“StylistWithin” and “Darb” Crowned as Winners in the 24th Edition of StartUp Bahrain Pitch

As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the entrepreneurship ecosystem and support the growth of Bahraini startups, StartUp Bahrain – the Kingdom’s leading national platform, supported by Tamkeen, hosted the 24th edition of StartUp Bahrain Pitch. The event was held in collaboration with the SMEs Development Board in line with efforts to inspire innovation among Bahraini youth and reinforce the role of entrepreneurship in the national economy.

This edition featured a judging panel of leading experts and seasoned investors in the entrepreneurship sector, including Fouad Fattal, VP of Programs at AstroLabs, Ali Mahmood, Executive Director at Plus Venture Capital, Murooj Al Saadi, Founder and CEO of Saudi-based Madaar, and Laith Al Khalili, Associate Partner at Mumtalakat.

The event also showcased a group of Bahraini startups including Darb, a platform that empowers high school students to make informed decisions on their career path, Selano, an online platform that streamlines event planning where users book all services in one place while helping providers grow and manage their business, StylistWithin, an AI-powered fashion consulting platform that offers personalized style advice and outfit recommendations, in addition to Katkoot, a toy subscription platform offering curated catalogs, flexible membership plans and eco-friendly toy rentals that adapt to children’s changing needs.

After the startups presented their projects and were evaluated by the judging panel, the winners were announced, with StylistWithinawarded first place and Darb awarded second place.

On this occasion, Nawara Kamal, founder of StylistWithin, expressed her pride in earning first place, saying:

“We are proud to have achieved first place in this edition of StartUp Bahrain Pitch. This accomplishment serves as a strong motivation to continue innovating and developing our work in a way that contributes to delivering solutions capable of competing regionally and globally.”

Second-place winner, Zahra Al Mahoozi, Founder of Darb, expressed her appreciation, saying:

“Our participation in this edition of StartUp Bahrain Pitch has added tremendous value to us. We benefited from feedback from mentors and the judging panels, in addition to the opportunity to explore other projects and learn about the available opportunities for growth and development in both the local and regional markets. We look forward to playing an active role in the field of education, and we strive to achieve further development and accomplishments that contribute to advancing this sector.”

Tamkeen’s support aligns with its strategic priorities for 2026, which focus on areas with the highest impact on the economy and Bahrainis. It also reflects Tamkeen’s role in shaping career pathways through programs that connect skills with opportunities in the labor market, adopting innovative approaches to stimulate private sector growth and financing, and implementing programs that enhance the Fund’s efficiency and effectiveness by developing internal mechanisms and continuously strengthening governance.