27th StartUp Bahrain Pitch event crowns Cogman, Luma winners

The 27th StartUp Bahrain Pitch event crowned Cogman first place and Luma second, spotlighting Bahraini startups developing AI and digital health solutions. The national pitch competition, organised by StartUp Bahrain and powered by the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) with support from the SMEs Development Board, brought together entrepreneurs, investors and government officials to assess early-stage innovations and offer mentorship for growth and expansion.

"The win marked a major milestone for the project and reflected the team's efforts to develop an innovative business model addressing market needs," said Fahad Al Suwaidi of Cogman, following the announcement. "The StartUp Bahrain Pitch competition also provided opportunities to present the idea to experts and investors and receive feedback supporting future growth plans."

The event was attended by senior public and private sector figures, including Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board; Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce and Chairman of the SMEs Development Board; Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of Tamkeen; Dalal Al Ghais, Chief Executive of Bahrain Development Bank Group; and Waleed Kanoo, a Tamkeen board member, alongside members of the SMEs Development Board.

Competition field and judging

The StartUp Bahrain Pitch featured a range of digital and technology startups across sectors. Participating ventures included:

• Vibo — a social media platform for short video content offering voice comments and interactive features
• Meem AI — a provider of tailored artificial intelligence solutions including voice and visual assistants, movement management and sign language translation
• Luma — a digital health platform offering personalized health assessments, AI-powered insights and doctor-approved recommendations via a mobile application
• Cogman — an AI-powered business management platform helping SMEs manage operations, finances and inventory through a unified dashboard

The judging panel comprised Nawaf Al Koheji, founder and Executive Partner of Reete.co; Khalid Saad, founder and Managing Partner of Bunat Ventures; Mahmood Al Saati, founder and CEO of Saturn Consultants; and Laith Al Khalili, Associate Partner at Mumtalakat Bahrain Holding. After presentations and evaluation by the panel, Cogman was selected as the winner, with Luma taking second place.

"The second-place finish would encourage the team to further develop the project and expand its growth," said Bader Mattar of Luma. He noted that the StartUp Bahrain Pitch helped Luma showcase its potential and build relationships with entrepreneurs, investors and ecosystem specialists.

Context and institutional backing

Tamkeen emphasised that its support of StartUp Bahrain Pitch aligns with its 2026 strategic priorities, specifically backing high-impact initiatives, strengthening private-sector competitiveness, matching skills with labour market needs and supporting startup growth and expansion to drive sustainable economic development in Bahrain. The event provided participating teams with mentorship, feedback and visibility to accelerate business development.

Organisers highlighted that the StartUp Bahrain Pitch series continues to offer a recurring platform for entrepreneurs to test propositions, obtain expert critique and access networks of investors and corporate partners. The presence of senior ministers and institutional leaders underlined the event’s role in connecting policy-makers with the startup community.

Outlook

With Cogman and Luma securing the top spots, both teams are positioned to capitalise on the exposure and guidance received at the event. Cogman’s AI-driven SME management tools and Luma’s AI-enabled digital health assessments address clear market needs, and both startups indicated plans to refine products and pursue growth following the competition. Continued support from Tamkeen and the SMEs Development Board is expected to shape the next phase of scaling for Bahrain’s early-stage tech ventures.