WCM-Q students’ startup competes in world’s largest student contest
<p>Doha, Qatar: HERO, a startup project pioneered by two students and one alumnus from Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q), advanced to the 2026 EF Hult Prize Global Accelerator, becoming the second team from Qatar to reach this stage of the global competition since 2021.</p> <p>HERO is one of 21 startups that were selected to participate in the 2026 EF Hult Prize Global Accelerator, a…
Doha, Qatar witnessed the advancement of a student startup, HERO, to the 2026 EF Hult Prize Global Accelerator. This achievement marks the second time a Qatari team has reached this stage since 2021. HERO is a collaborative effort by final-year Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) medical students Mlaak Rob and Mahmoud Yousef, along with alumnus Dr. Yousef Al Najjar.
The Global Accelerator - a four-week, in-person program held in the UK - attracted 21 startups from around the globe. As part of this program, HERO received mentorship, engaged in workshops, connected with industry experts, and prepared for investor engagement. Mlaak Rob expressed, "The Global Accelerator has been one of the most valuable parts of our journey as a company and as entrepreneurs so far.
Being surrounded by such passionate ambitious teams from around the world, learning from experienced mentors, and constantly challenging each other has pushed us to think bigger."
On August 27, HERO pitched at Google Demo Day, presenting their solution to a global panel of investors and experts. This opportunity not only allowed the team to showcase their work but also facilitated valuable connections with potential investors and partners worldwide.
Dr. Max Renault, Director of Innovations in Global Precision Health at WCM-Q, expressed immense pride in the success of HERO and the entrepreneurial spirit displayed by the students. He noted that reaching the final 21 teams from an initial pool of 18,000 entrants is a remarkable feat.
Yana Dabaghie, Middle East and North Africa Regional Manager of EF Hult Prize, highlighted the significance of HERO's advancement, emphasizing the ambition, creativity, and global potential of student founders in Qatar. She commended the Al Fikra Competition for establishing a robust national platform for students to participate and excel in the EF Hult Prize journey.
Juha Peralampi, a manager at Al Fikra, acknowledged HERO's progress from Al Fikra to the EF Hult Prize Global Accelerator, underscoring the success of their collaboration in providing a strong national platform for Qatari student entrepreneurs and a pathway for the best teams to compete and succeed internationally.
Written by urgent.news from The Peninsula Qatar's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
