DOHA: Silatech is set to launch Qatar’s first business angel network, an initiative to connect the start-up community with potential investors.
The business angel net work-SILA, which means “connection” in Arabic, will help boost the success rate of early stage new businesses, Silatech CEO Dr Tarik M Yousef told the media yesterday.
With the launch of the network, Qatar will be positioned at the forefront of the region’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, he said.
Silatech has identified a start-up equity gap, as entrepreneurs in Qatar find it difficult to obtain funding for their business ideas. The new angel investor network will aim to address this gap through collaboration with a variety of organisations both within Qatar and throughout the region.
In addition to Silatech, Founding Partners in SILA include the Bedaya Center, Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and Enterprise Qatar (EQ). More SILA network partners and sponsors will be announced shortly.
“Despite a generally favourable enterprise climate and a lot of young talent with good business ideas, the equity gap between the seed and early business stages and the growth stage of small business with support from investment funds is a barrier to success that SILA will address.
SILA will connect angel investors with start-up entrepreneurs by offering opportunities for interaction and personal mentoring at a series of regular events. In addition, SILA will provide training programs for both potential angel investors as well as aspiring young entrepreneurs”, Silatech CEO said.
He added: “Our intention is to catalyze the start-up ecosystem in Qatar and develop sustainable enterprises with sound investment ideas. In keeping with the Qatar 2030 Vision, our focus mainly will be on knowledge economy businesses. By radically improving support services, SILA will provide a much-needed link in the entrepreneurship chain by fast-tracking learning and time-to-market for start-ups in Qatar.” Layla Al Dorani, an entrepreneur being empowered by Silatech, was also present.
The Peninsula
