Bahrain’s startup scene opened 2026 with a familiar signal: teams that can explain a real market, a clear user, and a workable product path are getting recognised in front of decision-makers who matter. The 23rd edition of StartUp Bahrain Pitch announced PROCODE as first-place winner and Kinderhaus as second-place winner, with the event held in the presence of H.E. Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce and Chairman of the SME Development Board, and H.E. Maha Abdulhameed Mufeez, Chief Executive of Tamkeen, alongside partners including the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Bahrain Economic Development Board, and Bahrain Development Bank. This summary also draws on the attached press release.

The competition brought together a jury of investors and ecosystem operators: Luca Barbi (Partner and COO, STV), Khalid Saad (Founder and Managing Partner, Bunat Ventures), Eman Abdulshakoor (CEO, Blossom Accelerator), and Laith Al-Khalili (Assistant Partner, Mumtalakat Bahrain Holding Company).

The pitching lineup reflected where Bahraini founders are placing bets right now: practical tools, clear communities, and measurable outcomes. Participating projects included W.I.S.E.R Technologies, described as a legal and gov-tech company providing 24/7 advisory support; Mawaheb, a digital platform connecting designers, artists, and content creators to freelance opportunities; PROCODE, an esports platform offering skills courses, professional coaching sessions, and competitive tournaments to help players connect with professionals; and Kinderhaus, an AI-supported edtech platform designed to help children with dyslexia and learning difficulties using customised tools to strengthen reading and writing skills.

The two winners framed the moment as a responsibility to execute, not a finish line. PROCODE co-founder Shehd Al Zaki said: "We are proud to have achieved first place in this edition of ‘StartUp Bahrain Pitch,’ the leading platform for nurturing innovators and supporting emerging projects in the Kingdom. This achievement marks a pivotal milestone in our journey and carries with it the responsibility to realize our ambitions and future aspirations for growth and expansion." Kinderhaus founder Huda Radhi added: "We are proud to have secured second place and to have participated in this competition, which gave us the opportunity to showcase our project before a select group of experts and investors, and opened new horizons for networking and collaboration with entrepreneurs. We also extend our sincere thanks to the mentors who supported us throughout our participation in the program, and our gratitude to Tamkeen and all supporters of this initiative for their pivotal role in promoting a culture of innovation and strengthening the entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Kingdom of Bahrain."

Tamkeen’s support for the series was linked in the announcement to its 2026 strategic priorities, including focusinonomic areas, connecting skills to labour-market opportunities, using new approaches to stimulate private-sector growth and financing, and strengthening governance and institutional culture. For founders planning to apply next, the practical takeaway is simple: bring a tight problem statement, show how you’ll reach users in Bahrain first, and be ready to answer “why now?” with numbers and a credible go-to-market.