Qatar Foundation
Qatar Foundation
WISE, an initiative of Qatar Foundation, runs an accelerator for early-stage edtech startups. A year-long programme with coaching and a global network. The 2026–2027 applications close 31 October 2026.
Qatar Foundation at a glance
| Part of | Qatar Foundation |
|---|---|
| Established | 2009 |
| Address | Doha, Qatar |
| Programmes | 3 standing programmes |
| Stages supported | MVP, Early revenue |
| Official website | www.wise-qatar.org |
Programs by Qatar Foundation
1 past program · Filter all programs
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Which Qatar Foundation programme fits you
3 programmes compared by who they are for, the stage they accept, how long they run and what they cost.
By stage
- MVP
- WISE Prize for Education
- Early revenue
- WISE EdTech Accelerator
| Programme | Best for | Stage | Duration | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WISE EdTech AcceleratorWith Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), Qatar Development Research Institute (QRDI) | Early-stage edtech startups with traction, from any country. | Early revenue | One year, January to December 2027 for the 2026–2027 cycle | — | — |
| WISE Prize for EducationWith Education Above All (EAA), Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) | Education innovators with an MVP of a proven approach. | MVP | 12 months of development support | — | — |
| WISE EdTech Testbed | Qatar-based schools and educators, and edtech tool providers interested in future cycles. | — | — | — | — |
Track record
What Qatar Foundation reports about its portfolio.
All figures self-reported — wise-qatar.org, as of Oct 2026.
Programmes they run
Standing programmes at Qatar Foundation, separate from the funding calls above.
WISE EdTech Accelerator
AcceleratorA year-long accelerator for early-stage edtech startups, with one-to-one coaching, masterclasses and a global network of investors and education specialists.
Best for: Early-stage edtech startups with traction, from any country.
- Early revenue
- One year, January to December 2027 for the 2026–2027 cycle
With Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), Qatar Development Research Institute (QRDI)
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The WISE EdTech Accelerator is for edtech ventures at seed to pre-series A that are past MVP and already show traction and sales. The 2026–2027 cycle runs from January to December 2027. Applications are open now and close on 31 October 2026.
What you get
- One-to-one coaching and masterclasses with industry experts
- Access to a global network of investors and education specialists
- Visibility at international events, including the WISE Summit in Doha
- A Local Track for ventures entering Qatar, with local partners and access to local funding and grants through partners
Who can apply
- For-profit edtech ventures at seed to pre-series A
- Teams with co-founders are preferred
- NGOs and nonprofits are not eligible
- Open to founders from any country
How selection works: applications are reviewed against published criteria by a committee of education and entrepreneurship experts. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed.
How to apply: use the official online form on the Awards Force platform. Queries go to accelerator@wise.org.qa.
WISE Prize for Education
CompetitionA global award for education innovations. Finalists receive 12 months of development support and funding, and the top three share a prize pool.
Best for: Education innovators with an MVP of a proven approach.
- MVP
- 12 months of development support
- Grant support for selected startups
With Education Above All (EAA), Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP)
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The WISE Prize for Education recognises education innovations that show measurable improvement in learning or life outcomes. The Prize is for an MVP of an approach that already works, ready to be adapted, tested or scaled.
What finalists get
- Development funding over 12 months to refine the solution
- One-to-one coaching and periodic check-ins with other finalists
- Connections to WISE's local innovation partners in Qatar
- Presentation at the WISE 13 Summit
How selection works: a multi-stage process that assesses the credibility of the team and organisation, the innovation, feasibility, scalability and sustainability, and reach to marginalised learners.
Status: applications for the 2026–2027 cycle closed in June 2026. Finalists are announced in Q4 2026.
WISE EdTech Testbed
ProgrammeA testbed that puts AI and edtech tools into Qatari school classrooms for evaluation, with teacher support and published findings.
Best for: Qatar-based schools and educators, and edtech tool providers interested in future cycles.
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The WISE EdTech Testbed works with schools in Qatar to test innovative AI tools in real classrooms. It runs structured testing cycles, professional development for teachers, and evaluation that informs education strategy.
Who can apply
- Educators in Qatar
- EdTech tool providers, through an interest form
The Testbed is currently at full capacity. Submissions are still reviewed for future cycles.
How to apply to Qatar Foundation
Choosing the right programme
- WISE EdTech Accelerator: for edtech ventures at seed to pre-series A that have traction and sales.
