Entrepreneurship Session at Qatar University Fosters Student Engagement

A recent entrepreneurial session at Qatar University's (QU) Foundation Programme in the Deanship of General Studies brought together entrepreneurs and students to share knowledge and experiences. Hosted by the QU Foundation Programme in collaboration with The Bedaya Centre for Entrepreneurship and Career Development, the event aimed to inform students about the support and services provided by various organizations, including the Qatar Business Incubation Centre, Qatar Development Bank, and the Digital Incubation Centre. The guest speakers, Ahmad Al Saygh and Ola Abdin, delivered presentations to English for Business Communication students, providing insights into entrepreneurship and business ideas.

Key Takeaways:

• The main objective of the event was to inform students about the support and services provided by organizations such as the Qatar Business Incubation Centre, Qatar Development Bank, and the Digital Incubation Centre.
• The guest speakers, Ahmad Al Saygh and Ola Abdin, noted that only 2 to 5 percent of new business ventures worldwide manage to survive in the market, highlighting the risks involved in entrepreneurship.
• Students were warned that a typical "coffee shop" business idea in Doha is a mere replication of previously implemented business ideas, and it is risky due to competition, deep market saturation, and high operational costs.
• Ahmad and Ola presented an example of a successfully implemented business concept - the paddle game, which has been trending lately with a rising demand for paddle facilities, equipment, and services.
• The QU business students should not feel lonely in their search for answers about their future, as the local business community and financial institutions in Qatar are keen to learn about their brave, new business concepts.

Statistics:

• Only 2 to 5 percent of new business ventures worldwide manage to survive in the market.
• 2 to 5 percent is the percentage of start-ups that manage to survive and stay in business at least in their first year.
• The demand for paddle facilities, equipment, and services is on the rise, with the paddle game being a successfully implemented business concept.

Sources:

• Qatar Tribune
• The Bedaya Centre for Entrepreneurship and Career Development
• Qatar University's Foundation Programme in the Deanship of General Studies
• Qatar Business Incubation Centre
• Qatar Development Bank
• Digital Incubation Centre