Qimam Foundation

What Qimam Foundation does

Qimam Foundation is a UK-registered non-profit (Company Number 16150310) that operates the Qimam Fellowship, an annual selective leadership-development program for high-potential university students across the MENAP region. Founded in 2018 by McKinsey & Company and Dr. Annas Abedin, the program runs a 12-day in-person intensive that combines one-on-one mentorship from senior executives, leadership training, company visits, and an award ceremony, and concludes with admission to the global Qimam Alumni Network and profile sharing with HR leaders at partner companies. The fellowship is fully free for participants, with all costs covered by corporate sponsors.

The foundation operates across three country markets — Saudi Arabia (since 2018), Jordan (since 2025), and Pakistan (since 2025) — with localized teams and an applicant pool averaging 18,000 candidates per cohort in Saudi Arabia, from which 50 fellows are selected (38 fellows selected in Pakistan from 11,000+ applicants). Its distribution is anchored by 60+ corporate partners and 800+ senior executive mentors, who collectively drive awareness, host company visits, conduct interviews, and provide mentorship. Marketing relies on earned media in regional outlets (Arab News, Saudi Gazette, Tribune, Times of Karachi), executive endorsement, and word-of-mouth within university networks.

Qimam has no technology product or proprietary platform beyond a website used for applications and program information. Revenue is non-commercial and consists entirely of corporate sponsorships (anchored by McKinsey & Company as Founding Partner) and contributions from named individual executive sponsors (including the co-founders of Careem and Mumzworld). The foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees featuring senior figures from McKinsey, Careem, Wamda Group, and Mumzworld, and is run on a small operational team (11-50 employees). Stated strategic intent is to extend the fellowship to additional MENAP countries in coming years.

Name

Qimam Foundation

Legal name

Qimam Foundation

Website

https://qimam.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Qimam Foundation is a UK-registered non-profit operating the Qimam Fellowship, a selective annual 12-day leadership program for high-potential university students across the MENAP region (Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan), funded by corporate sponsors led by McKinsey & Company.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Leadership Development Fellowship

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Research Grants, Fellowships & Stipends (International) (EDAIAOAJ)

Keywords

• Leadership fellowship
• Talent development
• Student mentorship
• Nonprofit education
• Youth leadership

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships: Qimam Foundation is funded by corporate sponsors who believe in its mission of identifying and developing high-potential university students in the MENAP region. Organizations contribute financially to cover the full participation costs for fellows, including travel, accommodation, training, mentorship, and all program expenses. The founding partner is McKinsey & Company, which co-founded and funds the fellowship.
2. Executive Sponsor Contributions: Individual executives and high-net-worth individuals contribute to fund the fellowship operations and expansion. Named executive sponsors include Dr. Abdulla Elyas (Careem Co-Founder), Nasser Saleh MadfoatCom (Founder & Executive Chairman), and Karim Wali (Khoshaim & Associates Partner).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Qimam Foundation operates an international 12-day in-person fellowship program for high-potential university students across Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Jordan. Selected Fellows receive one-on-one mentorship from senior public and private sector executives, leadership training, company visits to leading national and international firms, the Qimam Award for High-Potential Leaders, membership in the Qimam Alumni Network, and career facilitation through profile sharing with HR executives. All participation costs, including travel and accommodation, are covered free of charge by Qimam and its corporate sponsors.

Product overview

The Qimam Foundation operates a single unified fellowship program—the Qimam Fellowship Program—designed to identify, develop, and empower high-potential university students across the MENAP region. The program provides a 12-day in-person intensive experience featuring one-on-one mentorship with senior executives, leadership training workshops, field visits to leading companies, recognition with the Qimam Award for High-Potential Leaders, membership in the global Qimam Alumni Network, and career opportunity facilitation through profile sharing with HR executives. The fellowship operates in Saudi Arabia (since 2018), Jordan (since 2025), and Pakistan (since 2025), with all participation costs covered entirely free of charge for admitted Fellows.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Qimam Fellowship Program An international fellowship program that identifies, develops, and empowers high-potential university students in the MENAP region through one-on-one mentorship with senior executives, leadership training, company visits, and networking opportunities. Operates in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Jordan, with all participation costs covered free of charge by corporate sponsors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 450+ international alumni network since 2018
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and supporting.

