Fikra program participants conclude 3-month training phase
Gulf Bank continues to provide necessary support to participants
KUWAIT: Gulf Bank has announced that participants of Fikra Program are progressing as planned, the entrepreneurs just concluded the 20 entrepreneurship training programs scheduled for this edition, over the period of three months, and are now in the mentoring stage, and then will start preparing for the final ceremony in April 2018, where the entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas to the public and investors.
The mentoring stage has begun on Sunday, February 4, 2018 with a networking session where Fikra Program entrepreneurs met the 15 mentors from different industries that are assigned to their teams, following that session the entrepreneurs will be meeting with their mentors on a weekly basis.
Following the closing ceremony, the annual AIM Startup Pitch Competition will be held, of which number of Fikra Program entrepreneurs from both second and third edition will take part. The 2018 AIM Startup Pitch Competition will be held at Dubai World Trade Centre in April 2018, under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
AIM Startup 2018 Pitch Competition is an initiative by the Ministry of Economy in the UAE which identifies and fosters startups from the region. The 5 selected winners in this year’s Kuwait AIM Startup pitch competition are: 851 Animation from Fikra Program - 3rd Edition, Young Doctors Academy from Fikra Program- 3rd Edition, Environmental Projects Supports Company from Fikra Program - 3rd Edition and Kindaishen from Fikra Program- 2nd Edition and Nabta Health. Participants were selected from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan.
Laila Al-Qatami, Assistant General Manager for Corporate communications at Gulf Bank said: “We are glad that participants of Fikra Program are progressing as planned and making use of every single opportunity offered to them. We see a great potential in each individual and wish the whole group best of luck. Looking forward to the final ceremony and to the upcoming editions of this successful program”
Gulf Bank is proud to be a gold sponsor of the Fikra Program for the second consecutive year. Fikra Program is an intensive entrepreneurship training program that provides aspiring entrepreneurs with the technical skills and business knowledge needed to launch their own businesses such as leadership skills, comprehensive business plan design, mentorship, financial analysis, media exposure, investment opportunities, and others.
Fikra Program is under the patronage of Khaled Al-Roudan, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and is proudly supported by Ministry of State for Youth Affairs; the National Fund for SME Development; Gulf Bank; AlHamra Real Estate Company; Ali Abdulwahab AlMutawa Commercial Company; Markaz Financial Center; Lexus Kuwait as a part of Al-Sayer Group; and Grand Cinemas. Fikra Program is managed by Cubical Services Business Incubator.