Arabnet Arabnet

Five One Labs, a startup incubator in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), hosted The Grand Opening of The Lab:Suli,  Sulaimani’s first coworking space, on Thursday. The Lab is an innovative space for collaboration, coworking, and learning focused on tech, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The space is funded by BMZ, sponsored by GIZ, and managed by Five One Labs.

The Grand Opening included speeches by the Country Manager for Iraq of GIZ, Sebastian Ludtke, visiting investors and CEO’s, and the co-founders of Five One Labs, Alice Bosley and Patricia Letayf. Mr. Ludtke noted, “The expertise and passion of Five One Labs for startup entrepreneurship has brought forward The Lab:Suli and GIZ is proud to support this unique and brand new innovation hub.”

Attendees to the Grand Opening included representatives from local universities, nonprofits, UN Agencies, and businesses. A group of visiting investors and business executives from the United States and United Kingdom were also in attendance. The community of people gathered represents the diversity of those interested in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship as a new path for young people in Iraq.

The Lab:Suli is a two-floor tech and entrepreneurship hub located in the heart of Sulaimani, complete with a startup incubator, training rooms, and coworking space for young, innovative members of host and displaced communities. 

The physical space of The Lab:Suli includes co-working areas, classrooms, multipurpose rooms, and an area for events. The space will also include a makerspace in 2019. The overall mission of The Lab is to develop an ecosystem for entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation in Iraq and empower young people from diverse communities to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

“Coworking” refers to the concept of entrepreneurs or students paying a small monthly membership fee to work out of the space as if it is their office. They will be provided high speed Wi-Fi, comfortable work areas, phone booths, and meeting rooms for meetings with their team, partners or customers.