Entrepreneurial alum wins “Best Startup” silver medal

Mohammed Al-Matwi was awarded the silver medal in the Best Startup category at the fifth edition of the Reyada Awards. A 2015 graduate of CMU-Q’s Business Administration Program, Al-Matwi is the founder and CEO of The Perfume Factory, a made-in-Qatar business that produces a wide range of fragrances, including bespoke blends.

Al-Matwi said, “At CMU-Q, I learned to look first at the community to understand what people need. The idea for the Perfume Factory comes from my community—fragrance is part of our Qatari culture. I wanted to build a business that would make Qatar a hub for quality, thoughtfully designed perfumes.”

The NAMA Center, which is dedicated to empowering youth and entrepreneurs in Qatar, launched the Reyada Awards in 2011. The bi-annual, national competition celebrates and recognizes Qatari entrepreneurs and owners of small and micro enterprises. Finalists present their projects to a jury, and the winners are announced at the awards ceremony.