MANAMA: Brinc Batelco IoT Hub, the first Internet of Things (IoT) hardware accelerator in the region, was launched yesterday by Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Kamal Ahmed.
Located in the Batelco Commercial Centre building in the heart of Manama, the joint venture between Batelco and Brinc will offer programmes and services tailored for IoT hardware start-ups and entrepreneurs looking for speed, access and the know-how to build successful companies.
Batelco chairman Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa said the hub will offer entrepreneurs an unprecedented opportunity to access mentorship, product design and development guidance, manufacturing and exposure to regional and global investors and markets.
“Batelco believes in the importance of enhancing the growth of technology and particularly digitisation, as it’s in line with the efforts of developing this field within the kingdom.
“These objectives will in turn support the growth of the economy and strengthen Bahrain’s position as a leading regional technology hub,” he added.
“Encouraging innovation within the ICT sector is one of the most important factors contributing to the continued growth of the economy.”
Brinc chief development officer and head of Brinc Mena Yasin Aboudaoud said he was “thrilled to see the efforts of both Batelco and Brinc come to fruition with the launch of the hub, the first venture of its kind in Bahrain.
“We are confident that the new hub will be a birthing ground not only for local talent, but also talented entrepreneurs from across the Middle East who yearn to revolutionise the ICT industry by building innovative IoT hardware products for the global consumer market,” he said.
According to him, the growing buzz around IoT is undeniable.
“Its applications have the potential to change the world around us. With numerous smart devices to cater to today’s evolving requirements, the impact of a connected community is limitless.
“Brinc has been at the forefront of this new industry, pioneering the way for start-ups and early stage companies to get involved,” he added.
Brinc was established in Hong Kong in 2014 with offices in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, and has supported hundreds of founders from around the world, while investing in more than 30 start-ups, with a portfolio that has so far generated more than $18 million in follow-along funding and products shipped to hundreds of stores.
It seeks to bridge the gap between software, hardware and services to offer entrepreneurs a supportive roadmap that takes them through the journey from acceleration to distribution.
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