FemTech Accelerator

FemTech Accelerator

Offers non-cash women-focused acceleration in Qatar for deep-tech teams with clinical and social impact goals.

Eligibility · QA

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The QSTP FemTech Accelerator is an 8-month program operated by Qatar Science & Technology Park in partnership with Merck, targeting deep-tech startups that apply artificial intelligence, robotics, or material science to women's health challenges. The 2026 cohort accepted up to 30 startups, with applications closing on March 25, 2026. The program provides no cash funding and takes no equity — participation is free, and the value lies entirely in in-kind support: mentorship, market access, and opportunities to pilot solutions through Merck's networks.

Eligibility is open to both for-profit and non-profit organizations but requires demonstrated traction — this is not a pre-revenue or idea-stage program. The geographic focus is the WANA region (West Asia and North Africa), though global applicants may apply. Selected cohort members must complete a mandatory 2-week in-person immersion in Doha, followed by structured pilot execution phases running through November and including an expansion leg in Egypt. The 2026 cohort concluded with a Doha showcase in November 2026.

Although the 2026 round is closed, QSTP has run the FemTech Accelerator on an annual cycle, making it a recurring opportunity for qualified deep-tech women's-health ventures. Applicants best positioned to succeed are those with commercially validated technology and the operational capacity to execute a cross-regional pilot within the 8-month timeline. The Merck partnership is the primary channel for pilot and market access outcomes, and teams with technologies compatible with Merck's women's-health portfolio stand to benefit most from the program's industry connections.