Staying ahead of the game in startup business is not rocket science if you take the right business tactic. 

Founder and chairman of 360 Nautica, Dr. Tejinder Singh, shared the many elements required for the right formula to entrepreneurial success for startups in Qatar. 360 Nautica has been working towards establishing a ‘university ecosystem’ that would benefit startups by providing them with the knowledge, funding, and entrepreneurship tools that they need.

Singh elaborated that 360 Nautica is building this ecosystem in a joint project with reputable organisations, including ‘Startup Grind’, a Google startup programme, and tech giant Microsoft, as well as tapping like-minded professionals across Qatar, who would serve as coaches and mentors for participating startups.

According to the business tycoon, startups in Qatar are undoubtedly very promising but he still sees a gap between the reality of what’s happening in the market and the project on paper. 

“I strongly feel that what they missed is the experience of an entrepreneur – somebody has to validate and convert that idea into a workable model. And so this is where Startup Grind, Microsoft, and the experienced mentors at 360 Nautica come in,” stated Singh.

He believes that among the benefits of having the three entities is that a startup will require lesser funding as Microsoft is on board. “Another benefit is that Startup Grind is providing knowledge of how the world is shaping up, thus bridging the gap between startups in Qatar and their peers in other countries,” he furthered.

Singh added that 360 Nautica and Microsoft forged a strategic collaboration last month to boost Qatar’s startup ecosystem. As stipulated in the memorandum of understanding (MoU), both companies sealed a deal to work together on a roadmap to leverage startup growth with the power of cloud technologies and skills, enabling them to grapple with the new normal.

The partnership will involve a ‘Microsoft for Startups’ programme that will give startups an access to technology, go-to-market benefits, and community support, along with workshops and training sessions.

The initiative will also enable registered entrepreneurs to better harness technological innovations, bridging their skills gap and paving way for them to bring their innovations faster to the market.

The collaboration will also allow migrating of 360 Nautica’s existing startups to the Microsoft Azure cloud. This will provide them significant benefits instantly such as increased performance and optimised costs, while addressing their security, reliability, and scalability needs.

Sing said that his company’s philosophy focuses on helping entrepreneurs grow from an idea stage into a self-sustainable business. “We are excited to join forces with Microsoft and embark on a journey full of innovation and powered by the most comprehensive, scalable, and trusted cloud and technologies that will provide a competitive edge to these aspiring startups, and create new opportunities in the country,” he disclosed.

Meanwhile, Microsoft Qatar’s country manager Lana Khalaf said in a statement that, “Qatar's ambition to drive forward a diversified sustainable economy driven by innovation, is enabling and empowering start-ups at the heart of this transformation” said.

“Our partnership with 360 Nautica is a prime example of the growth and digital innovation that Microsoft is fostering in Qatar by empowering startups with the latest technological tools, skills, mentorship, and market visibility that they need in order to succeed in a digital economy,” she added.