Qatari Startup "Onward Edu" Aims to Redefine Career Guidance for Students

Doha, Qatar - Onward Edu, a Qatar based student career development startup founded in 2025, is preparing to launch an AI-powered platform designed to help students navigate their educational and professional journeys with greater confidence, clarity, and direction.

Created by students for students, Onward Edu was developed in response to a common challenge faced by young people: being expected to make major decisions about university, careers, skills, and employment without enough practical guidance or access to the right opportunities.

The startup aims to support students between the ages of 15 and 25, helping them discover their strengths, build their professional identity, and prepare for future opportunities from an earlier stage.

Addressing a Gap in Student Career Development

The idea behind Onward Edu was shaped by the founders’ own experiences as students facing questions about graduation, university applications, CV building, and future career plans.

While many students are ambitious and motivated, the founders recognized that a lack of direction often prevents young people from identifying opportunities, developing skills, and showcasing their potential.

Onward Edu was created to address this gap by offering a platform that supports students throughout their growth journey, rather than only when they are ready to apply for jobs.

The platform is designed to be more than a job board or professional network. It acts as a student-focused career companion, combining personalized guidance, skill development, mentorship, and access to real-world opportunities.

An AI-Powered Platform for Students

Onward Edu uses artificial intelligence to provide personalized career guidance for students in Qatar and the wider MENA region.

The platform includes step-by-step profile building, AI career coaching, goal tracking, skill development, mentorship, and access to internships, volunteering opportunities, and entry-level jobs.

By encouraging students to begin building their professional identity before graduation, Onward Edu hopes to make career development more accessible, practical, and less overwhelming.

Its mission is to ensure that every student has the confidence and support needed to take the next step in their educational and professional journey.

A Women-Led Founding Team

Onward Edu was founded by three students who experienced the challenges of career planning firsthand and wanted to build a solution for future generations.

The founding team includes Yara Al Halees, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, who leads the company’s vision, strategy, partnerships, and growth. Maha Shekfa, Chief Product Officer, oversees product development and user experience, ensuring that the platform is designed around the real needs of students. Mariam Alseniti, Chief Technology Officer, leads the technical development of the platform and supports its transformation into a scalable digital solution.

Beyond its founders, Onward Edu is being developed by a growing team of student interns across technology, business, marketing, and design. Many of the team members are young women, making the startup a women-led initiative driven by collaboration, ambition, and student participation.

The team says Onward Edu is not only being built for students, but also with them.

Pre-Launch Progress and Startup Ecosystem Support

Onward Edu is currently in the pre-launch and MVP stage, with early student interest, partnership discussions, and outreach taking place with educational institutions and potential partners in Qatar.

A key milestone for the startup has been its selection as one of the teams in the Snoonu Startup Factory. The programme gives Onward Edu the opportunity to further develop its product, validate its model, and present its solution within Qatar’s growing startup ecosystem.

The startup is also exploring partnerships with schools, universities, employers, youth organizations, community initiatives, mentors, and professionals who want to support student development and career readiness.

Supporting Students, Institutions, and Employers

Onward Edu’s target audience includes high school students exploring future career paths, university students looking to build experience, and recent graduates seeking internships, employment, and guidance as they transition into the workforce.

The platform also aims to support the wider education and employment ecosystem. For schools and universities, Onward Edu hopes to improve student outcomes and strengthen career readiness. For employers, it aims to create access to a pipeline of motivated and better-prepared young talent.

By connecting students with personalized guidance, practical experiences, and real-world opportunities, the startup hopes to help young people become more confident, prepared, and capable of pursuing meaningful career paths.

Building Confidence for the Future

Onward Edu’s long-term vision extends beyond helping students find jobs. The startup aims to help young people discover their potential, believe in their abilities, and build futures they are proud of.

With an initial focus on Qatar and a broader ambition to expand across the Middle East and beyond, Onward Edu hopes to contribute to a generation of students who are better equipped to innovate, lead, and create positive impact in their communities.

At its core, the startup’s message is simple: every student deserves the confidence to move onward.