"Let's go invent tomorrow instead of worrying about what happened yesterday"

What is Fikra Space?

Fikra Space is a tech community founded in Baghdad in 2012. We bring Iraqi technology enthusiasts together in an environment that encourages them to share their ideas and work together to pursue them. Our goal is to promote entrepreneurship and help young people create a better future for themselves.

That sounds nice, but what do you actually do?

Fikra Space provides budding Iraqi entrepreneurs access to a co-working space, mentorship and training at no charge. Our doors are open to anyone who wants to start a business or grow an existing one, share his / her knowledge or learn from the community. Fikra Space has accumulated a community of 19,000+ engaged and active members. We have organised more than 200 events that have been attended by more than 10,000 attendees.

We organised the first ever start-up weekends in Baghdad and Basrah to plant the seeds for the Iraqi ecosystem of tech entrepreneurs. We followed up with weekly events that focused on knowledge sharing and capacity building to grow and nurture the ecosystem. Some of these events were technical workshops in C++, Java, Android and Arduino and where we tested new and disruptive products such as Arduino microcontrollers, Rasperry Pi and 3D printers. We also helped entrepreneurs market and sell their ideas through photography courses and market strategy sessions. Our work is all non-profit, our members are all volunteers.

That’s great, but any success so far?

The government has recognised our work and asked us to help draft a regulatory framework for technology incubators in Iraq. We are just in the beginning, but we are making progress in building Iraq’s technology sector from scratch.

That’s impressive, but what's the bigger purpose?

Iraq is a country of many contrasts. Its biggest opportunities are often its biggest challenges:

• Rich Iraq, poor Iraq?
  Iraq is one of the richest countries in the world with abundant natural resources
  More than 20% (6.2 MM people) of the population lives below the poverty line 
  

• The cradle of civilisation back to the Stone Age? 
  The first written alphabet was invented in Mesopotamia, modern day Iraq
  More than 20% (4.2 MM people) of Iraq’s adult population is illiterate
  

• Young but idle?
  Iraq is one of the most youthful nations in the world
  Youth unemployment in Iraq is among the highest in the region at 34%
  

Youth unemployment and economic hardship are directly linked to the wave of extremism that has swept Iraq since 2014. Young people who lack jobs and who face widespread corruption on a daily basis may see few options available to them other than joining extremist groups to earn a living. This is particularly true for Iraq where ISIS recruits are typically between the ages of 16 and 25 and can reportedly earn up to US$1,000 per month.

Our purpose is to empower our young community by creating opportunities and rewarding entrepreneurship. As a free-of-charge, open-for-all institution, we offer a fresh contrast to many of Iraq’s public and private institutions that are often plagued by corruption. We want to cultivate a culture of mentorship, hard work, teamwork and success among our members. We hope to spread this culture to the entire youth population through our success stories, the likes of S Convert, Journal, Mu3amala and d3. Ultimately, we believe that empowering youth is the way forward for a peaceful and prosperous Iraq.

You guys rock, but why do you need my help?

We have created a great platform for entrepreneurship with very limited means. For example, we have organised more than 200 events without actually having a permanent place. Instead, we have had to rely on NGOs to lend us their places post work hours to hold our events. Also, we have helped entrepreneurs develop prototypes and businesses without owning any technical equipment. Instead, our core members have brought their own from home to share with the community. On top of that, we have mentored and trained entrepreneurs without having any full-time employees, mentors or trainers. Instead, our core members are volunteers that take on such positions in tandem with having full-time jobs elsewhere.

We are very proud to have achieved great results with limited means. But our community is growing rapidly, and it needs attention on a continuous basis to mature. To give them more attention, we need to grow with them. And for that, we need your support.

Trust me I want to help, but isn't supporting the technology sector in Iraq a little premature?

Iraq represents a great opportunity for early movers and pioneers. The country is embracing technology at a rapid pace driven by a young, entrepreneurial and resilient population, continuous development and openness, and a strong consumption coupled with a lack of basic services.

• Young, entrepreneurial and resilient population
  52% of Iraq’s population is below 19 years
  34% of the workforce is comprised of self-employed entrepreneurs
  Iraqis remain united and defiant in the face of violence and extremism

• Continuous development and openness
  Internet penetration nearly doubled in 2014
  IQ Networks is investing US$100 MM in a broadband cable throughout Iraq
  Iraq is the only real democracy in the Middle East

• Strong consumption and a lack of basic services
  Household consumption is 65% of GDP
  Private sector must expand as economy transitions to free economy
  Country needs to “catch up” with world after decades of wars and sanctions