Each episode comprises three investors representing the private sector, alongside His Excellency Aymen bin Tawfiq Almoayed, Chairman of Hope Fund, who will represent Hope Ventures on Beban.
After two successful seasons, Hope Ventures, the investment arm of Hope Fund, has announced the third season of the entrepreneurship-themed reality show Beban. The show will be premiering on January 3, 2024, on Bahrain TV, AlRai TV, and the Arabic streaming platform Shahid.
Filmed at the Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB), the Middle East’s newest exhibition and convention centre, Beban Season three spotlights 41 businesses from across the MENA region. Entrepreneurs will pitch their ventures before a panel of regional investors, vying for equity investment and strategic business opportunities that can propel the growth of their enterprises.
Beban TV show achieves a significant milestone by becoming the GCC’s first-ever private-public investment platform. It has formed partnerships with the public and private sectors, represented by the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (UAE), the SME Development Authority (Oman), GFH Capital (KSA), Zain Kuwait, Sabah Al Ahmad Center for Giftedness and Creativity (Kuwait), and the Labour Fund Tamkeen (Bahrain).
The show, comprising 10 episodes, will air every Wednesday starting January 3 at 6 PM (GMT+3) on Bahrain TV, AlRai TV, and Shahid. Each episode will feature businesses from diverse sectors in Bahrain, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt.
Featuring three private sector investors in each episode, alongside Aymen bin Tawfiq Almoayed, Chairman of Hope Fund, representing Hope Ventures, the show aims to provide a platform for entrepreneurs to secure capital and business opportunities.
Speaking about the show, Fajer Saleh Alpachachi, General Manager of Hope Ventures, the investment arm of Hope Fund and Producers of Beban TV Show, said: “I am extremely thrilled to launch the third season of Beban in partnership with our regional peers from the public and private sectors. Their trust in this initiative further emphasizes the unified goal of governments to develop a seamless GCC investment platform that provides capital and business opportunities to budding business owners. Through Beban, we connect entrepreneurs with strategic investors who can open up new markets through their networks and expertise.”
She added: “Building on the success of its first two seasons, the show showcased over 60 shortlisted entrepreneurs who received 350 hours of intensive business training to ensure their readiness to pitch on the show, and over $6m was raised, the new season of Beban will further feature regional deal flow across diversified sectors. We look forward to viewers tuning in and enjoying an exciting season.”
Khaled Mahmood AlRayyes, Manager of Beban, commented: “Beban was created with the mission of synthesising Hope for promising entrepreneurs with scalable businesses and global ambitions, in addition to providing solutions to some of the region’s biggest ecosystem challenges, which are access to capital, specialized training, and mentorship, as well as marketing and exposure beyond the businesses’ local borders. We are thrilled to be embarking on a new season of Beban, and we anticipate it being a catalyst that encourages the pursuit of entrepreneurship and propels businesses towards remarkable achievements.”
Recognising sponsors Gulf Air, Asia Jewellers, Ahlan App, AlZayani Motors, Exhibition World Bahrain, Kuwait Finance House – Bahrain, TRACCS Bahrain, Bapco Energies, and Gulf Media International, Hope Ventures expresses gratitude for their commitment to empowering regional entrepreneurs.
