Frequently asked questions

No. Startup Qatar brings together programs and services offered by multiple entities across Qatar’s startup ecosystem. Each program remains owned and operated by the relevant entity, which sets its own eligibility criteria, application process, assessment requirements and approval decisions. Startup Qatar helps founders discover and navigate these opportunities more easily through a single platform.

Yes. Startup Qatar includes opportunities for both Qatar-based and international startups. Several programs are specifically designed to support international founders seeking to establish or expand their operations in Qatar. Eligibility varies by program, so applicants should review the relevant program requirements before applying.

Not in all cases. Registration requirements vary by program. Some programs accept international companies or founders before they establish a legal entity in Qatar, while others require the company to already be registered and operating in Qatar. Applicants should review the eligibility requirements of each program before applying.

Startup Qatar provides a program recommendation tool that helps founders identify relevant opportunities based on factors such as company type, sector, company size and the type of support required. Founders can use the Startup Qatar Wizard to explore recommended programs and then review the detailed eligibility requirements before applying.

Potentially, yes. Each program is owned and assessed independently by the relevant entity. Eligibility for one program does not automatically determine eligibility for another, and some programs may have restrictions relating to participation in other forms of support. Applicants should therefore review the specific terms of each program.

● Investment is capital provided to a company to support its growth, usually under agreed commercial or investment terms. Depending on the program, this may involve an ownership interest or other investment conditions.

● A grant is financial support provided for an approved purpose or activity and is generally not repaid, provided the recipient complies with the program’s terms, eligible costs and milestones.

● An incentive is financial or non-financial support designed to reduce the cost or complexity of establishing or growing a business. Examples may include fee waivers, credits, subsidized services or other business-support benefits.

● Venture capital funding is investment provided by professional investment funds to startups with significant growth potential. Venture capital investors typically invest in exchange for an ownership stake and seek a financial return as the company grows.

The structure, conditions and eligibility requirements vary by program, so applicants should review the specific terms before applying.

The Invest Qatar Gateway is a digital platform that connects investors and businesses with opportunities, services and partners across Qatar. Through the Gateway, users can connect with companies and potential business partners, explore public and private-sector opportunities, access tenders and support services, connect with the Invest Qatar team and access venture capital opportunities.

Startups can use the dedicated Venture Capital Funding module on the Invest Qatar Gateway to explore participating funds, review their investment focus and eligibility criteria, create a company profile and submit funding applications. Each fund has its own investment strategy, preferred sectors, company stages and assessment requirements, and all investment decisions remain with the relevant fund.

The Startup Qatar Investment Program, provided by Qatar Development Bank (QDB), supports high-potential technology startups seeking to establish or expand their operations in Qatar. The program provides investment funding through two tracks: START and GROW; while selected companies may also be eligible to access relevant Startup Qatar incentives and ecosystem support services.

The program is designed for innovative, high-growth and knowledge-based technology startups with the potential to generate significant economic value. START supports earlier-stage companies seeking to establish operations in Qatar, while GROW supports established startups seeking to expand their operations into Qatar.

START is designed for startups with a Proof of Concept or Minimum Viable Product that are seeking to establish and launch operations in Qatar. GROW is designed for established startups seeking to expand their existing operations into Qatar.

The maximum funding available is up to US$1.1 million through START and up to US$5.5 million through GROW. The actual amount awarded is determined following QDB’s assessment of the company, its funding requirements and the agreed investment plan.

Funding is not necessarily provided as one upfront payment. The approved amount may be disbursed in tranches linked to mutually agreed business milestones, based on the company’s approved plan and funding arrangement.

The program prioritizes innovative and disruptive technology startups across a broad range of sectors, including:

● Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

● Agricultural Technology

● Business-to-Business Software

● Climate Technology

● Cybersecurity

● Education Technology

● Energy Technology

● Financial Technology

● Health Technology

● Internet of Things and Big Data

● Marketplaces

● Property Technology

● Robotics and Drones

● Sports Technology

● Supply Chain Technology

This list is not exhaustive. Innovative and disruptive startups operating outside these areas may also be considered.

Yes. The program is specifically designed to attract high-potential technology startups to establish or expand operations in Qatar. International companies may therefore apply, subject to meeting the relevant START or GROW eligibility and assessment requirements.

In addition to investment funding, selected startups may have access to a range of Startup Qatar benefits and ecosystem support, including:

● registration and licensing support;

● subsidized co-working space;

● talent and internship support;

● access to innovation and research and development opportunities;

● market-access and technology-adoption opportunities;

● training, mentoring and capability-building support;

● opportunities to showcase technologies at exhibitions and events; and

● relocation and housing support.

The availability, duration and eligibility requirements of individual benefits may vary depending on the relevant program or service provider.

Applications are submitted online through the Startup Qatar Investment Program application process available on the Startup Qatar website. Applicants should select the START or GROW tracks based on what best matches their stage and Qatar expansion plan and review the program requirements before submitting their application.

Applicants are currently required to upload the following documents as part of the application:

● Pitch Deck, maximum file size 30MB;

● Founder(s) Profile, maximum file size 30MB; and

● Historical and Projected Financials, maximum file size 30MB.

