QF’s QSTP and Merck officially launched the FemTech Accelerator, featuring a strong global founder pipeline
Qatar Science & Technology Park, a member of Qatar Foundation, in collaboration with Merck, has officially marked the start of the QSTP × Merck FemTech Accelerator.
Formally launched on April 20, the programme’s first session brought together applicants and selected founders to kick-start the accelerator journey.
During the first meeting, participants learned more about the programme structure, selection process, and key milestones, as well as its keen focus on driving innovation and delivering tangible impact in women’s health.
The initiative also emphasises supporting long-term solutions that address real needs and improve women’s access to healthcare across markets.
By the numbers, the QSTP × Merck FemTech Accelerator drew significant local and international attention, attracting 240 applications from 47 countries, including 24 from Qatar. Female-led startups accounted for 71% of total applicants.
Commenting on the strength and level of participation, QSTP President Rama Chakaki said the interest and quality of applications reflect “both the urgency and the opportunity within women’s health.”
“It is encouraging to see a strong representation of female founders developing solutions across critical areas,” she added.
Applications covered a wide range of sectors, including reproductive health and fertility, diagnostics and biomarkers, mental health and wellbeing, and maternal and postpartum care.
Additional areas included non-communicable diseases, cancer screening, digital health platforms, hormonal health, autoimmune conditions, and medical devices.
From founder support to real-world testing
The first phase of the programme will take 40 founders through workshops and expert-led sessions covering digital health, impact, and commercialisation. A smaller group will then move to the next stage, focused on pilot development and validation.
In Phase II, selected startups and scale-ups will work closely with partners in Qatar and across the region to test and refine their solutions in real-world settings.
Programme Director Hayfa Al Abdulla said the focus is now on working closely with selected founders to advance pilot opportunities and connect them with leading institutions, ensuring their solutions are tested in real-world settings where gaps in access and innovation persist.
As QSTP’s first multi-country accelerator, the FemTech programme reflects its continued role in enabling innovation and supporting startups and scale-ups with high potential for impact, while strengthening connections between global founders and Qatar’s growing innovation ecosystem.