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Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar Development Bank (QDB) on Monday announced the launch of the first virtual edition of the Investment Forum in Qatar to be held on December 1 under the theme ‘Business Transformation and Growth’.
Held under the strategic sponsorship of the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (IPA) and the platinum sponsorship of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC), the third annual forum aims to connect entrepreneurs and investors and enhance Qatar’s position as an investment hub.
Aimed at enriching the entrepreneurial community and contributing to the growth and diversification of the national economy, the forum will help identify prominent global investment trends and the most promising opportunities across service and industrial sectors.
“Entrepreneurs face several challenges in finding investors and capital to support their projects and help them achieve greater success. Through the forum, QDB will seek to overcome these challenges by creating a collaborative space that brings together ambitious entrepreneurs and investors with different backgrounds and interests to one platform,” QDB said in a statement.
In its previous edition, the forum was attended by more than 400 investors and business leaders from Qatar and outside.
This year, the forum will be held virtually for the first time, with the participation of a long list of companies, angel investors, investment banks, venture capital companies, and business accelerators, in addition to individuals and enterprises interested in exploring business ventures across various sectors and stages of growth.
Investors will also be able to learn more about startups through an integrated digital platform, which is the first of its kind in Qatar. The platform will be launched during the event and will provide investors with the opportunity to hold direct meetings with the entrepreneurs and startup owners and engage in in-depth discussions on potential investment opportunities that benefit both parties.
QDB CEO Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa said, “Providing venture capital financing is one of the most important elements in the success of the entrepreneurship ecosystem, and for the third consecutive year, we are organising this prominent forum with our partners to capture and assess the lessons learned as well as to offer promising opportunities to Qatari SMEs on one hand, and local investors and international partner funds on the other.”
Through its QR360 million venture capital fund, Khalifa said, QDB is facilitating the success of entrepreneurs and SMEs.
“In its first virtual edition, the forum presents an opportunity for interested angel investors, business owners, entrepreneurs, and SMEs to explore investment and venture capital landscape in the country, as well as learn more about the various projects and ventures they can take part in,” he said.
IPA Qatar CEO Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al Thani said, “Against the backdrop of its economic resilience and rapid growth, Qatar’s investment landscape continues to offer investors a multitude of lucrative, sector-diverse opportunities to realise their ambitions and expand in the region.”
“As the strategic sponsor of the 3rd annual investment forum, we are delighted to be joining forces with QDB towards further advancing the investment ecosystem in Qatar and exploring new avenues of growth for local and international companies alike,” he said.
This year’s edition of the investment will mark QDB’s accomplishments in the investment arena over the past period. In this regard, QDB has launched a VC fund with a total size of QR365 million and has committed more than QR220 million of investments in innovative seed and SME opportunities.
Today, the QDB has more than 30 companies in its portfolio and its support is extended to all those companies.
QDB also launched the ‘shareholders loan’ product, under its Direct Lending Division to help finance SMEs listed under the umbrella of its SME Equity financing programme.
The product aims to bridge the gap in short-term financing facilities for working capital requirements with a maximum of QR7.5 million, and with a repayment period of up to three years, including a grace period of up to one year, as well as the option of converting credit into equity shares in the company.
This year, the forum includes an interactive panel discussion entitled ‘Conquering challenges to scale & thrive’, a special workshop on the Global FinTech Investment Landscape, and a live pitching session where a number of startups will be presenting their innovative ideas to investors towards raising capital to their entrepreneurial ventures.
The third annual investment forum comes on the heels of the success of the Qatar Entrepreneurship Conference 2020, which was also held virtually for the first time.
Through such leading platforms, QDB continues to enrich the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Qatar, and support SMEs in the country.
Doha
Qatar Development Bank (QDB) on Monday announced the launch of the first virtual edition of the Investment Forum in Qatar to be held on December 1 under the theme ‘Business Transformation and Growth’.
Held under the strategic sponsorship of the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (IPA) and the platinum sponsorship of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC), the third annual forum aims to connect entrepreneurs and investors and enhance Qatar’s position as an investment hub.
Aimed at enriching the entrepreneurial community and contributing to the growth and diversification of the national economy, the forum will help identify prominent global investment trends and the most promising opportunities across service and industrial sectors.
“Entrepreneurs face several challenges in finding investors and capital to support their projects and help them achieve greater success. Through the forum, QDB will seek to overcome these challenges by creating a collaborative space that brings together ambitious entrepreneurs and investors with different backgrounds and interests to one platform,” QDB said in a statement.
In its previous edition, the forum was attended by more than 400 investors and business leaders from Qatar and outside.
This year, the forum will be held virtually for the first time, with the participation of a long list of companies, angel investors, investment banks, venture capital companies, and business accelerators, in addition to individuals and enterprises interested in exploring business ventures across various sectors and stages of growth.
Investors will also be able to learn more about startups through an integrated digital platform, which is the first of its kind in Qatar. The platform will be launched during the event and will provide investors with the opportunity to hold direct meetings with the entrepreneurs and startup owners and engage in in-depth discussions on potential investment opportunities that benefit both parties.
QDB CEO Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa said, “Providing venture capital financing is one of the most important elements in the success of the entrepreneurship ecosystem, and for the third consecutive year, we are organising this prominent forum with our partners to capture and assess the lessons learned as well as to offer promising opportunities to Qatari SMEs on one hand, and local investors and international partner funds on the other.”
Through its QR360 million venture capital fund, Khalifa said, QDB is facilitating the success of entrepreneurs and SMEs.
“In its first virtual edition, the forum presents an opportunity for interested angel investors, business owners, entrepreneurs, and SMEs to explore investment and venture capital landscape in the country, as well as learn more about the various projects and ventures they can take part in,” he said.
IPA Qatar CEO Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al Thani said, “Against the backdrop of its economic resilience and rapid growth, Qatar’s investment landscape continues to offer investors a multitude of lucrative, sector-diverse opportunities to realise their ambitions and expand in the region.”
“As the strategic sponsor of the 3rd annual investment forum, we are delighted to be joining forces with QDB towards further advancing the investment ecosystem in Qatar and exploring new avenues of growth for local and international companies alike,” he said.
This year’s edition of the investment will mark QDB’s accomplishments in the investment arena over the past period. In this regard, QDB has launched a VC fund with a total size of QR365 million and has committed more than QR220 million of investments in innovative seed and SME opportunities.
Today, the QDB has more than 30 companies in its portfolio and its support is extended to all those companies.
QDB also launched the ‘shareholders loan’ product, under its Direct Lending Division to help finance SMEs listed under the umbrella of its SME Equity financing programme.
The product aims to bridge the gap in short-term financing facilities for working capital requirements with a maximum of QR7.5 million, and with a repayment period of up to three years, including a grace period of up to one year, as well as the option of converting credit into equity shares in the company.
This year, the forum includes an interactive panel discussion entitled ‘Conquering challenges to scale & thrive’, a special workshop on the Global FinTech Investment Landscape, and a live pitching session where a number of startups will be presenting their innovative ideas to investors towards raising capital to their entrepreneurial ventures.
The third annual investment forum comes on the heels of the success of the Qatar Entrepreneurship Conference 2020, which was also held virtually for the first time.
Through such leading platforms, QDB continues to enrich the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Qatar, and support SMEs in the country.
