Top Startup Accelerators in Baghdad

If you’re an early-stage founder looking for capital and momentum in Iraq, look no further than Baghdad. Despite its share of hurdles, the city’s startup ecosystem is quietly buzzing, drawing founders, investors and a new breed of entrepreneurial types keen to put their mark on the map. With accelerators, incubators, and VC funding on the up, Baghdad genuinely offers more for founders than many might guess.

Whether you’re prepping your pitch deck or scanning for that elusive term sheet, there’s a growing set of doors to knock on. Here’s a proper look (courtesy of Arageek) at Baghdad’s top accelerators and programmes giving local startups a fighting shot.

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Iraq’s first proper online agribusiness incubator is leading the charge when it comes to supporting innovative startups in agriculture and food. Born out of the Iraq Response Innovation Lab, this programme is all about reducing the practical headaches faced by local founders—think water waste, rising costs and access to new tech. It’s got its tentacles spread across Baghdad, Tikrit, Kirkuk and beyond, making it a vital piece of the city’s early-stage support puzzle. If you’re one of the lucky startups, you get tailored training, mentoring, business coaching and even a shot at decent seed funding—last time out, five startups each landed $20,000.

Five One Labs stands out for its deeply researched approach to building up the Baghdad startup ecosystem. Part incubator, part data detective, they don’t just chuck founders into the deep end—every move is backed by proper research and surveys (over 70 founders have taken part somehow), plus roundtables for founders and angel investors. They’ve shone a torch on funding gaps and trust issues in Iraq, publishing the “State of Investments in Iraq” report. The focus is on giving early-stage startups credible support while working out ways to smoothen those funding rounds for the next batch coming through.

Founder Institute has rolled out the red carpet for Baghdad-based entrepreneurs with its famous MENA programme. If your startup is nothing more than a scribble in a notebook, their accelerator helps you sort your cap table, tackle the basics and match you up with top mentors. The format is all virtual, so you can join from a Baghdad coffee shop, and every cohort gets plugged straight into the massive FI Venture Network. They even chuck in free online events—co-founder dating, pitch prep, Q&A with investors—the works.

IVP isn’t your typical accelerator—they’re a bit more VC, but worth a mention. Run by folks like Bassam Falah, they handle a chunky part of the Orange Corners Innovation Fund in Baghdad, and have plans to launch the Gateway Fund in 2025 for those hungry for pre-series A or Series A capital. That means steps from seed funding up to $1 million tickets, plus hands-on help with the subtleties of your funding round or term sheet. If Baghdad’s startup ecosystem is a ladder, IVP’s building a few extra rungs.

KAPITA sits at the centre of Baghdad’s entrepreneurial network, widely known for its role in running Orange Corners Baghdad and coordinating with international partners like the Dutch Embassy. They focus on startup skills, workshops, and one-to-one coaching. If you want to get your startup investor-ready, their connections with VC funding bodies, the National Bank of Iraq, and other big names are a strong play. Founders get support across building a pitch deck, troubleshooting their cap table, and accessing funding—no faff, just practical help.

Orange Corners Baghdad, powered by the Dutch Embassy and put into practice by KAPITA, is as close as it gets to gold standard for startup support in the city. It’s a full-stack incubator: physical HQ, hybrid delivery, mentoring, workshops, even community events. They’re serious about levelling up women and young founders, giving everyone a crack at transforming scrappy ideas into real businesses. Their Orange Corners Innovation Fund is one of the largest in Iraq, now at €2.6 million, with support for both pre-seed stars and those eyeing seed funding.

With bags of energy and a proper footprint in three Iraqi cities, The Station is more than a workspace—it’s Iraq’s largest startup hangout for young founders. Events, training and international links are all on offer, with a highlight being their partnership with the Founder Institute. That means cheaper access (25% off) to the world’s largest pre-seed accelerator programme, plus a shortcut to global mentors and angel investors. Plenty of buzzing Instagram posts, too, if that sort of thing floats your boat.

Set up by the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani, Takween is a lifeline for Iraqi growth-stage tech startups. It’s run entirely online, so founders in Baghdad and anywhere else can dial in for a no-nonsense 12-week sprint—leadership, product dev, finance, and a laser focus on investor readiness. The best part? It’s equity-free seed capital, so you don’t have to hand over a slice of your startup dream. Add in free legal aid, Quickbooks licences and a growing network of investors, and you start to see what all the fuss is about.

These new university-based incubators are a government-led push to get more research off the shelf and into the market. Based across Baghdad’s top universities, they concentrate on scientific and technology startups fresh from the lab, giving those deep-tech dreamers access to facilities and academic backing. The specifics are still coming together, but expect a pathway for students, researchers and founders to turn clever ideas into viable companies—sometimes all you need is a foot in the door.

Baghdad doesn’t always get the respect it deserves as a startup destination, but in 2025 the city is bristling with support for founders—across every sector, stage, and ambition. Yes, funding isn’t always easy as pie (ask Five One Labs or any founder losing sleep over a term sheet), but momentum is there. Whether you’re after seed funding, a cap table masterclass or global VC connections, there’s a place for you to start. Keep your finger on the pulse and don’t underestimate the support crews—Baghdad’s only just getting started.