As in many Middle Eastern countries, Jordan has a flourishing start-up ecosystem. The country has widespread entrepreneurial potential, with talent flourishing in the capital Amman, but also in other regions.
GrowHome has handpicked three Jordanian start-up/business incubators that could really give Jordanian entrepreneurs a kickstart. This list is non-exhaustive; we chose three very different incubators, catering to different sectors, in order to give you a vast overview of the Jordanian incubator ecosystem. Application links to these incubators will be at the end of the article. If you are more a visual type person, we also made a video out of this article which is linked here. Feel free to subscribe to the channel while you’re at it :)
1) OASIS 500
First on our list is Oasis 500. Oasis 500 is one of Jordan’s pioneering incubators; it’s one of its first and most successful. It was founded in 2010, and its board of directors is led by Usama Fayyad, Yahoo’s former Chief Data Officer. Oasis is specialized in the tech/creative industry, or if you want to sound fancy, “ICT” (Information and Communications Technology). It takes in early stage start-ups and provides them with investment, coaching, access to regional/international markets and corporate linkage. It is located in the Jordanian capital of Amman. Oasis isn’t just a quick start-up accelerator. They really strive to help founders build robust and sustainable companies, generating jobs for years to come. Oasis has been praised for its advocacy when it comes to Syrian refugees and gender equality, even lobbying the government to make it easier for Syrians to receive job permits.
So, what are the steps for you to get into Oasis 500’s programs? First, you apply through their website and then go through multiple rounds of pitches to prove if your idea makes the cut. Once you’re taken in, you participate in a 6-month acceleration program, designed to reduce your TTM (Time to Market.) Being a part of Oasis 500 definitely opens an unimaginable amount of doors. To date, Oasis has received 14,000 applicants, invested in 152 companies, trained 2800 entrepreneurs, and has indirectly created over 4,000 jobs. Oasis has an incredible global network; they recently took in 3 Jamaican entrepreneurs as part of a joint program with the World Bank, and they run youth entrepreneurship programs in partnership with UNICEF in Palestine, Morocco, and Tunisia.
In conclusion, Oasis 500 is definitely one of the biggest players in the Jordanian entrepreneur game. By applying, you are potentially embarking on an adventure that could drastically change your life and the development of your start-up. One of Oasis’ strong points is the funding they provide; up to 100K in pre-seed and up to 300K post-acceleration. If you think you can benefit from Oasis, apply now!
2) LUMINUS SHAMALSTART
Second on our list is Luminus ShamalStart, an incredibly innovative and impactful incubator. ShamalStart was launched in 2016 by the Luminus Foundation and is funded by the European Union. One of ShamalStart’s particularities is that it is specialized in Jordan’s northern regions, more specifically cities like Irbid and Mafraq. ShamalStart was created as the result of a sad observation; in the region surrounding Irbid and Mafraq, only 1 out of 4 university graduates was able to find a job.
ShamalStart focuses on start-ups in the manufacturing or related services sector. Their goal is to allow founders to turn their prototype into reality. ShamalStart provides funding, legal advice, a workspace, mentorship, network, and market linkage but more importantly: access to FabLab.
FabLab is a state of the art digital fabrication lab located in Irbid. It includes laser cutters, 3D printers, electronics labs, and many more resources designed to help inventors turn their idea into reality. As a start-up incubated at ShamalStart, you have access to those facilities.
ShamalStart is also surrounded by 5 universities and 2 industrial centers, allowing for founders to connect, work, and collaborate with other visionaries right next door. To date, ShamalStart has incubated 112 start-ups, provided 1.3 million JOD in funding, trained 250 teams, generated 300+job opportunities. Due to its location in Northern Jordan, ShamalStart also works with many Syrian refugee entrepreneurs fleeing violence in their own country.
So how does the process work? First, you will fill out the online application directly on their website which we will once again link in the description. If your application is convincing, you will move on to interviews. You will then move on to their Business Boot Camp, during which you will define a concise business plan for your start-up. After that comes the final step; the Pitch.
ShamalStart has a couple of eligibility requirements; your team has to have at least 2 founding members, you have to be a minimum, 18 years of age, at least 50% of your staff must be Jordanian and you must be in the manufacturing/related services sector.
Some of ShamalStart’s famous alumni include ionmicrosystems, which specializes in the “Internet of Things” (which basically describes the network of physical objects that exchanging with other objects through the internet) and is currently working with electrical vehicle charging stations in Jordan.
If you are an inventor at heart and want to turn your prototype into a reality, we definitely recommend you taking a shot at ShamalStart. Apply now!
3) HASSAD AGRITECH
And last but not least on our list is the HASSAD incubator. HASSAD is one of a kind incubator; indeed, it is the first incubator in Jordan with a focus on agritech (a combination of agriculture and technology). HASSAD works with start-ups focused on smart farming, waste technology, biotech for genetics, and breeding just to name a few.
While agriculture doesn’t necessarily rhyme with entrepreneurship, the agricultural sector is in dire need of entrepreneurial innovation due to increasing threats such as desertification and decreasing support for traditional/family farming.
HASSAD offers three programs a year, one in summer, one in spring, and one in winter. Each program follows the same pattern; online application, validation Bootcamp, acceleration program, and post acceleration capital raising. HASSAD truly quickstarts companies aimed at disrupting and innovating in the agricultural sector. In the words of HASSAD Program Manager Mohammed Alafranji, “HASSAD’s added value is its reinforced and specialized 3-month acceleration program, the support from professional mentors and coaches and access to international bodies specialized in the sector”. HASSAD says it looks for three main traits when it comes to founders: leadership, problem-solving, and technical mastery. Needless to say that HASSAD doesn’t only jumpstart your agricultural innovation; it connects you with a wide array of industry leaders, taking your start-up to new heights.
One example of HASSAD’s alumni is GreenOn, which creates aqua/hydroponics walls. What is aquaponics you ask? Aquaponics is a way to grow plants without the soil, delivering the nutrients through different mediums. This allows for sustainable and individualized farming. Here’s an article to help you better understand what it is. What GreenOn does is that it allows its clients to build, design, and scale aquaponics walls for people living in cities, enabling families to grow their own fresh and healthy food directly from their homes.
HASSAD is a great and unique initiative; the fact that it is specialized means that if you have a start-up idea within that sector, it is 100% worth it to take a shot at their program. Apply now!
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