A Conversation with Bilel: Startups, VC, and Qatar’s Growing Ecosystem

Some conversations aren’t interviews , they’re exchanges of experience. That’s how it felt sitting down with Bilal.

He started with a logistics startup that promised to “Uberize” shipping. Millions were raised, the vision was strong, and yet the company failed to deliver its goals. Investors received less than they expected through tech acquisition by last mile delivery company , and Bilal walked away with a reality check: timing and market readiness can make or break even the best ideas.

From there, he transitioned to strategy consulting, working with global players such as Microsoft and Meta, gaining a front-row view of how multinationals operate and scale. From there, he moved into venture capital with Qatar Development Bank, where he helped shape one of the region’s first sovereign-backed VC programs and invested agnostically including Qatar’s flagship startup Snoonu. He later shifted to the operating side, joining Cytomate, the GCC’s first cybertech company, where he spent several years scaling the business. Having lived the founder and operator experience, he has now returned to venture capital with a sharper lens combining investor discipline with operating scars to better back the next generation of founders.

We spoke about Qatar’s ecosystem, and here the conversation became even more meaningful. There is no shortage of capital, but too often it’s misdirected. Family offices wrestle between safe, traditional investments and new, riskier opportunities. Corporates hesitate to pilot with startups, when in fact their support could be the very thing that ignites growth.

And yet, Qatar has something unique. Within a few kilometers, you can reach world-class banks, hospitals, airlines, and hospitality brands. Running a pilot here is faster, cheaper, and more impactful than in many other markets. It’s a sandbox with global potential , if we build a culture of risk-taking and collaboration.

Bilel also spoke about AI, and his advice to his younger self was clear: learn everything about it. Not because it will replace us, but because it will reshape economies and societies, just as the Industrial Revolution once did. And in that shift, the value of genuine human-to-human connection will only grow stronger.

As we wrapped up, I realised this wasn’t just a one-off episode. It was the beginning of an ongoing dialogue about what it really takes to build, invest, and grow here in Qatar. Two people, coming from different experiences, meeting in the middle to talk honestly about failure, resilience, and the possibilities ahead.

This article is just a taste of our full conversation. If you’d like to dive deeper into Bilel’s journey, the realities of venture capital, and the opportunities for startups in Qatar. We will post the link soon.

Because sometimes, the most valuable thing isn’t the polished success story, it’s the honest conversation that helps us all keep moving forward.