THE National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) and Bahrain FinTech Bay (BFB) have launched the third edition of the NBB Innovation Programme, focusing on artificial intelligence solutions for the financial sector.
Titled ‘AI-Ready Founders’, the initiative was formalised through a memorandum of understanding signed during Fintech Forward 2026.
Applications opened last Wednesday and will run until November 26.
The four-week in-person programme will take place from January 4 to 28, 2027 at BFB’s headquarters in the Arcapita Building.
Five selected teams of Bahraini innovators aged 21 and above will be tasked with taking an AI or fintech concept from early-stage development to a live, deployable product tailored to NBB’s retail, corporate and SME banking priorities.
Candidates will undergo a selection review from November 29 to December 3, followed by team onboarding between December 27 and 31.
During the bootcamp, participants will leverage AI tools for market research, product development, automated customer support setup, and investor pitch preparation, receiving guidance from NBB executives and one-on-one coaching from BFB mentors.
“Innovation becomes truly valuable when it is grounded in a clear business need,” said NBB Group chief technology officer Razi Amin.
“This programme allows emerging founders to work with the realities of banking, understand the commercial and operational details behind a product, and test how AI can be applied to create something relevant and scalable.”
The initiative will culminate in a Demo Day on February 1, 2027, where teams will pitch their solutions to a judging panel of industry leaders.
Evaluations will be based on AI integration, market potential, team execution, scalability, and pitch quality.
The winning team will receive a $10,000 cash prize and a three-month incubation slot at BFB.
BFB chief operating officer Suzy Al Zeerah commented: “The strength of this programme lies in giving founders the conditions to move quickly from an early idea into something a team can run. We look forward to seeing the calibre of ideas this cohort brings.”
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