Manama : As part of its ongoing efforts to support and empower entrepreneurship and startups, and building on the success of previous editions of StartUp Bahrain Pitch in advancing an innovative and dynamic ecosystem, StartUp Bahrain, the Kingdom’s leading startup platform supported by the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), hosted the latest edition of the StartUp Bahrain Pitch series.
The event was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), and the Bahrain Development Bank (BDB).
The event featured a judging panel of leading experts and seasoned investors in the field of entrepreneurship, including Stephanie Nour, Partner at Nuwa Capital and keynote speaker; Ronald Daher, CEO at AstroLabs; Hasan Haider, Founder and Partner at Plus VC; and Laith Al Khalili, Associate Director at Mumtalakat.
The participating Bahraini startups varied in industry, starting with Unlabeled, a mobile app that enables SMEs to instantly create e-commerce websites without technical skills; Jaras, a platform that helps children explore and learn through short educational clips and interactive activities that build skills and encourage movement; Wajba, a digital platform that allows F&B providers to sell surplus items at discounted prices, reducing food waste while making meals more affordable; and WeFit, a fitness tech platform that connects users with gyms and trainers and enables instant booking for memberships, classes, and personal training.
After the evaluation by the judging panel, the top two winning teams were announced: “Wajba” was crowned with first place and “Jaras” in second place.
Ghassan Esfahani, founder of “Wajba”, said the company was pleased to secure first place in the StartUp Bahrain Pitch rounds, which are designed to support entrepreneurship and emerging businesses. He noted that the achievement represents an important step in Wajba’s ongoing efforts to expand and succeed.
Walaa Al Araibi, of “Jaras”, expressed appreciation to all entities that supported the initiative’s success and highlighted the value of participating in the StartUp Bahrain Pitch rounds, noting that the experience offered an opportunity to engage with the entrepreneurship community and explore new avenues for growth.
This support aligns with Tamkeen’s strategic priorities for 2025, which focus on enhancing the position and competitiveness of Bahrainis in the private sector, equipping Bahrainis with suitable skills for career development in the private sector, and prioritising enterprise growth, digitisation, and sustainability, and supporting the development of the ecosystem surrounding the labour market and private sector.
For more information about StartUp Bahrain and to participate in upcoming editions of StartUp Bahrain Pitch, follow @startupbahrain on social media.
