Runway to Web Summit Qatar event held in Washington

Washington, USA – The Government Communications Office (GCO) and the Embassy of Qatar in the United States organized a promotional event to capitalize on the U.S. involvement in Web Summit Qatar and foster further engagement before the 2027 summit in Doha. Prominent tech companies and investors attended, including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, and TechMet.

The event featured 12 speakers discussing global partnership building, start-up success stories, and the role of smart capital in supporting new companies.

Qatari Ambassador to the U.S. Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al-Thani emphasized the longstanding strategic partnership between Qatar and the U.S., with technology and innovation as key cooperation pillars. He noted that the U.S. presence was strong at Web Summit Qatar 2026, and this event aims to deepen engagement and connect founders with investment opportunities in Qatar.

GCO Director of Studies and Strategic Planning Soud Ahmed Al Boinin reported that last year's Runway event in Washington attracted 40% of attendees to Doha, highlighting the success of the initiative. Invest Qatar's Chief Strategy Officer Dr Hamad Rashid Al Naimi highlighted the benefits for U.S. companies, such as connecting with the Qatari ecosystem and scaling solutions regionally.

Web Summit's Chief Events Officer Craig Becker stressed the importance of Qatar's city offering world-class infrastructure and connectivity for entrepreneurs. Founder and CEO of Breshna.io Mariam Nusrat praised Qatar's support for business growth and the value it places on entrepreneurs.