The global tech giant Microsoft recently agreed to partner with
CH9, a startup accelerator in Bahrain that hopes to develop high-tech
vision for technology startups in the small gulf country.
As part of the deal, CH9 will become an official Microsoft
BizSpark Network Partner. The partnership is part of a program that
gives businesses with less than five years of development help with
best practices, mentoring and software resources.
Mohamed Altawash, founder and managing director of CH9, said he
believes the startup will have greater success by partnering with a
like-minded company such as Microsoft.
“SMEs (small- and medium-sized enterprises) are the lifeblood of
gulf economies, and regional incubator and accelerator units, like
CH9, play a vital role in nurturing that potential – finding
funding and helping startups build the momentum needed for long-term
success,” Sherif Tawfik, country general manager of Microsoft
Bahrain and Oman, said. “We believe we have a lot to offer these
SME ecosystems by working with organizations like CH9 and bringing
strategy and longevity to newly formed businesses.”
In recent exclusive comments to the Gulf News Journal, Tawfik
expanded on the nature of the partnership.
“Bahrain is seen as a productive ground for startups to grow in
the Middle East,” Tawfik said, adding that more than 90,000 SMEs
now make up about 30 percent of the GDP in Bahrain and are
responsible for 37 percent of all jobs.
“We want startups to have access to Microsoft software
development tools, connecting them with key industry players and
providing marketing visibility to help them nurture their business,”
Tawfik said. “Our BizSpark initiative has enabled thousands of tech
startups to access a range of Microsoft solutions at no cost.”
As for other development projects in the region, Tawfik cited
partnerships with influential startup organization Wamda, and in5, a
dynamic social initiative and registered nonprofit organization
focused on opportunities for Arab youth.
Tawfik said Microsoft also
collaborates with Bahrain Web Tech, a group of more than 320 tech
gurus and IT pros in Bahrain who meet monthly. Events like a
Seedstars MENA summit and a 2016 Start-up Weekend Bahrain conference
also promote the vibrant tech landscape that Microsoft and CH9 want
to see for local SMEs.
“With expectations running high for Bahrain to become a location
of choice for up-and-coming entrepreneurs, this is an ideal time for
this collaboration in order to provide startups in Bahrain with the
right tools and services needed to boost their businesses,” Tawfik
said. “We want startups to work smarter by having easy access to
enterprise grade technology and unleash their potential to achieve
more.”
Tawfik described the goals and objectives underlying the efforts,
and how specific individual programs are leveraged for growth.
“We strongly believe that Microsoft has a lot to contribute to
startups ecosystems,” he said. “Initiatives such as Imagine
Academy, YouthSpark and BizSpark help identify nascent businesses
early on and allow us the opportunity to contribute towards their
expansion and longevity.”
The partnership also prompted CH9 to create an “incubation” award for the winner
of the Microsoft Bahrain Imagine Cup. Microsoft’s Imagine Cup competitions invite students from around the world to come up with innovative solutions in different areas. Bahrain students have competed for the past two years.
