Applications For Cycle 5
Cycle 5 is now open for applications from technology companies ready to expand beyond their local market.
Building a tech-company in Qatar?
Scale it.
Scale Now is Qatar’s first program dedicated to growth-stage technology companies, offering six months of expert assessment, tailored mentorship, and direct introductions to the clients, investors, and partners needed to expand locally and beyond.
Deadline: 31st October
Fewer than one in six applicants make it through selection. Not ready this cycle?
Register your interest, and you will be notified when the next cycle opens.
Cycles completed, a 4th under way
0
Mentors, 607 hours of tailored mentorship delivered
0
Growth modules delivered across the program
0
Participant satisfaction score to date
0
Cycles completed, a 4th under way
0
Mentors, 607 hours of tailored mentorship delivered
0
Growth modules delivered across the program
0
Participant satisfaction score to date
0
- What is Scale Now; How does the program run?
Scale Now’s program consists of five phases with the program delivery running over a period of six months. It combines early filtration, in-depth assessment, capability building and market activation, delivering targeted support aligned with each company’s readiness for expansion
Scale Now was established to accelerate this transition by supporting high-potential technology companies as they scale locally, regionally, and globally. Across the first three cycles, the program has supported 29 technology companies that collectively secured more than 333 business deals and achieved average month-on-month revenue growth exceeding 34%
What Companies Recieve?
Equip
Capability Building and Mentorship
We build the capabilities needed to ensure tech companies transition to scale-ups, ensuring their readiness to scale.
Enable
Local GTM Support
We assist companies with their local go-to-market strategies by collaborating closely with market leaders to secure pilot opportunities.
Empower
Expansion Readiness Support
We facilitate the expansion of companies to new markets by developing and executing well defined plans.
What Companies Recieve?
EQUIP
CAPABILITY BUILDING AND MENTORSHIP
We build the capabilities needed to ensure tech companies transition to scale-ups, ensuring their readiness to scale
ENABLE
LOCAL GTM SUPPORT
We assist companies with their local go to market strategies by collaborating closely with market leaders to secure pilot opportunities
EMPOWER
EXPANSION READINESS SUPPORT
We facilitate the expansion of companies to new markets by developing and executing well defined plans
- Alumni
29 alumni. 12 in the current cohort.
10+ industries.
Across four cycles, Scale Now has backed Qatar-registered companies from fintech and healthtech to industrial AI and logistics.
A selection of alumni:
- Current Cohort Cycle 4
- Current Cohort Cycle 4
Explore the full network of alumni companies supported across four
Scale Now cycles.
Explore the full network of alumni companies supported across four Scale Now cycles.
- Latest updates
Updates :
Everything the program publishes lives in one feed: company news,
workshops, industry events, and reports. Post here only when there is
something worth posting.
- Program Announcements :
Wareone Expands to KSA through Scale Now
Faraj Abdulla, MCIT’s Director of Digital Economy, welcomed the new cohort as it begins its six-month journey.
Cycle 4 Kicks off with 12 companies
The Qatar-based VC firm ran a workshop on pitch refinement and investor expectations, helping companies prepare for real fundraising conversations.
- Participation in Key Local & International Events
Connecting Scale Now founders with global investors, enterprise partners, and industry leaders through curated international delegations and exhibitions.
Doha, Qatar
MWC Doha 2025
8 companies from the cohort showcased their innovations as exhibitors with dedicated booths, and 4 companies participated in pitching sessions to an audience of investors.
- 8 Exhibitors · 4 Pitching Startups
Rowad Conference 2025
8 Scale Now companies engaged through exhibition booths, with 3 of those companies representing the program in a dedicated panel discussion and several others taking part in investor pitching sessions.
- 8 Exhibitors · 3 Panelists
Doha, Qatar
SWITCH Singapore 2025
3 companies from the cohort participated as exhibitors to showcase deep-tech innovations, with 1 company representing the program as panelist to share insights on the Qatari startup ecosystem.
- 3 Deep-Tech Exhibitors · 1 Panelist
Singapore
Medicare Qatar 2025
4 Scale Now companies exhibited at the conference and 2 companies delivered keynote speaking sessions, expanding market access across the regional healthcare sector.
- 4 Exhibitors · 2 Keynote Speakers
Doha, Qatar
World Summit AI Qatar 2025
7 of Scale Now companies participated to engage with global AI leaders, policymakers, and industry experts, highlighting sovereign and enterprise AI capabilities.
- 7 AI Startups Engaged
Doha, Qatar
Web Summit 2025 & 2026
6 of Scale Now companies participated to present their companies in front of ecosystem partners, corporates, and international venture capital investors.
