Under its commitment to foster technological creativity and entrepreneurship among youth and support promising tech talents in Qatar, Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), part of Qatar Foundation (QF), held the second edition of its flagship QSTP Ride & Pitch program during QSTP AI Week 2024.
This edition of QSTP Ride & Pitch welcomed 34 student participants from universities across Qatar, including Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of QF, as well as QF partner universities Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q), Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), and Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), along with Qatar University, University of Doha for Science & Technology (UDST), and Northumbria University. The program also engaged 14 homegrown startups focused on AI technologies.
Through a series of expert-led workshops, participants were given opportunities to broaden their understanding and hone their skills on essential areas of entrepreneurship such as the art of pitching and the various stages of product development.
More than 10 mentors including startup founders and experts from organizations like HBKU’s Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), UDST, and QSTP, worked closely with the participants offering them personalized guidance to enhance their innovative ideas and strengthen their entrepreneurial skills.
The program culminated with a pitching competition on a moving tram inside QF’s Education City where participants presented their ideas to a panel of judges within the time restriction of two minutes. The format of the competition was especially designed to familiarize participants with the thrill, unpredictability, and pressure that startup founders often experience, particularly at the start of their entrepreneurial journey.
Commenting on the occasion, Dr Jack Lau, President of QSTP said, “At QSTP, we pride ourselves on being a home for entrepreneurs—a place where ideas are nurtured, and bold ambitions are transformed into impactful ventures. The QSTP Ride & Pitch program is not just about pitching ideas; it’s an event to see and to be seen. It’s a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their vision, connect with potential investors and collaborators, and gain invaluable feedback from a diverse and experienced audience.
“This year’s edition is particularly exciting, as it comes during our AI Week, which has welcomed more than 3,000 registered visitors from all over the world. The diversity of participants and the authenticity of their AI-driven ideas reflect the boundless potential of technology to create value for society. This global interest underscores QSTP’s growing reputation as a hub for innovation and a launchpad for entrepreneurial success.”
The top three winners for each category were awarded during the closing ceremony of QSTP AI Week 2024. In the student category, a team from UDST clinched the first position for their innovative solution – Trash-E – focused on waste management using AI.
One of the team members, Waqas Behzad, commented, “It’s great to see organizations like QSTP inspiring young entrepreneurs and startups to use modern technologies to form innovative solutions. Such programs are especially important in Qatar as the nation is committed to diversifying its economy – advancing tech entrepreneurship is sure to yield considerable results.”
iCareCC, a digital platform and a chatbot that connects researchers with practitioners from the energy industry through an AI-matching system, secured first place in the startup category. Mohamad Baalbaki, founder of iCareCC and a graduate of HBKU, appreciated the program for giving his startup visibility and connecting him with local stakeholders. “The program was very insightful – we had the chance to learn about diverse perspectives, receive mentorship, and hone our skills in product development as well as pitching. After winning first place amongst all participating startups, I feel more motivated to further develop my idea and take it to the market.”
