Photo: Cyrilht / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Omantel Innovation Labs has selected nine start-ups for the eighth cohort of its accelerator programme, strengthening Oman’s push to turn emerging technology ideas into scalable businesses.
A new intake for Oman’s tech ecosystem
Omantel announced the new cohort through its official channels, describing the companies as ambitious start-ups joining the accelerator led by its Innovation Labs unit. Reporting on the selection said the intake includes ventures working in fintech, artificial intelligence, industrial technology and food technology.
DGBN has also reported on Nigeria reports two suspected Ebola cases in the North-East.
The programme is based at Omantel’s Innovation Labs facility in Muscat, which brings together founders, investors, universities, corporate partners and public-sector bodies. The telecoms company says its priority areas include AI, fintech, cybersecurity, big data, customer-experience technology, 5G and the internet of things.
Six months of support
The accelerator is designed as a six-month programme, with three months of intensive mentoring followed by three months of aftercare. Omantel says participating founders receive support on technical feasibility, commercial demand and financial viability, alongside product testing, industry links and investor readiness.
Each cohort ends with a Demo Day, where founders present their businesses to the local start-up community and international investors. Entry does not automatically guarantee investment, but accepted companies can access potential backing through Omantel’s joint fund with Future Fund Oman, subject to investment approval.
For more context, read DGBN’s coverage of Yvette Clarke joins congressional call to withdraw English-only Head Start proposal.
The programme is open to Omani and international companies where overseas applicants have a viable connection to the Omani market.
Why it matters
For African and Black diaspora founders watching the Gulf’s technology economy, the cohort illustrates the value of regional landing points that combine access to telecoms infrastructure, commercial partners and investment networks. Omantel’s 2025 annual report said its Innovation Labs had supported more than 80 start-ups since its launch in 2021 and helped create more than 400 jobs across supported ventures.
The company also reported that 41 start-ups were supported in 2025 across sectors including ICT, fintech, logistics, GreenTech, cybersecurity and healthcare. Its sixth accelerator cohort included three international start-ups from Singapore, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, signalling that the platform is increasingly positioning Oman as a base for cross-border expansion.
For the nine new companies, the key test will be whether mentoring and access to Omantel’s networks lead to pilots, paying customers and investment. That transition from early-stage innovation to commercial scale remains central to building technology ecosystems that can create skilled jobs and locally owned digital products.
Related DGBN reporting includes Cameroon launches AfCFTA project to support small border traders.
For wider context, see Racing 0-3 Real Madrid: Mbappé, Bellingham and Diomandé settle it inside 36 minutes on Diajem Sports Network.
Omantel has already opened applications for the ninth accelerator cohort, with the application window listed as closing on 9 January 2027.