- What
- Over QAR 13.5M in support provided to date across 88 startups.
- Who
- Creative-sector startups from pre-MVP (Hackathon) to MVP-ready and market-ready (accelerators).
- From abroad
- Open to companies from abroad — Must be established or plan to be established as a Qatari entity during the program (stated for both the Pre-Acceleration Program and the Acceleration Program) All programmes open to founders from abroad →
Checked · October 2026 · scale7.qdb.qa · How we check ↗
In detail
Scale7 — Creative and Cultural Industries Hub is a creative industries platform — four tracks in Qatar. Run by Qatar Development Bank; repositioned on 8 December 2025 into the Creative and Cultural Industries Hub, a national platform for six creative sectors. Track record to date: 88 startups, 80+ advisors, over QAR 13.5 million in investment, advisory and in-kind support.
- Amount
- Over QAR 13.5M in support provided to date across 88 startups
- Sectors
- Advertising
- Digital product design and related crafts
- Fashion technology
- Digital game industry
- Language technologies
- Literature
- Benefits
- Hackathon (4 days)
- Pre-Acceleration
- Acceleration
- Lab Residency (4–8 weeks)
- Status
- Active — repositioned December 2025; the Hackathon application form is closed (checked October 2026)
Is this for you?
Where is your company?
Are you open to giving equity?
We match them against what Scale7 — Creative and Cultural Industries Hub publishes.
A guide to the published criteria, not a decision — the programme selects.
What the source says
“Must be established or plan to be established as a Qatari entity during the program.”
““Scale7” has collaborated with 88 startups to date, that worked with a network of more than 80 advisors and experts from Qatar and around the world, and providing support exceeding QAR 13.5 million through investment, as well as advisory and in-kind support.”
“Scale7 is QDB’s creative and cultural industries hub.”
“08 Dec 2025 … “Scale7”, supported by QDB, announced the launch of its newly expanded identity under the title “Scale7, the Creative and Cultural Industries Hub””
“to become a comprehensive national platform that brings together creators, innovators and experts … six different creative and cultural sectors, including advertising, digital product design and related crafts, fashion technology, the digital game industry, language technologies, and literature.”
“collaborated with 88 startups to date … providing support exceeding QAR 13.5 million through investment, as well as advisory and in-kind support.”
Closing soon on the map
No published deadline in the next 30 days · All published deadlines →
Compare accelerators & incubators in Qatar
| Cost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Scale7 — Creative and Cultural Industries HubOver QAR 13.5M in support provided to date across 88 startups. | not published | Milestone-based equity possible | Active |
| Alchemist DohaInvestment support; amount not published (one portfolio firm raised $1M). | not published | Equity | Open |
| CDL-DohaNon-dilutive mentorship, with investor access via the CDL network. | not published | No equity for participation | Closed |
| DEEP Pioneers (QRDI)Venture-building support; no funding figure published. | not published | Not published | Open |
| HBKU EntrepreneurshipFour funds: IBDA up to QAR 250K, IIF up to QAR 200K, SOCIF up to QAR 100K, SIF up to QAR 30K. | up to QAR 250K | Not published | Active |
| Nama Center — Social IncubatorIncubation and training support; no funding figure published. | not published | Not published | Open |
| Qatar FinTech Hub AcceleratorPre-Acceleration and Acceleration programmes for fintechs. | not published | Not published | Active |
| QSTP IncubationFour-week Sprint in Doha, then eight-week Incubation for selected startups; no cash amount published. | not published | Equity | Open |
| Snoonu Startup FactoryFunding and mentorship programme at Snoonu HQ in Doha. | not published | Not published | Open |
| The Utopia StudioUSD 7,000 stipend plus up to USD 2,000 compute; co-build in product, tech and growth. | USD 7,000 | Bespoke equity; up to USD 1M option in first two rounds | Open |
| WISE EdTech AcceleratorYear-long coaching, masterclasses and investor network; no cash amount published. | not published | Not published | Closed |
| Digital & Beyond (Ooredoo × QBIC)Incubator becoming a QDB–Ooredoo investment platform (MoU Feb 2026). | not published | Not published | Active |
| Digital Incubation CenterMCIT's digital incubator; programme details not currently published. | not published | Not published | Active |
| QBICBusiness incubation support. | not published | Not published | Active |
| QDB Pre-Accelerator 2026Closed — the 2026 cycle's terms are no longer published. | not published | Not published | Closed |
| Scale Now (MCIT)Non-financial capability building and market access support. | not published | Not published | Active |
| TASMU AcceleratorQAR 200,000 (about $55,000) cash prize to top cohort startups, plus a virtual programme. | QAR 200,000 | No equity | Closed |
No programmes match these filters.
Highest amount in each programme’s own “What” line. Other currencies converted for sorting only (Gulf pegs; KWD, EUR, GBP approximate).
All accelerators & incubators in Qatar → · Across the Gulf →
Questions founders ask
What does Scale7 — Creative and Cultural Industries Hub offer?
Over QAR 13.5M in support provided to date across 88 startups.
Does Scale7 — Creative and Cultural Industries Hub take equity?
Milestone-based equity possible.
Can founders from abroad apply?
Open to companies from abroad — Must be established or plan to be established as a Qatari entity during the program (stated for both the Pre-Acceleration Program and the Acceleration Program).
How do I apply?
Through its own application form — the Apply button on this page goes straight there.
Sources
Primary source · scale7.qdb.qa · LinkedIn · linkedin.com/company/qatar-development-bank · Checked October 2026