What is the Startup Qatar investment program, and should I apply?
It is Qatar Development Bank funding, run under Invest Qatar's Startup Qatar initiative, for tech startups setting up or expanding in Qatar: up to $1.1 million on the START track for companies with a proof of concept or MVP, and up to $5.5 million on GROW for established startups, released in tranches against agreed milestones. Around the money come licence-fee waivers, work and entrepreneur visas, subsidised coworking and housing, and access to Qatar's R&D grants. International founders can apply online. Apply only if you mean to build real operations in Qatar and the Gulf, and read the terms on ownership, since it is investment, not a grant.
The programme's own page: funding from QDB for tech startups setting up or expanding in Qatar, up to $1.1 million on START (proof of concept or MVP) and up to $5.5 million on GROW (established startups), released in tranches against milestones, plus licensing, visa, coworking and housing support.
Answers who can apply (international founders included), how the investment, grant and incentive programmes differ, and how START and GROW are chosen and assessed.
Invest Qatar's single directory of Qatar's startup funding, grants and incentives, including QDB's equity programmes, Alchemist Doha (up to $1M in seed equity) and R&D grants such as the Technology Development Grant.
Startup Qatar's long-term, self-sponsored residency for founders and senior executives, granted with an endorsement from a recognised Qatar incubator (QBIC, Scale7, QSTP and others) and a bank balance of at least QAR 36,500 over the past three months.
