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After the overwhelming success of Bahrain Tech Week 2019, the Kingdom now prepares to unleash another exciting event to further consolidate its position as a global powerhouse of innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Starting Nov 21, Bahrain FinTech Bay will host an all-new rendition of the Startup Weekend. Over the next four days, the event will focus on different aspects related to the country’s homegrown FinTech ecosystem, as well as the impact of the industry in the broader region. 

More specifically, it will try to further reduce the ever-shrinking gap between FinTech enthusiasts and corporates in Bahrain. 

Bahrain FinTech Bay will host the event in collaboration with the National Bank of Bahrain, whereas the University of Bahrain and Bahrain Polytechnic will join in as exclusive education partners. GDG Manama will also chip into the cause as the official knowledge partner of Startup Weekend 2019.

“We are delighted as Bahrain FinTech Bay to be hosting Startup Weekend for the second year in a row. Building on last year’s successful event, this year’s focus will be on developing startups that address problem statements within the FinTech ecosystem,” Khalid Saad, CEO of Bahrain FinTech Bay, said.

With a rich history spanning eight years, Startup Weekend prides itself as an iconic event that includes an intense 54 hours of training, mentorship, and brainstorming sessions focused on leveraging modern technologies to solve challenges in Bahrain’s financial services and FinTech industries. 

Participants learn various aspects of building competent web and mobile applications aimed at improving and possibly disrupting the FinTech sector.

Suggesting that initiatives like Startup Weekend play an important role in Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, Yaser Alsharifi, Chief Strategy Officer at National Bank of Bahrain, commented: “This platform is the ultimate platform for new entrepreneurs to look for a team, create a prototype of an idea, validate their business idea, and receive feedback from experienced entrepreneurs, all in one weekend.