Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), a member of Qatar Foundation, has announced the opening of applications for cycle 14 of its mentorship program, XLR8. Now in its eighth year, XLR8 is an intensive five-month program that helps promising innovators and entrepreneurs determine if their tech-based ideas are commercially viable by providing them with the tools and mentoring needed to assess market fit, secure customer traction, and increase investor awareness.

Mohammed Zebian, Program Manager - Acceleration at QSTP said: “QSTP offers a supportive environment for budding innovators and entrepreneurs to build, launch and grow their tech businesses. The XLR8 program, which is part of our continuous efforts to strengthen Qatar’s innovation ecosystem, has inspired hundreds of local innovators to pursue their ambitions and develop necessary skills.

“Equipped with such knowledge, graduates of this program are better prepared to begin their journey as a startup. We invite innovators to apply for the upcoming cycle of XLR8 and benefit from mentorship by industry leaders and an opportunity to learn from successful entrepreneurs.”

The XLR8 program is open to teams of up to five members, all of whom must be residents of Qatar. Over the course of the program, participating teams will endeavor to convert their tech-based ideas into early prototypes through intensive workshops and hands-on mentorship, which will also put them on track towards developing an entrepreneurial venture. XLR8 is not open to existing private companies.

Mentorship sessions will be organized within QSTP’s Innovation Hub, and teams will have access to co-working spaces.

31 startups have been launched via the XLR8 program since its inception, and close to 190 teams with over 460 individuals have benefited from its high-quality mentorship.

Applications are open until 2 December, with the program itself launching on 10 December. For more details about the XLR8 program and to apply for this year’s cycle, please visit https://qstp.org.qa/xlr8/