- WISE Prize for Education: for education innovations at MVP stage that can be tested or scaled in new contexts. The 2026–2027 round has closed.
- EdTech Testbed: for schools in Qatar. It is at full capacity; an interest form is open for future cycles.
How to apply to the Accelerator
- The 2026–2027 applications open 28 September 2026 and close 31 October 2026. The deadline is firm.
- Apply through the official online form on the Awards Force platform, in English.
- The application asks for the edtech solution and how it works, the problem it addresses, the target beneficiaries and your motivation.
- Queries go to accelerator@wise.org.qa.
How selection works
- A committee of education and entrepreneurship experts reviews applications against published criteria.
- Selection looks at the team, innovation, scalability and financial sustainability, impact, and the business model.
- Shortlisted applicants are interviewed. Selected ventures are announced in December 2026 or early January 2027.
About Qatar Foundation
WISE is an education innovation initiative of Qatar Foundation, founded in 2009. Its EdTech Accelerator supports early-stage edtech startups over one year, and it also runs the WISE Prize for Education and an EdTech Testbed for schools in Qatar.
How the programmes work
The WISE EdTech Accelerator gives each selected venture one-to-one coaching, masterclasses with industry experts, and access to a global network of investors and education specialists. It runs in two tracks. The Local Track is designed for ventures that want to enter the Qatari market, with local partners including Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) and Qatar Development Research Institute (QRDI). The International Track is for ventures that want to scale across markets.
The WISE Prize for Education is an award for education innovations. Each finalist receives 12 months of development support and mentorship to take a solution from MVP toward scale. The prize is for solutions that can be tested or scaled in new contexts.
The EdTech Testbed brings AI and edtech tools into Qatari school classrooms for testing, with teacher support and published evaluation reports.
Who can apply
The Accelerator takes for-profit edtech ventures at seed to pre-series A that are beyond the MVP stage and already show traction and sales. It prefers teams with co-founders. NGOs and nonprofits are not eligible. The Accelerator is open to founders from any country. It states that past cohorts included ventures from both developed and developing countries.
The Prize is open to education innovations at MVP stage. Applications for the 2026–2027 cycle have closed. The Testbed works with schools in Qatar and is currently at full capacity.
Scale
The Accelerator reports 54+ alumni ventures. It has delivered 100+ hours of coaching and mentoring and 3 in-person bootcamps at major education conferences. Its founder community spans 22 countries, and it reports a 5% acceptance rate.
WISE holds the WISE Summit in Doha, which convenes over 4,000 attendees from 100 countries. The WISE pages give different figures for the size of the wider community: the homepage says 150+ countries, and the About page says about 200.
Who runs it
WISE was founded in 2009 by Qatar Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to education, research and community development. Its CEO is Dr. Asyia Kazmi, OBE. The Accelerator has a committee of education and investment experts that reviews applications.
Frequently asked questions about Qatar Foundation
What is Qatar Foundation?
Qatar Foundation is a ngo / foundation based in Doha.
What does Qatar Foundation do?
WISE is an education innovation initiative of Qatar Foundation, founded in 2009. Its EdTech Accelerator supports early-stage edtech startups over one year, and it also runs the WISE Prize for Education and an EdTech Testbed for schools in Qatar.
Where is Qatar Foundation located?
Qatar Foundation is located at Doha, Qatar.
What programs does Qatar Foundation run?
Qatar Foundation runs WISE EdTech Accelerator, WISE Prize for Education and WISE EdTech Testbed.
Which Qatar Foundation programme should I apply to?
It depends on how far along your startup is. MVP stage: WISE Prize for Education. Early revenue stage: WISE EdTech Accelerator. Check the programme's own eligibility before applying — several programmes are sector-specific.
Does Qatar Foundation provide funding?
Selected startups in some Qatar Foundation programmes can receive grant support, including WISE Prize for Education. Grant amounts are set per programme and cohort, and selection into a programme does not guarantee a grant — check the programme's own page for current terms.
How do I apply to Qatar Foundation?
- WISE EdTech Accelerator: for edtech ventures at seed to pre-series A that have traction and sales. - WISE Prize for Education: for education innovations at MVP stage that can be tested or scaled in new contexts. The 2026–2027 round has closed. - EdTech Testbed: for schools in Qatar. It is at full capacity; an interest form is open for future cycles.
When was Qatar Foundation founded?
Qatar Foundation was founded in 2009. It is a ngo / foundation.
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