QSTP’s Unique ‘Ride and Pitch’ Initiative Introduces University Students to Thrill of Innovation
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), part of Qatar Foundation (QF), recently organized a three-day program to introduce university students to tech innovation and entrepreneurship. Comprising a series of workshops focused on AI-based product development, the craft of pitching, as well as one-on-one mentorship, the program concluded with a first-of-its-kind ‘pitching’ competition held on a moving tram around QF’s Education City.
The first edition of the ‘QSTP Ride and Pitch’ program, open to QF partner universities, drew keen participation from students at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q), Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar (WCM-Q), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), and Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ). Representing different countries, including Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, India, Kazakhstan, Japan, and the US, these students embarked on a journey into the heart of innovation.
Throughout the program, students learned about ways to develop and enhance their entrepreneurial ideas under the guidance of nine mentors, including business founders, professors, senior researchers, and consultants. Notable mentors included Bashar Hudhud, Co-Founder of QSTP-incubated startup Class Tap; Mohammed Zebian, Acceleration Program Manager at QSTP; and Rayane Fodil, Head of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Innovation Cafe Consultancy.
On the final day of the program, the students competed in a two-minute pitch in front of a panel of judges, three of whom were with the participants on the tram while two were watching live. The one-hour tram ride familiarized students with the thrill, unpredictability, and agility that startup founders often face as part of their journey.
One of the judges, Hamad Al Hajri, Founder & CEO of Snoonu, appreciated the initiative, saying, “In the world of innovation, everything has to be innovative. The pitching competition inside a tram is reflective of how startups are in real life. The constant movement, including the shaking and bumping, and students trying to balance themselves – this is what startups experience on a daily basis.”
He continued, “I think most of us as judges came in thinking that we would inspire the participants, but they actually inspired us. They have given us hope that there are many intelligent ideas from young people just waiting to be discovered. It is important that these young people have the resources and support they need not just from the government but also from the private sector to be able to flourish and benefit the local tech innovation ecosystem.”
Dr. Jack Lau, President of QSTP, commented, “This was the most innovative pitching event that I have ever been to, taking advantage of what is indigenous to Qatar, QF, and Education City. I am grateful to QF for their support and equally proud of our team for organizing this wonderful event that presented students with a memorable experience.”
“Pitching their ideas in an unconventional environment was part of the challenge participants had to face. We wanted this experience to be as close to real-life as possible, with unexpected and uncertain occurrences. For instance, there might have been an unstable internet connection or a noisy atmosphere but these were meant to be that way in order to throw a bit of a curveball at the participants, and they all did a wonderful job. We have received amazing feedback and are already preparing for the next, bigger edition of the program, which we plan on opening up to all universities in Qatar.”
The first-place winner of the competition, Shugyla Karshygakyzy, a sophomore student from NU-Q, hailed the program as an ‘eye-opening experience.’ “I am grateful for the opportunity provided to us as part of the QSTP Ride and Pitch program. People around me were very supportive and encouraging. I truly appreciate the guidance I received from the mentors during the mentorship workshops as well as the opportunities to network and build connections.”
Shugyla’s idea is to leverage AI in a way that helps tackle the issue of low engagement, views, and likes on Instagram and TikTok for content creators. She aims to create a platform that combines various AI tools that help with everything from content strategy and content editing to posting content on platforms. “For someone who doesn’t come from a strong tech background, it was amazing to learn from experts and see the possibility of turning my idea into reality,” said Shugyla.
HBKU student Muhammad Saad and WCM-Q student Lujain Al-Emadi won second and third place respectively.
In addition to free mentorship hours with QSTP experts and a special booth at QSTP’s upcoming AI Week 2024, winners receive the opportunity to fast track to QSTP Innovation Programs to launch their startups and find relevant support. The first-place winner walked away with an iPad Pro while the second and third place winners received AirPods.
About Qatar Science & Technology Park
Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), part of Qatar Foundation, is a Free Zone, accelerator, and incubator for tech-product development in Qatar. The park fosters an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Qatar that works to accelerate the commercialization of market-ready technologies to realize Qatar’s national diversification drive.
QSTP’s focus ranges across four overarching themes, comprising Energy, Environment, Health Sciences, and Information & Communication Technologies (ICT), in line with the Qatar National Research Strategy announced in 2012.
Located in Qatar Foundation’s Education City, QSTP has access to the vital resources of a cluster of leading research universities. Members of QSTP’s Free Zone include Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), international corporations, and research institutions. They are collectively committed to investing in new technology development programs, creating intellectual property, enhancing technology management skills, and developing innovative new products.
QSTP supports QF’s economic and human development objectives for Qatar and is increasingly recognized as an international hub for applied research, innovation, incubation, and entrepreneurship.
About Qatar Foundation – Unlocking Human Potential
Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) is a non-profit organization that supports Qatar on its journey to becoming a diversified and sustainable economy. QF strives to serve the people of Qatar and beyond by providing specialized programs across its innovation-focused ecosystem of education, research and development, and community development.
QF was founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Amir, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, who shared the vision to provide Qatar with quality education. Today, QF’s world-class education system offers lifelong learning opportunities to community members as young as six months through to doctoral level, enabling graduates to thrive in a global environment and contribute to the nation’s development.
QF is also creating a multidisciplinary innovation hub in Qatar, where homegrown researchers are working to address local and global challenges. By promoting a culture of lifelong learning and fostering social engagement through programs that embody Qatari culture, QF is committed to empowering the local community and contributing to a better world for all.
