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• Bader Al-Kharafi: “Zain is profoundly committed to nurture and invest in regional talent to drive meaningful change"
• Zain Ventures aims to invest and capitalize on the most promising innovative startups
• ZGI has a rich 15-year legacy in Kuwait upskilling over 7,000 entrepreneurs, trips to Silicon Valley, that led to USD 135 million funds raised from regional investors
  
   
  
  Kuwait City, 25 August 2025 – Zain Group, a leading provider of innovative ICT and digital lifestyle communications operating in eight markets across the Middle East and Africa announces the regional expansion of its award-winning startup accelerator program, Zain Great Idea (ZGI 2025), powered by Zain Ventures, the Group's venture capital arm, and ZainTECH, its regional digital solutions enterprise arm.
  
   
  
  For the first time in the program's 15-year history, the 2025 edition will welcome applications from innovators in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and UAE, offering unprecedented access to mentorship, capital, and global exposure including a trip to Silicon Valley for a two-week intensive program.
  
   
  
  Zain Ventures is a key driver of ZGI's regional expansion, aiming to invest in and capitalize prime opportunities, while ZainTECH will cooperate with the ZGI team throughout the accelerator program, working closely with and providing the startups selected to visit Silicon Valley strategic advisory and identify technologies such as Cloud, Ai, Analytics, Robotics and other emerging technologies that will further support their growth throughout the year.
  
   
  
  This milestone marks a transformative leap from ZGI's Kuwait-centric roots to a Group-wide initiative, reinforcing Zain's commitment to nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship across the region.
  
   
  
  A legacy of empowering entrepreneurs
  
   
  
  Since 2010, ZGI has empowered over 7,000 entrepreneurs, facilitated 110+ bootcamps, that led to over USD 135 million funds raised from regional investors during the last 5 years alone. The ZGI 2025 program complements Zain's '4WARD – Progress with Purpose' strategy, which emphasizes meaningful innovation, inclusive growth, collaboration, and AI powered digital transformation with real societal impact. By backing the regional startup ecosystem, Zain reinforces its commitment to building a future where progress is fueled by purpose, and innovation is driven from the region for the region.
  
   
  
  Bader Al-Kharafi, Zain Vice-Chairman and Group CEO said, “Zain Great Idea has become a beacon of innovation in Kuwait and beyond. Expanding ZGI across our footprint is a natural evolution of our commitment to nurturing regional talent and driving meaningful change. Through the collaborative efforts of ZGI, Zain Ventures and ZainTECH, we aim to support startups that have the potential to have a marked and lasting impact on technological innovation and job creation across the region, fulfilling our purpose of uplifting economies and societies"
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