- 6 Cohort Companies Showcased
Doha, Qatar
- Workshops & Speaker Sessions
Intensive acceleration masterclasses, investor readiness coaching, and executive panel discussions led by Silicon Valley veterans, UC Berkeley faculty, and regional unicorn founders.
- Featured Panel Discussion · Strategic Ecosystem Synergies
Panel Discussion: Unlocking Government Opportunities Through Strategic Partnerships
Examining strategic frameworks for growth-stage technology ventures to access government procurement, establish high-trust institutional partnerships, and co-create digital solutions under national transformation mandates.
Noor Abu-Khadija
Head of Digital Economy Enablement
Moderator
Distinguished Panelists
Amr Samir
Qatar Country Lead, Scale AI
Dr. AlHasan AlSammarraie
Managing Partner & Founder, Applab Qatar
Rashid Al Kaabi
Director of Business Solutions, malomatia
Sulafa Al Dulaimi
TASMU Digital Transformation Offices, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
Pitching & Investor Readiness
Mastering Your Pitch Presentation
Comprehensive masterclass on investor deck architecture, value proposition articulation, valuation defense, and executive delivery for venture capital fundraising rounds.
Gigi Wang
UC Berkeley Faculty & Innovation Mentor
AI & Global Expansion
Leverage AI in Your Solution & Expand Globally
Technical and commercial blueprint on embedding enterprise generative AI, data- driven moat building, and orchestrating rapid global expansion from regional tech hubs.
Dr. Amr Awadallah
Founder & CEO, Vectara (ex-Cloudera, Google)
Product Excellence & Scale
Scaling Tech Businesses Through Product Excellence
Practical framework on product lifecycle management, quantitative PMF metrics, roadmap prioritization, and institutionalizing high-velocity product teams.
Gary Afary
Founder & Managing Director, Tarigo
Founder Resilience & Continuity
Navigating Uncertainty & Continuity
Strategic session addressing founder crisis management, runway optimization, business model pivoting, and maintaining team momentum amidst shifting economic landscapes.
Nayef Al-Ibrahim
Co-founder & CEO, Ibtechar
- Impact · Cohorts 1–3, 2025–2026
What alumni companies achieved during the program
Results reported by the 29 companies of our first three cycles, as published in the Scale Now Impact Report.
The full story is public. Program design, cycle-by-cycle outcomes, investment readiness, and the ecosystem behind it — all in the Scale Now Impact Report.
B2B deals closed during the program
0
+
Impact Report · Aug 2026
Average revenue
MoM growth
MoM growth
0
%
Impact Report - Aug 2026
Collaboration opportunities with partners
0
+
Impact Report · Aug 2026
Program Satisfaction Score to date
0
%
Impact Report - Aug 2026
Funding raised or in pipeline across 10 companies
$
0
M
Impact Report · Aug 2026
Market expansions completed, 2 more underway
0
Impact Report - Aug 2026
Mentorship hours delivered
0
Impact Report · Aug 2026
Mentors
0
¹ Top 21 performers
CYCLE
REVENUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
GRANTS &
FUNDING
FUNDING
B2B DEALS
CLOSED
CLOSED
DEAL VALUE
Cycle 1
54%
$5.4M
6
$7.2M
Cycle 2
33%
$7.4M
146
$3.7M
Cycle 3
25%
$684K
236
$3.4M
CYCLE
Cycle 1
Cycle 2
Cycle 3
REVENUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
54%
33%
25%
GRANTS &
FUNDING
FUNDING
$5.4M
$7.4M
$684K
B2B DEALS
CLOSED
CLOSED
6
146
236
DEAL VALUE
$7.2M
$3.7M
$3.4M
Founders Testimonials
“It sharpened our leadership mindset and
positioned us to move into our next phase of
growth with clarity and confidence.”
Cytomate · Cybersecurity · Cycle 2
Hamad Hadeed
Founder and CEO
“What stood out was the hands-on execution
alongside the program team, working with us
as an extension of our team.”
Khadoom · AI/ML · Cycle 2
Fatima Al-Mesallam
Strategic Partner
“Be prepared for a significant amount of real,
hands-on work — even if it means stepping
outside your comfort zone.”
Emma Systems · Aviation · Cycle 1
Wisam Costandi
Co-Founder and CEO
- National & Strategic Partners
Beyond the pipeline, Scale Now is powered by a network of national partners who joined forces with
MCIT to support companies across every stage of their scaling journey — from grants and regulatory
ease to mentorship and market access.
Oversees trade and business regulations, connecting
companies to domestic and international markets.
