Bahrain has taken bold initiatives to foster a culture of global entrepreneurship in the Kingdom through the Pitch@Palace development platform by The Duke of York in an effort to amplify and accelerate the work of local entrepreneurs on an international level.

Pitch@Palace gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to meet the people who can help make their business dreams a reality. It guides, helps and connects entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses with potential supporters, including CEOs, influencers, angel investors, mentors and business partners. It also serves as a global platform for entrepreneurs from markets across the world to build access and connectivity to mentors and advisers, distribution systems and supply chains, connections and investments; thus enabling them to access new markets, find new partners and investors, build prosperity and create jobs globally.

Over the past four years Pitch@Palace has held events in or worked with entrepreneurs from 59 countries across Asia, Middle East, Africa, Australia, Latin America and Europe. The winners of each overseas event that takes place during the year attend Pitch@Palace Global at St. James’s Palace each December. Pitch@Palace’s partnership with Bahrain is a key step in the process of introducing Bahraini entrepreneurs to the world, and in the same way bring entrepreneurs from across the world here in Bahrain. The goal is to promote Bahrain’s entrepreneurial culture and spirit in the global setting and offer staunch support to entrepreneurs across the various growth stages of their budding ventures.

The initiative is being held in the Kingdom under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, with the support of Tamkeen’s Chairman, HE Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa.The finale of the Pitch@Palace competition, which is currently on its 2nd edition in Bahrain was held on 27th March 2019 at Four Seasons Hotel. Each one of the 12 Bahraini entrepreneurs who qualified for the finale gave three-minute presentations on their business projects before a panel of judges and a mixed crowd of invited guests, technology and media professionals and investors.

The winners of the competition were announced by the Duke of York all of whom will proceed to the 2nd edition of the competition’s Gulf regional qualifying round: Newton’s Apple Science Center, Mavi VR Studios, DocWhere App, WindStorm and Telp. An Audience Choice Award was bestowed on LARA robotics.Bahrain will host the Gulf regional qualifying round in October, which will pit the winners from Bahrain against candidates from other Gulf countries for a chance to move on to the international and final round of the competition at St. James Palace in London, UK.