Digital agency Intigral launches new incubator to help startups reach the Saudi market
Ready for a new incubator? Dubai-based digital media company
Intigral launched one today,
to support startups building digital products and services.
Named Afkar.me (meaning
“ideas”), the incubator will take a different approach from most of
the region’s accelerators; unlike
Flat6Labs and Oasis500, which
invest seed capital for a small equity stake, Afkar.me won’t take
equity, but will offer US $20,000 in seed investment as a loan.
The reason for not taking equity is that “We don't want to place a
value on the company from day one,” explains Victor Kiriakos,
Senior Manager of Strategic Products at Intigral. “Our objective is
to create a company that could sit as a partner with us, so that we
can set up revenue shares. We’re not looking for a return on
investment; we’re looking to enrich the ecosystem.”
Under this model, Akfar.me will focus on supporting startups to
build products and services tailored to the needs of Intigral’s
existing clients. (“That’s a good way of summarizing it,” Kiriakos
confirmed).
Specifically, startups that make the cut will be welcomed to Intigral’s offices in either Dubai or Riyadh for three months, to develop, with the help of the agency’s expertise, a minimum viable product that Afkar.me can funnel into an existing pipeline and easily take to market.
Here’s where startups stand to gain the most from the program.
It might be unconventional for a typical startup to build a product
mostly determined by an incubator's clients, but by doing so, these
startups will gain easy access to large clients in Saudi Arabia and
Africa, especially in the telecommunications sector. As a joint
venture between Saudi Telecom Company (STC) and All Asia Networks
(ASTRO), Intigral is set up to plug its startups directly into
opportunities in Saudi Arabia, Africa, and Asia.
When asked about the fate of startups hoping to tie up with a
telecom company other than STC, Kiriakos replied, “Our mandate is
not solely to deliver value to STC; we’re now working with Mobily,
which is a direct competitor to STC, [as well as] telecoms in North
Africa and Egypt, and we’re going into Jordan.”
Once startups launch their markets in these markets, those that
need more capital will be introduced to a network of partners and
investors who incude STC Ventures, MBC Ventures, Middle East
Venture Partners, and “a few angel investors,” says Kiriakos.
One concern a startup might have with Afkar is the degree of
mentorship that a digital agency can offer. Yet Intigral plans to
leverage several regional partners, including Astrolabs, Arabnet,
The Online Project, consultancy Oliver Weyman, PR firm Ketchum
Raad, and the Wamda Programs arm, to support startups with legal
advice, product development, design, marketing and PR, and business
development [consider that a disclosure].
In terms of the on-the-ground team, Souhail Khoury, a prior Wamda contributor,
will be working full-time to run the incubator, with the help of
Kiriakos and Taimur Ellahi, the company’s Director of Strategic
Planning and Performance.
Akfar.me is also starting small, taking on only three startups in
its first batch. First, it will select 10 startups from the
applicant pool to complete a two-day bootcamp; the three teams with
the best final pitches will form its first startup class.
Generally, says Kiriakos, Afkar.me is looking for includes
startups building OTT platforms, social networks, e-commerce sites,
or content portals, working in e-health, education, sports,
fashion, games, music, travel, or "anything." "We're not only
looking at idea stage companies; we would also welcome those that
have a demo, one client or two,” he says.
Interested startups can
apply before November 10th.