Provides financing, grants, equity programs, and advisory
support for SMEs, including B2B matchmaking.
Drives R&D innovation through grants, national challenges, and
pilots.
The national investment promotion agency, driving FDI and
supporting market entry via Startup Qatar.
- Join Scale Now
Work With Scale Now
Not a founder?
We can still work together
The program runs on operators, investors, and corporates who show up for
founders. This is how each gets involved.
Join as an Expert or Mentor
Experts & Mentors
Experts are expected to evaluate each company and conduct an in-depth assessment across key scalability factors to determine its readiness for growth. Based on the assessment outcomes, they provide a detailed assessment report with key recommendations and help shape a tailored program journey for each company, ensuring that the support provided addresses its specific needs, challenges, and stage of readiness
Meet investment-ready companies
Investors
Scale Now brings together investors and high-potential technology companies by supporting their execution and investment readiness. The program helps companies prepare for sales meetings, develop leads and follow-ups, and strengthen their investment readiness, while facilitating matchmaking with partners and investors for potential investment and pilot opportunities. Designed for high-potential tech entrepreneurs, corporates, and investors, Scale Now creates opportunities to scale, collaborate, and innovate within Qatar’s thriving business ecosystem.
Pilot with our companies
Corporate & Ecosystem Partners
Scale Now creates opportunities for corporate and ecosystem partners to connect with participating companies through potential investment and pilot opportunities. Through these connections, founders are exposed to strategic partners, commercial opportunities, investors, prospective advisory board members, universities for collaboration and intern pipelines, and ecosystem partners that can support their growth and expansion.
- The national ecosystem
One pathway, from idea to
global scale
Scale Now is the final stage of MCIT’s innovation pipeline — and scaling companies,
especially in digital sectors, cannot succeed in silos. Four national partners
connect our companies to funding, regulation, and market access.
Stage 1 · MCIT
Digital Incubation Center
Early-stage ideation to incubation.
Stage 2 · MCIT
TASMU Accelerator
Growth-stage acceleration and market
entry.
Stage 3 · You are here
Scale Now
High-potential scale-ups: international
scaling and regional expansion.
Stage 1 · MCIT
Digital Incubation Center
Early-stage ideation to incubation.
Stage 2 · MCIT
TASMU Accelerator
Growth-stage acceleration and market
entry.
Stage 3 · You are here
Scale Now
High-potential scale-ups: international
scaling and regional expansion.
- FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything founders usually ask before
committing to the six-month Scale Now
journey.
01 — Who can apply?
The program targets high-potential, growth-stage technology entrepreneurs, digital startups, scale-ups, corporates, and investors looking to scale, collaborate, and innovate.
02 — Does a company need to be registered in Qatar?
We focus on accelerating technology companies in Qatar’s digital economy to help them grow locally and expand internationally. (Note: Specific legal entity registration requirements are evaluated during the onboarding process).
03 —What level of traction is required
We target growth-stage scale-ups with market-ready products, active operations, and proven commercial traction. Our participating companies typically range from Pre-seed to Series B funding stages (with a heavy concentration in Seed and Series A) and actively generate revenue and B2B deals
04 — How long is the program?
We deliver our core program over a structured six-month period.
05 — What is the weekly time commitment?
We require a solid commitment to hands-on execution. Founders engage in capability-building modules, one-on-one mentorship, operational sales and funding preparation, and strategic ecosystem events.
06 — Can a company register interest after applications close?
We review applications during our dedicated sourcing cycles, but we continuously engage growth-stage technology companies through our wider ecosystem network and alumni initiatives.
07 — What happens during the selection process?
- Sourcing and Selection: We identify and screen high-potential applicants against predefined criteria through a competitive evaluation process.
- Discovery and Assessment: Our experts conduct an in-depth evaluation of key scalability factors and design a tailored program journey for each selected company.
08 — Is a pitch deck required at the application stage?
Yes, a pitch deck is required, but it is not strictly required within the initial application form itself; you can complete your application without uploading it right away, and it will be requested during the subsequent evaluation stages
09 —Can international companies apply?
The program is limited to local companies already established and equipped to scale within Qatar.
10 — How can mentors, investors and corporates participate?
- Mentors: Join us as subject matter experts or Experts-in-Residence (EIR) to deliver tailored 1-on-1 mentorship and lead specialized growth modules.
- Investors: Connect with our cohort companies through structured matchmaking, pitch sessions, and our dedicated Finance & Investment Readiness track.
- Corporates & Partners: Collaborate with us on local Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies, offer pilot opportunities, close B2B deals, and participate in strategic panels and events.