General

Covering general information you need about the ecosystem.

What does StartUp Bahrain do?

StartUp Bahrain is the Kingdom of Bahrain’s ecosystem for startups that’s made up of founders, investors, accelerators, corporates, and government entities.

How does StartUp Bahrain define a ‘startup’?

StartUp Bahrain defines a startup or scale-up as a company that’s focused on being bold, thinking globally, innovative, and potentially using technology to aid in its growth. You’re a startup if you offer an innovative solution to a problem, built on scalable and fast-growth business models, able to sustain high-risk and uncertainty, and able to scale rapidly.

What does the ecosystem offer early stage startups?

There are lots of programs and workshops happening for startups in Bahrain! Make sure you follow our Instagram and LinkedIn accounts and keep an eye on our website’s calendar event section for upcoming events, workshops and meetups.

How can I become a StartUp Bahrain partner, contributor, or perk provider?

We are excited to have you! Just send us your details on contact@startupbahrain.com and we will get back to you!

How do I promote my startup event on StartUp Bahrain?

If you’re planning an event that’s relevant to startups or individuals in the ecosystem, we’d love to know about it! StartUp Bahrain promotes events that are startup-related, around technology, investment, skills, and more. You can visit our events calendar here.

How can I join the StartUp Bahrain team?

While we might not have job openings at the moment, we’re always on the lookout for awesome individuals to help represent StartUp Bahrain, the Kingdom, and more importantly, #TeamBahrain!

How can I apply for or offer a perk?

Thanks to our strong strategic partnerships in Bahrain and around the world, we’re able to fuel the growth of your startup. Being a StartUp Bahrain startup, you simply get more. To apply for a perk, visit the perks page. If you’d like to offer the community a perk, please contact us using the contact form on this page.

Launching, Moving, & Establishing

Planning on moving your startup or investing in Bahrain but not sure how to start? We are here to help! Get in touch with us, read the questions below, tell us what you need we’ll do our best to help.

Can StartUp Bahrain help me launch my startup?

StartUp Bahrain is your hotspot to gain access to entities that are more than happy to help launch your startup. Kindly refer back to the ‘How can I find and get in touch with investors and/or government funding for my startup?’ and ‘What are the different incubators and accelerators in Bahrain and how can I apply’ question for more information.

How can I register my company in Bahrain?

Bahrain welcomes you with open arms! Head over to the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) website to know how to register your business in a few steps. The (SIJILAT) Portal is a system that tells you about all the conditions, procedures, laws and regulations related to acquiring business licenses for over 1,800 business activities! Here’s a handy guide you can find on Sijilat, check out page 2 and 4 for the step by step guide on how to get your Virtual CR. Also, click here to know where to go for approval for your Sijili virtual CR.

Do I need a Bahraini partner to launch my startup in Bahrain?

Nope! Bahrain lets foreigners own 100% of their business with no free zone restrictions! Meaning you can set up anywhere in Bahrain and completely own your business. There are absolutely no restrictions on repatriation of capital, profits or dividends. For more information on how to setup in Bahrain, head over to the Bahrain Economic Development Board website.

What are my funding options within StartUp Bahrain?

Great question! We’ve got just the answer, check out the ecosystem page for a lot more details on who can fund your startup at different stages. StartUp Bahrain is the ecosystem and does not fund startups in and of itself.

I’m looking for an accelerator, incubator, or co-working space.

We know how difficult it is to launch your startup, but lucky for you, Bahrain has a bunch of incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces to get you started, head over to the ecosystem page to know who’s who and what they can offer.

Why is Bahrain the perfect launchpad for my startup?

With startup friendly policies to a growing pool of skilled and savvy talent, StartUp Bahrain is the perfect launchpad for your startup. Bahrain leads the region in doing business launching your startup, the friendliness of doing business in Bahrain only comes second to the warmth of its people! To know about all the reasons that make Bahrain the perfect launchpad for startups, check out Why Bahrain, how the government can assist, and everything that makes Bahrain special.

How do I find a job within StartUp Bahrain?

Startups and entities within the StartUp Bahrain ecosystem are always looking for ambitious, talented, and team member that’ll take things to the next level. First, subscribe to the monthly StartUp Bahrain newsletter, where we promote some of the featured jobs of the month, or the Bahrain Economic Development Board‘s job page.