Orange Corners Baghdad supports Iraqi youth in bringing their entrepreneurial ideas to life. Through a six-month incubation programme, we support 20 young male and female Iraqi entrepreneurs with training, business development, and masterclasses. We seek to provide a supportive environment in which your business can thrive.
Orange Corners Baghdad is an initiative of the Dutch Embassy in Baghdad and is implemented by the business company KAPITA. The economic priorities of the Netherlands in Iraq are agriculture, water and entrepreneurship. KAPITA supports the community of young entrepreneurs in Baghdad by building youth capacity, and developing successful businesses.
Application process
Online application
The application form becomes available on our website prior to the beginning of each six-month cycle. Fill in all required fields and submit via the online application form submit button. Please make sure to check your inbox regularly to see if you are one of the 50 selected semi-finalists.
Bootcamp
The 50 semi-finalists will be invited to participate in a compulsory two-day-long bootcamp in which a jury decides who are best placed to join the incubation programme.
Selection
Selection will be conducted according to the performance during the bootcamp. At the end of the bootcamp, 20 young Iraqi entrepreneurs will be selected to participate for six months.
FAQ
When can I apply?
Applications go through this website and are currently closed.
What are the selection criteria?
• An aspiring entrepreneur based in Iraq.
• Between 18 and 35 years old.
• Ready to submit an innovative start-up idea or an established start-up that should not be more than a year old.
• Has great commitment and is disciplined.
• Has excellent communication skills, both oral and written in Arabic.
• Have at least a high school diploma or bachelors degree.
• Unemployed or at most a part-time employee, so that you have enough time available to develop your business.
• Ready to submit an innovative start-up idea that addresses one of the Sustainable Development Goals.
• We are specifically looking for ideas and startups in fields related to Agribusiness, Food Manufacturing, Tech, E-commerce and anything Product-based.
• Possession of some English language, leadership and communication skills.How can I apply?
Click on the APPLY NOW button on our website and fill in the online application form.
What is in it for me?
Orange Corners Baghdad targets people who have a business start-up or idea, but are not yet able to develop their idea. This is where we come in to help you: whether you do not yet have the right connections, are unsure how to write a good business plan, or need a mentor. Through an intense 6-month long programme we will help you to develop your business idea until you have what it takes to succeed on the Iraqi market.
How will I know if I am selected?
Once you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email. We will follow up later with an email (or phone call) to let you know whether we have selected you as a Boot camp semi-finalist. During the boot camp, the jury will announce the final group of 20 participants.
When does the programme start?
The Orange Corners programme starts in January 2020. Every 6 months a new cycle of 20 Iraqi entrepreneurs will be selected for participation.
Does it cost anything to participate?
There are no participation fees. The Orange Corners programme is funded by The Netherlands and partners from the private sector.
Our partners
Want to work together?
The latest
Uniting Egyptian history with art and design
The Gawad sisters, Rasha and Sara, decided to pursue their childhood passion in art and fashion design 10 years ago. They were intrigued by the dying art of the hand-woven textile industry and traditional loom weaving, the antithesis of fast-fashion production. The place of origin of their hand woven textiles is Akhmem, a small village …
Kick-off event Orange Corners Alumni Community: Masterclass on ‘Getting Ready to Export’
We are proud to announce that we have officially launched the Orange Corners Alumni Community on July 1st, 2021 with a festive virtual opening inlcuding the first network sessions for attending alumni. The aim of this community is to offer alumni from all Orange Corners locations an accessible, inspiring and supportive platform where they connect …
Establishing the foundation of a vibrant Community of Practice across Africa and the Middle East together with YBI
OCHQ would like to express its gratitude to YBI for their support of the Orange Corners Programme in constructing a Community of Practice, which began in January 2021 and came to a successful close last April. YBI supports young people around the world to start, grow and sustain businesses. As a platform for members to exchange ideas, …
Where to find us
Orange Corners Baghdad | Al-Mansour Neighborhood 609, house number 10, Alley 13, 00964 Baghdad, Iraq | [email protected]; [email protected]
