HBKU-backed BforeAI transforms Qatari technology into global cybersecurity solutions

Doha, Qatar: From a week long initiative at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) in Doha to a fast growing international cybersecurity firm, BforeAI s...

Doha, Qatar: From a week-long initiative at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) in Doha to a fast-growing international cybersecurity firm, BforeAI’s journey is being highlighted at Web Summit Qatar 2026 as an example of Qatar-based research reaching global markets.

In 2019, HBKU’s Research to Startup programme brought international entrepreneurs to Qatar to explore technologies developed at the university and identify opportunities to commercialise them. The goal was to connect research with market-ready talent and build globally competitive companies rooted in Qatari innovation.

Among the participants was the founding team of BforeAI, which went on to license technology developed at the Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI). From those early discussions, the company expanded first into France and then the United States. Today, BforeAI employs more than 65 people across 24 countries and has a valuation exceeding $100m, creating global impact from technology developed in Qatar.

At Web Summit Qatar 2026, the BforeAI team including Founder and CEO Luigi Lenguito, Co-founder Luciano Allegro, and Chief Technology Officer Sebastian Cesario, is showcasing the company’s pioneering cybersecurity solutions while engaging with local stakeholders, potential partners, and the academic community.

“At Web Summit Qatar, our priority is to strengthen relationships with Qatari companies and the university,” Allegro told The Peninsula. “We are in discussions to license additional patents and continue collaborating with researchers. We see significant opportunities for research-driven growth in Qatar and aim to take Qatari-developed technologies to global markets.”