Beban, an entrepreneurship-themed reality television show and regional private-public investment platform produced by Hope Ventures, the investment arm of Hope Fund, announces Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB), the Middle East’s newest exhibition and convention centre, as a Strategic Partner for its upcoming third season.
The show is centered around 41 GCC entrepreneurs as they pitch their scalable businesses in front of a panel of regional investors for equity investment and business development opportunities. Having aired for two seasons, Beban featured a total of 62 businesses of various sizes and resulted in successful co-investments by the private and public sectors exceeding USD 6 million in GCC-based startups.
The partnership announcement was made during a signing ceremony attended by H.E. Mr. Aymen bin Tawfiq Almoayed, Chairman of Hope Fund, H.E. Dr. Nasser Ali Qaedi, Chief Executive Officer of Bahrain Tourism, Ms. Fajer Saleh Alpachachi, General Manager of Hope Ventures, Dr. Debbie Kristiansen, General Manager of Exhibition World Bahrain, and was accompanied by Hope and EWB management and representatives.
Being a Strategic Partner for Beban is aligned with EWB’s mission of positioning the Kingdom of Bahrain as a global and regional hub, as it will host over 40 promising entrepreneurs and reputable investors from across the GCC who will be appearing on Beban season 3.
Given that EWB is the newest and one of the largest exhibition and convention centres in the Middle East, the centre has successfully situated itself as the region’s ideal venue for hosting major local, regional, and international events since its inception in November 2022.
Through its hosting of Beban season 3 with its venue that encompasses 10 versatile exhibition halls of different ceiling heights with a total area of 95,000 SQM, it will contribute to nurturing local and regional talents, fostering creativity, revolutionising the entrepreneurial landscape, and propelling the region into a future of limitless possibilities.
Commenting on the occasion, H.E. Mr. Aymen bin Tawfiq Almoayed, Chairman of Hope Fund, shared: “At Hope, we are committed to removing borders by bringing together regional opportunities under one roof to facilitate cross-border investment deal flow. Today, as we announce Exhibition World Bahrain as a strategic partner for season 3 of Beban, we are able to fulfill that commitment by hosting 40 promising entrepreneurs at Exhibition World Bahrain.”
He further added: “This partnership exemplifies the convergence of the public and private sectors, joining forces to cultivate the entrepreneurial ecosystem, fuel economic growth, and inspire a new generation of trailblazers. We look forward to positioning the Kingdom of Bahrain as a hub that hosts promising entrepreneurs and strategic investors from across the region as they prepare to participate in Beban season 3.”
On his part, H.E. Dr. Nasser bin Ali Qaedi, CEO of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, said: “We are pleased to witness this promising partnership between EWB and Hope and proudly delighted to host over 40 promising entrepreneurs and reputable investors from across the GCC at EWB, the newest convention and exhibition venue in the region. We express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Affairs and Youth Affairs, for his limitless support of Beban and entrepreneurship development. This new partnership dovetails with BTEA’s efforts to elevate the MICE offering as one of the main pillars of Bahrain’s tourism strategy (2022-2026), focusing on delivering exceptional MICE experiences and transforming the Kingdom into a leading regional MICE hub.”
Hope Ventures thanks His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Affairs and Youth Affairs, for His guidance and unwavering support that led to the creation and development of Beban, which contributes to the shaping of a robust regional investment ecosystem.