Global software solutions company SAP has launched its Startup Focus Programme in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as it looks to support young technology entrepreneurs scale their businesses.
SAP said the programme has already assisted more than 2,000 startups in 57 countries across the world, which have in turn produced more than 175 production-ready solutions across 22 industries and nine lines of business.
The company is now bringing the programme to the MENA region for the first time, saying it had spotted a demand for innovative solutions in the Internet of Things (IoT) sector specifically and the ICT sector as a whole.
The 12-month SAP Startup Focus Programme will offer startups in the region the ability to develop new applications on the SAP HANA real-time analytics platform, while also gaining access to free tools, support and training. Selected startups will also have access to more than 250,000 SAP customers worldwide.
“The Middle East and North Africa is home to some of the world’s most tech-savvy minds, and yet many struggle to find productive employment. By launching SAP Startup Focus Programme in MENA, we are enabling the region’s technology innovators to enhance their skills on one of the industry’s leading big and smart data analytics platforms, and fuel the region’s entrepreneurial spirit,” said Marita Mitschein, senior vice president and managing director at the SAP Training and Development Institute.
“Within five years, I’m convinced the next disruptive startup will come from the Middle East and North Africa.”
