PROCODE and Kinderhaus awarded first and second place in the 23rd edition of StartUp Bahrain Pitch

TDT | Manama

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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 for supporting emerging enterprises, supported by Tamkeen, hosted the 23rd edition of StartUp Bahrain Pitch. The event was held in the presence of H.E. Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce and Chairman of the SME Development Board, and H.E. Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of the Labour Fund “Tamkeen”.

This edition featured a judging panel of leading experts and seasoned investors in the entrepreneurship sector, including: Luca Barbi, General Partner and COO at STV, Khalid Saad, Founder and Managing Partner at Bunat Ventures, Emon Shakoor, CEO of Blossom Accelerator, and Laith Al Khalili, Associate Partner at Mumtalakat.

The event also showcased a group of Bahraini startups including W.I.S.E.R Technologies, a company specializing in legal and government technologies offering 24/7 advisory support; Mawaheb, a digital platform that connects designers, artists and content creators with freelance opportunities; and PROCODE, an esports platform offering skill development courses, professional coaching sessions and competitive tournaments to help players connect with experts and enhance their gaming capabilities.

Additionally, Kinderhaus, an AI powered educational technology platform supporting children with dyslexia and learning difficulties through personalized tools designed to build reading and writing skills, also participated in this edition.

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

On this occasion, Shahad Al Zaki, Co Founder of PROCODE, expressed her pride in earning first place, saying:

“We are proud to have achieved first place in this edition of StartUp Bahrain Pitch, the leading platform that embraces innovators and supports emerging ventures in the Kingdom. This milestone marks a pivotal moment in our journey and reinforces our commitment to achieving our aspirations for growth and expansion.”

Second place winner, Huda Radhi, Founder of Kinderhaus, expressed her appreciation, saying:

“We are honored to have secured second place and to have participated in this competition, which enabled us to showcase our project to a distinguished panel of experts and investors. This event opened new opportunities for communication and collaboration with fellow entrepreneurs. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the mentors who supported us throughout the program, as well as to Tamkeen and all the partners for their vital role in fostering innovation and strengthening the entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Kingdom of Bahrain.”

Startup Pitch is supported by Tamkeen and organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Bahrain Economic Development Board and the Bahrain Development Bank, in line with efforts to inspire innovation among Bahraini youth and reinforce the role of entrepreneurship in contributing to the national economy.

Tamkeen’s support aligns with its strategic priorities for 2026, which focus on areas with the highest 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.