Applicants must also complete the required information in the application form, including details on the founding team, business, plans for Qatar and founder commitment. Additional supporting information or documentation may be requested during the subsequent assessment or due diligence process.

Applications may progress through several assessment stages, including initial screening, founder interviews, due diligence and investment review. The exact process and timeline may vary depending on the START or GROW track, the company and the completeness of the information provided.

ScaleNow is a growth program led by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) that supports Qatar-based technology companies seeking to strengthen their capabilities and expand regionally and globally. According to MCIT’s current program information, applicants should be registered in Qatar, have a market-ready digital product or service, demonstrate financial and operational stability, and have a clear regional or international expansion ambition. Applicants should review MCIT’s current eligibility requirements before applying.

Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), part of Qatar Foundation, supports technology startups at different stages through incubation, acceleration, commercialization and growth programs. Its offering includes startup incubation, sector-focused accelerators, access to mentors and experts, workspace and technology infrastructure, strategic partner and talent access, investment opportunities and support for eligible entrepreneurs seeking Qatar’s Entrepreneur Residency. The most appropriate QSTP program depends on the startup’s technology, maturity and growth requirements.

The Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI) provides startups and innovators with opportunities to develop, test and commercialize innovative solutions in collaboration with public and private-sector organizations in Qatar. Through initiatives such as Qatar Open Innovation, startups can respond to real challenges and may gain access to pilot-development support, testing environments, technical expertise, mentorship and potential commercial deployment opportunities. Eligibility, funding and commercial terms vary by challenge.

TASMU Smart Qatar provides several routes for technology startups to engage with Qatar’s digital ecosystem. These include acceleration and market-access opportunities, mentoring, pilot opportunities, investor connections and other ecosystem support. Startups and small businesses may also participate in relevant TASMU tenders, subject to meeting the applicable government registration, accreditation, vendor-registration and classification requirements. Applicants should review the relevant TASMU program or tender requirements before applying.

Startup Qatar AI Compute Credits is a grant-based incentive program designed to support startups developing AI-driven products and solutions from Qatar.

The program provides eligible startups with subsidized access to cloud computing infrastructure, including GPU and AI-optimized environments, through capped compute credits. The objective is to reduce the infrastructure cost of developing, training and deploying AI solutions while supporting the growth of AI innovation from Qatar.

The program is designed for early-stage and growth-oriented startups that are developing AI, machine-learning or data-driven products and have current or planned development operations in Qatar.

Applicants should meet the following criteria:

● Be a registered startup or incorporated company with current or planned development operations in Qatar.

● Have a technology focus with demonstrable use of artificial intelligence, machine learning or data-driven innovation.

● Have founders or a core technology team currently based, or planning to be based, in Qatar.

● Demonstrate potential for commercial growth and market impact.

● Have a clear and justified need for GPU computing for model training, inference or other AI workloads.

● Be able to comply with Qatar's applicable data-protection, cybersecurity and sector-specific regulatory requirements.

Preference is given to startups with a working prototype, Minimum Viable Product or early market traction.

The program is open to registered startups or incorporated companies that have current or planned development operations in Qatar. This means companies planning to establish or expand their AI development activities in Qatar may also be considered, subject to the program's eligibility and assessment requirements.

Selected startups may receive three main forms of support:

● AI Compute Credits: Capped credits providing subsidized access to cloud computing platforms, including GPU and AI-optimized environments.

● Technical Onboarding Support: Guidance from Qai engineers to help startups onboard their workloads, use the computing environment effectively and manage usage.

● Startup Qatar Ecosystem Access: Connections to Startup Qatar programs, mentors, partners, technology communities and relevant industry stakeholders.

The credits are intended to support legitimate AI workloads, including:

● model training;

● inference;

● experimentation and testing;

● AI product development; and

● other justified GPU-intensive workloads.

The proposed use should be clearly explained in the application and will be considered as part of the technical assessment.

Selected startups receive support with initial onboarding and basic technical enablement on the approved computing environment.

The support is intended to help teams integrate their workloads, understand the platform and manage usage efficiently.

It does not include ongoing software debugging, product development or detailed architecture optimization.

Applicants are asked to provide information such as (non-exhaustive):

● company details;

● founding team and technology team background;

● technology and AI solution description;

● commercial traction;

● current or planned commitment to Qatar; and

● expected computing requirements and use cases.

The application is submitted through the program's online application process hosted on F6S.

Applicants can apply through the Startup Qatar AI Compute Credits page, which directs applicants to the online F6S application form.

Applicants should complete the application with information on their company, team, technology, market traction, plans for Qatar and AI computing requirements.

Startup Qatar provides information and access pathways for two dedicated long-term residency options relevant to eligible entrepreneurs and executives in Qatar:

● Entrepreneur Residency: designed for eligible early-stage and scaling entrepreneurs. Applicants require endorsement from a recognized business incubator in Qatar and must meet the relevant financial and documentation requirements. The pathway is available to eligible entrepreneurs already residing in Qatar as well as overseas applicants.

● Executive Residency: designed for eligible senior executives already residing in Qatar. Applicants are nominated by an eligible employer and must meet the applicable role, salary, professional-experience and documentation requirements.

Both programs provide long-term residency with the option to renew and access to additional residency-related benefits. Detailed eligibility, documentation and application requirements should be reviewed by relevant program owner.