communication. Participants completed the program with a newfound confidence in their ability to pursue tech development and make a positive impact in the world through innovation.

The deadline to apply closes at the end of October 2018. The AIA will kick off on January 2, 2019, and will run until January 15, 2019. For more information about the program, and to apply, please visit: http://aia.inacademy.eu