Entrepreneurs, investors, and development-finance partners will come together on December 7 at the Babylon Rotana Hotel in Baghdad for a special event celebrating the Scale Iraq startup-support program. The goal of this program is straightforward: help increase investment opportunities and strengthen Iraq’s early-stage startup scene.
The gathering will be held in Enlil Hall from 10 a.m. to noon. During the event, speakers from international finance groups and diplomatic offices will talk about how the program has helped young Iraqi companies get ready for investment, build stronger internal systems, and connect with regional and global investors.
A panel of Iraqi entrepreneurs will also take the stage to discuss what it’s really like to build a startup in Iraq today. They’ll talk honestly about funding challenges, regulations, and the growing opportunities in tech-driven sectors. The program will also recognize thirty participating organizations, hand out certificates, and take a group photo with partners and mentors.
Among the startups being highlighted are Sindibad, a platform offering digital services and easier access for consumers, and Wonder Beauties, which is bringing tech solutions to the cosmetics and personal-care sector.
Scale Iraq is being run by Iraq Venture Partners (IVP), with support from Innovest. IVP—founded by Omar Al-Handal, Bassam Falah, and Mohammed Khudairi—also manages the IVP Catalyst Fund, which offers six-figure seed investments and follow-on funding for promising Iraqi tech startups.
The initiative is backed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, and is carried out with support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Recently, IVP received a €2.6 million (about US$2.7 million) grant from the Dutch government through the Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF). This funding will help IVP support more Iraqi entrepreneurs and expand financing options for new and growing companies.
