Kuwait — The first phase of the regional edition of Zain Great Idea (ZGI), the telecom group’s flagship tech startup accelerator, has kicked off with a series of intensive training bootcamps bringing together entrepreneurs and mentors from across Zain’s markets in the Middle East.
The program’s new regional format — now open to founders from Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE — aims to accelerate early-stage tech startups through hands-on mentorship, funding access, and regional exposure.
Held at Zain’s Shuwaikh headquarters, the bootcamp began with an orientation session led by Zain’s executive management and program partners, outlining a roadmap for growth, scalability, and international readiness.
Participants engaged in one-to-one and speed mentoring sessions covering product development, go-to-market strategy, operations, and finance. Mentors included experts from ZainTECH, Zain Ventures, and leading entrepreneurs such as Abdulaziz Al-Dhubaib (Nizek Tech), Saud Al-Subaie (Cuadro Business Consulting), and Omar Al-Othman and Fahad Al-Ibrahim (Prismic Media).
The bootcamp also featured international instructors such as Prof. Paris de L’Etraz of IE Business School, Paul Marca, CEO of Parallax Global Advisors and former Associate Vice Provost at Stanford University, Gaelle Abou Abdo, CEO of Ivy & Company, and Norhan Al-Dhann, Founder of Noor Coaching.
For the first time in the program’s 15-year history, ZGI will culminate in a Silicon Valley phase, where select startups will gain direct exposure to global investors and innovation hubs. ZainTECH will provide technical mentorship in AI, cloud computing, analytics, and robotics, while Zain Ventures seeks to invest in standout startups.
This regional expansion marks a major milestone for Zain Great Idea, reaffirming Zain Group’s long-term commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship, innovation, and digital transformation across the region.
