Entrepreneurship-themed reality television show and the region’s 1st private-public investment platform ‘Beban,’ produced by Hope Ventures, the investment arm of Hope Fund, aired the third episode of its third season last week on January 17th, 2024, on the region’s first and biggest video-on-demand platform ‘Shahid’ for free, Bahrain TV, SBC Channel, Abu Dhabi TV, AlRai TV, and Oman Cultural TV.During the third episode, Omani business ‘Innotech’, founded by Othman Al Mandhari, fundraised USD 500k. ‘Serag AlOfuq,’ also from the Sultanate of Oman and represented by Adi Al Farei, fundraised USD 330k. Bahrain’s ‘Travilege Solutions,’ founded by Salman Almarzooq, successfully fundraised USD 50k from the diverse panel of investors on the show, making the total investment amount raised through episode 3 USD 880k.The episode witnessed 4 eager entrepreneurs from across the GCC pitch to a panel of investors for the opportunity to seize investment and business opportunities. Investors on the panel comprised avid investors from the private sector, including Hope Ventures, Omani investor Areej Mohsen Darwish, Dr. Lamya Mahmood, and Suhail Algosaibi.His Excellency Aymen bin Tawfiq Almoayed, Chairman of Hope Fund, commented: “Beban was launched with the goal of providing entrepreneurs with access to funding, resources, and tools to accelerate their businesses on an international stage. The show continues its efforts to cultivate a business environment that nurtures entrepreneurs who dream bigger, work harder, and scale faster.”He added, “Today, we proudly announce that Beban is the first regional investment platform, bringing together government and private partners who open the doors of opportunity for participants in their respective countries. To date, we have witnessed over 100 entrepreneurs from the GCC participate in the show, facilitating over US$ 6 million worth of investments secured in its first two seasons. This is only the beginning, and Hope aims to continue to amplify its efforts in Beban to facilitate opportunities for merited entrepreneurs and empower them to create regional success stories.”The Sultanate of Oman’s Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority has partnered with Beban as the Omani Country Partner. The SME Development Authority’s Chairperson, Her Excellency Halima bint Rashid AlZaria, commented on the occasion: “The presence of Omani startups in Beban is an opportunity to highlight inspiring success stories, opening up broad horizons for entrepreneurs to showcase their projects to local and regional investors. The Authority seeks to support SMEs and startups by providing an opportunity to participate in such initiatives, which contribute to promoting these institutions within and outside the Sultanate of Oman.”Beban season 3 was filmed in the Middle East’s newest exhibition and convention centre, Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB), and showcases 41 businesses from across the MENA region as they pitch in front of a panel of regional, reputable investors for equity investment and strategic business development opportunities that can accelerate the growth of these businesses into new markets.It is noteworthy to mention that Beban TV show is the region’s 1st private-public investment platform through its formed partnerships with Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (UAE), the SME Development Authority (Oman), GFH Capital (KSA), Zain Kuwait and Sabah Al Ahmad Center for Giftedness and Creativity (Kuwait), and the Labour Fund Tamkeen (Bahrain).A new episode of Beban will air every Wednesday of this month. You can watch the next episode airing on January 24, 2024, on Bahrain TV at 6 PM (+3GMT), Oman TV Cultural at 9:10 PM (+3GMT), AlRai TV at 9:30 PM (+3GMT), SBC Channel at 10 PM (+3GMT), Saturday at 5:30 PM (+3GMT) on Abu Dhabi TV, or anytime on Shahid.Beban Season 3 recognizes its Country Partners, Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (UAE), the SME Development Authority (Oman), GFH Capital (KSA), Zain Kuwait and Sabah Al Ahmad Center for Giftedness and Creativity (Kuwait), and the Labour Fund Tamkeen (Bahrain) and sponsors, Gulf Air, Asia Jewellers, Ahlan App, AlZayani Motors, Exhibition World Bahrain, Kuwait Finance House – Bahrain, TRACCS Bahrain, Bapco energies, and Gulf Media International for their affirmed commitment to empowering regional entrepreneurs and accelerating their growth through investment, knowledge, and access to business opportunities.Beban also thanks episode 3 partners, Seef Properties, for providing business opportunities to this episode’s entrepreneurs.To stay up to date with Beban, make sure you follow the show’s accounts on social media @bebanme.
