Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, attended the closing ceremony of the "Startup Bahrain – University of Bahrain" competition.
During his remarks at the ceremony, Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa emphasised that Bahrain’s progress in entrepreneurship and startup development is a testament to the visionary leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
The Finance Minister highlighted that national policies and initiatives aimed at enhancing the business environment, fostering innovation, and boosting productivity have cultivated an economy where creativity thrives, talent is nurtured, and every Bahraini is empowered to compete in the future and contribute to shaping it. He underscored that the "Startup Bahrain" competition reflects a profound belief in Bahrain’s greatest asset: the talent, creativity, and ambition of its people.
The ceremony, held at the University of Bahrain, gathered ministers, senior officials, representatives of partner organisations, academics, entrepreneurs, and participating students.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa commended the Labour Fund’s (Tamkeen) pivotal role, led by His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Court and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tamkeen, in supporting programmes that develop national talent and entrepreneurship, contributing to an innovation- and knowledge-driven economy.
The Finance Minister also recognised the efforts of Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Bahrain, and those involved in the educational process, for strengthening the link between educational outcomes and available opportunities.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa expressed appreciation to the programme’s supporting partners, including the Bahrain Economic Development Board, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and the University of Bahrain. He also commended the efforts of Startup Bahrain and all supporting and sponsoring companies for their role in building a vibrant startup ecosystem in the Kingdom.
The Finance Minister noted that the "Startup Bahrain – University of Bahrain" competition serves as a successful national model for encouraging Bahraini youth to innovate and transform ideas into entrepreneurial ventures that drive economic growth and enhance Bahrain’s competitiveness on the regional and global entrepreneurship landscape.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa added that startups have become an important contributor to economic growth, job creation, and the development of new economic sectors. He emphasised the importance of continuously improving the ecosystem available to entrepreneurs at every stage of their business journey, from ideation to expansion and market access. He noted that every successful venture begins with an idea, but success requires commitment, teamwork, discipline, courage, and a continuous desire for improvement, alongside a supportive environment that helps transform ideas into successful businesses.
The Finance Minister announced a significant development for future students, revealing that starting next year, participation in the "Startup Bahrain – University of Bahrain" competition will be a graduation requirement for students in the College of Business Administration at the University of Bahrain. He described this move as a strong endorsement of entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, reflecting confidence in the ability of every Bahraini student to lead and succeed.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa further added that three years ago, with the support of HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, initiatives were launched to establish a foundation for this vision, including monthly startup pitch competitions that allow finalists to compete for the title of "Startup of the Year" and secure equity investment from Mumtalakat. This initiative aims to transform ideas from classrooms into viable companies and jobs.
The Finance Minister noted that the success of the entrepreneurial ecosystem depends on individuals who possess the commitment, discipline, and courage to turn ideas into reality. He added that young entrepreneurs help transform ambitions into ventures and ventures into economic opportunities, whose success strengthens a sense of belonging and active participation in nation-building. He further emphasised that this entrepreneurial spirit reflects his firm belief that people are Bahrain’s true wealth, supported by government initiatives that create quality opportunities through the private sector, embodying the concept of "Team Bahrain".
For his part, Dr. Juma expressed appreciation to Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa for his continued support and oversight of the Startup Bahrain programme for students of the College of Business Administration at the University of Bahrain. He emphasised that the programme aims to enable more young people to enter entrepreneurship, establish their own startups, and transform their ambitious and innovative ideas into real projects.
Dr. Juma affirmed that the University of Bahrain hosted and implemented the programme through a dedicated university team in coordination and partnership with Tamkeen and Startup Bahrain. He commended the programme as one of Bahrain’s leading national platforms for supporting startup creation and development, connecting innovative young people with investors, providing specialised training in their areas of innovation, and creating a suitable environment for their ventures to grow and expand. He noted that the University of Bahrain is proud of the participation of more than 1,000 students in the programme, which witnessed exceptional interest and unprecedented engagement. He also expressed his appreciation to Tamkeen for supporting the programme.
During the ceremony, winners were announced: the startup "ResQ" claimed first place, followed by "Loop" in second and "Durra" in third. Several partner-sponsored awards were also presented, including the Kuwait Finance House Award to "Naama", the GFH Group Award to "Loop", the Reboot Award to "ilm", the General Assembly Bahrain Innovation Award to "Tamayuz", and the Doo Award to "Aucter".
Tamkeen’s support for the initiative aligns with its 2026 strategic priorities, which focus on supporting initiatives with high economic impact, enhancing private sector competitiveness, aligning skills with labour market needs, and adopting innovative approaches to stimulate startup growth and strengthen the readiness of Bahraini youth to contribute to the national economy, thereby supporting sustainable economic development in the Kingdom.
Held from May 12 to 17, the programme attracted students from various academic disciplines, guiding them through a comprehensive entrepreneurial journey that included team formation, idea development, prototype creation, mentorship sessions, workshops, and various stages of competition leading to final presentations before a judging panel and representatives of Bahrain’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The scale of participation and quality of projects reflected the growing entrepreneurial culture among Bahraini youth and their interest in transforming ideas into scalable ventures.
The initiative also enhanced experiential learning by awarding students additional academic credit linked to their progress through the programme, supporting the development of practical and entrepreneurial skills and providing a realistic startup-building experience, from testing and refining ideas to developing business models and initial investor pitches. Dedicated digital tools also supported participants throughout their learning and development journey.
The final round concluded with 10 student teams receiving awards funded by Tamkeen to support and empower student-led startups and encourage founders to continue developing their ventures after the programme. Additional prizes from partner organisations were also awarded to support promising teams and enhance their growth prospects.
Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of Tamkeen, said that that such initiatives equip Bahraini youth with practical skills and experiences necessary for entrepreneurship, boosting their confidence to transform ideas into scalable businesses. She reaffirmed Tamkeen’s commitment to developing national talent and enhancing youth participation in the private sector.
For his part, Dr. Fuad Mohammed Al Ansari, President of the University of Bahrain, emphasised that students’ performance throughout the programme highlighted the value of practical educational experiences in developing skills beyond traditional academic realms, preparing them for entrepreneurial and professional pathways.
Overall, the "Startup Bahrain – University of Bahrain" programme attracted over 1,000 students from more than 160 teams, with 91 startups advancing to the semi-finals and 10 teams reaching the finals. The ceremony concluded with the announcement of the winning teams and recognition of participants and supporters for their contributions to the programme’s success.