Qatar Development Bank — Startup Qatar Investment Program
QatarGovernment-Backed / Sovereign
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About
The Startup Qatar Investment Program is Qatar Development Bank's direct-funding channel for tech start-ups, offering up to $1.1 million for early-stage (START) companies launching in Qatar and up to $5.5 million for later-stage (GROW) companies expanding into the market, disbursed in milestone-based tranches alongside visa, housing, R&D-grant and mentoring support. It prioritises AI/ML, fintech, healthtech, climate tech, cybersecurity and other knowledge-based sectors. In 2025 QDB invested in more than 60 start-ups (fintech drew roughly a third of deals) and grew its VC portfolio 16% year-on-year to over QAR 350 million; in February 2026 it raised the program's funding target eight-fold to QAR 1 billion by 2030.
- Founded
- —
- GCC relevance
- Core GCC
- How to reach out
- Apply through official program
Recent activity: Expanded the program's funding target eight-fold to QAR 1 billion (~$275M) by 2030, announced February 15, 2026. · source
Sector focus
Key people
Mohammed Al-Emadi
Executive Director of Incubation and VC Investment, QDB
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