• 20 Corporate Partners (Pakistan)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 201820 leading national and international companies in Pakistan have partnered with Qimam to support its mission of identifying, developing, and empowering the most promising university students. Partners include Unilever Pakistan, K-Electric, StateLife Insurance, TPL Corp, ibex Group, Bazaar Technologies, and others. These companies host company visits, provide executive mentors, conduct interviews, and contribute to funding the fellowship. All participation costs are covered for fellows.
• McKinsey & CompanyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcKinsey & Company is the Founding Partner and co-founder of the Qimam Fellowship. The firm provides strategic direction, operational support, and funding for the fellowship program. McKinsey partners and senior executives serve as mentors, interviewers, and company visit hosts. Jawad Khan (Senior Partner) and other McKinsey executives actively support the program in Pakistan. In Saudi Arabia, Gassan Al-Kibsi (Managing Partner, Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and Turkey) and Tom Isherwood (Senior Partner) lead McKinsey's involvement. McKinsey & Company funds the fellowship and has been instrumental in its expansion across the MENAP region since 2018.
• 40+ Corporate Partners (Saudi Arabia)coreGTM or Marketing Partner40+ leading national and international companies in Saudi Arabia have partnered with Qimam. Company visits include Seera Group, Careem, Cisco, General Electric, Ma'aden, McKinsey, STC, and others. These companies provide executive mentors, interview participation, and company visit hosting for the intensive 12-day fellowship program.
• 15 Corporate Partners (Jordan)coreGTM or Marketing Partner15 leading national and international companies in Jordan have partnered with Qimam to support its fellowship program. These companies support the mission of identifying and developing high-potential university students in Jordan through mentorship, interviews, and company visits.
• 60+ Corporate Partners (MENAP Region)coreGTM or Marketing Partner60+ leading national and international companies across different sectors and countries have partnered with the Qimam Fellowship to support its mission across the MENAP region. Partners span multiple industries including technology, finance, retail, energy, and healthcare.
• Fadi Ghandour (Wamda Group)flagshipOthersFadi Ghandour, Executive Chairman of Wamda Group and former Co-Founder & CEO of Aramex, serves as a Board Member / Trustee of the Qimam Foundation. He provides strategic guidance, helps cultivate corporate networks, and upholds standards of excellence. He is also an Executive Partner in Jordan, contributing mentorship and support.
• Mona Ataya (Mumzworld)flagshipOthersMona Ataya, Founder of Mumzworld and Co-Founder & Partner of Bayt.com, serves as a Board Member / Trustee of the Qimam Foundation. She provides strategic insights into local contexts and helps cultivate the corporate network in the MENAP region.
• Mudashir Sheikha (Careem)flagshipOthersMudashir Sheikha, Co-Founder & CEO of Careem and Founding Board Chair of Endeavor Pakistan, serves as a Board Member / Trustee of the Qimam Foundation. He provides strategic guidance and corporate network cultivation, particularly for Pakistan operations.
• Tom Isherwood (McKinsey & Company)flagshipOthersTom Isherwood, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, serves as the Founder and Board Member / Trustee of the Qimam Foundation. He provides leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for the fellowship program across the MENAP region.
• Dr. Annas Abedin (Qimam Fellowship Co-Founder)flagshipOthersDr. Annas Abedin, a McKinsey Alumnus and entrepreneur, co-founded the Qimam Fellowship alongside McKinsey & Company. He serves as a Board Member / Trustee of the Qimam Foundation and contributes to strategic direction. His ventures include Makeen Advisors, Navital Global, Rocket Internet MENA, and Namshi.
• Farooq Awad (Qimam Fellowship Saudi Arabia Alumnus)supportingOthersFarooq Awad, a Qimam Fellowship Saudi Arabia Alumnus from the First Class of 2018 and Senior Consultant at McKinsey & Company, serves as Founder and Board Member / Trustee of the Qimam Foundation. He represents the alumni perspective and contributes to the foundation's mission.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Hult Prize: Student-focused social entrepreneurship competition and fellowship program partnered with the United Nations. Comparable university-student target audience, competitive selection, corporate sponsorship model, and emphasis on leadership development for emerging leaders.

Direct peers

• One Young World: Global leadership fellowship for young leaders that selects delegates through a competitive application process, provides mentorship, networking with senior executives, and summits hosted in major cities. Directly comparable target demographic (high-potential young professionals), selection model, and corporate sponsorship mechanics.
• Ashoka: Global fellowship network identifying and supporting leading social entrepreneurs through rigorous selection, mentorship, and peer networking. Comparable selective fellowship model focused on leadership development with regional operating hubs.
• Endeavor: Global high-impact entrepreneur support organization with rigorous selection of high-potential founders, mentorship from senior executives, and strong MENAP presence (notably through Mudashir Sheikha's involvement with Endeavor Pakistan). Highly comparable selection-driven, executive-network-based model serving emerging markets.

Regional players

• INJAZ Al-Arab: Regional non-profit operating across MENA that delivers youth education, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship programs with corporate partnerships. Comparable MENAP focus and corporate sponsorship model, though broader in age group and program scope.
• Al Ghurair Foundation: UAE-based philanthropic foundation focused on education and youth development, supporting scholarships and leadership programs. Comparable non-profit foundation structure, MENAP orientation, and education-focused mission, with a UAE rather than multi-country footprint.
• AMIDEAST: U.S.-supported organization operating across MENA providing educational programs, scholarships, and workforce development. Comparable regional educational services delivery to MENAP youth, with similar corporate and institutional partnership model.

Broad incumbents

• Rhodes Trust: Prestigious postgraduate fellowship at Oxford with extremely selective admission, full funding, and powerful alumni network. Comparable selective fellowship, leadership development, and network-based value proposition at a more elite academic level.
• Fulbright Program: Highly prestigious international fellowship program with rigorous selection, full funding, and global alumni network. Comparable selective, fully-funded fellowship model with strong brand prestige, though operating at much larger global scale.

Others

• Wamda: MENAP-focused platform supporting entrepreneurs and the startup ecosystem, founded by Fadi Ghandour (Qimam Board Member). Comparable MENAP focus on talent development and entrepreneurship, with overlapping network of executives and investors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/QimamFellowship
• Facebookfacebook.com/QimamFellowship
• Instagraminstagram.com/QimamFellowship
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qimamfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Qimam Foundation