Scale7 launches pre-incubation program for fashion, design startups

Scale7, the first fashion and design business incubator in Qatar - founded by Qatar Development Bank (QDB) in partnership with M7 – has launched Qatar’s first pre-incubation program for the fashion and design industry. Scale7’s Pre-incubation Program, which is being held virtually, commenced on 1st of June 2021, Scale7 said in a press statement Saturday. This 1-month intensive program aims to train startups in the "Idea stage" on entrepreneurship essentials and help them develop & transform the preliminary idea or business concept into a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), and eventually into an actual fashion and design brand. Commenting on the launch of the Pre-incubation Program, Aysha Khalifa Al Romaihi, Head of Strategic Initiatives and Business Collaborations at QDB and Project Manager of Scale7, said, “After successfully launching the Scale7 initiative earlier this year, we have been continuously seeking ways in which to support and augment the growth of the fashion & technology ecosystem in Qatar. This unique Pre-incubation Program will help in realizing the dreams of many promising entrepreneurs who have a striking idea but need expert mentoring to bring their ideas to fruition. The program will empower our budding fashion entrepreneurs to carve a niche in the Qatari fashion domain by way of expert insights from Qatari & global mentors. We are confident that the participation of Qatar’s aspiring entrepreneurs in this program will leave a mark in this vibrant space and will attract global interest in the long-run.” “We are aware that small and medium-sized enterprises are the cornerstone of a thriving and diversified economy, due to the diverse range of ideas they introduce and contribute to supporting the local economy. Therefore, at QDB, we are fully committed to strengthening the role of ambitious Qatari entrepreneurs in transforming their ideas into reality, through a wide range of creative solutions and resources, allowing them to start and grow their projects or accelerate the growth of their startups, enabling them to launch their own brands that contribute to economic diversification in the State of Qatar” she added. Entrepreneurs taking part in the Pre-incubation Program will receive professional one-on-one mentoring & guidance sessions with industry specialists as well as partners from world-class organizations and global leaders in fashion technology. The four specialized workshops during the program will enable participants to understand the nuances of marketing & customer relationships, building brand identity & business plans and the ways to scale the business with changing market dynamics. Furthermore, all Pre-incubation Program participants will be given priority in the 3-month incubation program, which will be launched at a later stage this year, with the objective to train and, develop the skills and knowledge of startups in the "Idea stage" on advanced business practices.