New Aqaba incubator supports promising entrepreneurs in first bootcamp

AMMAN — The only business incubator in Aqaba,  iPark,  on Thursday completed its first entrepreneur bootcamp and business plan competition, training 19 startups on topics ranging from market penetration and innovation to financial planning and attracting investors.

The course, part of the European-Union funded “Jordanian Action for the Development of Enterprises” (JADE) project, included pitching sessions in front a panel of judges, where the winning startups received prizes and a chance to receive business incubation support and mentorship by iPark, a JADE statement said.

The activity came as JADE’s efforts in cooperation with iPark and other leading Jordanian incubators to provide further support to businesses in Jordan, enhance their market linkages and capacity development and increase their growth and exports capacities. 

The six-day bootcamp, carried out in a strategic partnership with The Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship (QRCE), aimed at incentivising entrepreneurs in Aqaba and across Jordan to view Aqaba as a suitable business environment. The incubator will aim to improve the entrepreneurship ecosystem among youth, engage the local community in economic development, and enhance the opportunities for scalability and sustainability of small businesses, the statement read.    

QRCE Director Mohammed Obaidat expressed his enthusiasm for the incubator’s first bootcamp, indicating how it will enable the flourishing of the innovation ecosystem in Aqaba. “The creation of an innovation hub in Aqaba is part of Jordan’s plan in attracting young entrepreneurs from across Jordan and the region. The level of quality I’ve seen from the participants has been incredible and humbling — the potential for business growth and job creation is there and we’re keen to ensure the needed climate of support,” he stated.

iPark’s expansion of operations in Aqaba will prove a game changer with startups, not just receiving support in the idea stage but further along the economic development spectrum as well, according to the statement, which noted that iPark provides substantial business development services, such as legal advice and registration, pooled administrative services and affordable office space. 

Hamzeh Shamaileh, Project Manager for the JADE project, praised the participants of the bootcamp, saying: “The city of Aqaba has long stood as a welcoming city — and now by setting the foundation for homegrown Jordanian businesses we expect these companies to grow,  employing not hundreds of more people,  but thousands. We are keen to back government efforts in private sector development,  and with the European Union we will continue supporting youth, startups and entrepreneurship across Jordan.”