Ten start-ups graduate from 'Accelerator' programme

Muscat, Aug 28
A graduation ceremony was held on Thursday for 10 start-ups from the Eco-Innovate Oman Accelerator Programme (EiO). Four of these companies presented their investment solutions to investors and experts.
The ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr Saif bin Abdullah al Haddabi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation for Research and Innovation.
The event also recognised three finalists from the Oman Environmental Services Holding Company (be'ah) Tech programme.
The initiative is be'ah's commitment to transforming environmental challenges into innovative economic opportunities by investing in youth potential and adopting modern technologies. These efforts contribute to building a low-emission economy aligned with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
Looking at the new generation of sustainability leaders, Dr Farah al Barwani, Senior Manager for Research and Development at be’ah, said, “My advice to the ten graduates is to treat sustainability as the drive for innovation. Leverage the network you have, such as investors, mentors and the wealth of knowledge you have gained, to focus on finding solutions to problems that are local, regional and international. By doing so, you can maximise the opportunities the accelerator has created.”
The four projects that did their pitch were Blooming Garden, Invare, Wadi Ronneb and Zulal. Blooming Garden is a store for sustainable rustic gifts that promotes the concept of eco-friendly products and plans to include pick-your-own produce farm. Invare is a digital marketplace for recyclable waste, ensuring transparency in trading recyclable materials.
Wadi Ronneb is a company specialised in managing construction and demolition (C&D) waste in Dhofar Governorate and converting it into sustainable products. Zulal produces a household water filter made from clay and natural fibres as a sustainable alternative to plastic filters.
'be'ah Tec 2' serves as a stimulating platform that brings together developers, designers and university students in a creative and collaborative environment, generating innovative ideas that address real-world challenges while supporting Oman's transition towards a circular and sustainable economy.
Since its launch in 2019, the accelerator has successfully transformed many green ideas from concepts into scalable projects, directing them towards supporting the circular economy.
The 2024 edition marked a significant milestone by broadening the scope of innovation to encompass more advanced and diverse solutions. This edition introduced how start-ups can operationalise ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles, demonstrating how ESG serves as a competitive advantage in building new businesses.