From Graduation Project to Innovative Startup: “SmartValve” Marks a Milestone in Student Entrepreneurship
Ahlia University proudly celebrated the remarkable achievement of its alumnus, Engineer Yousef Al-Bayat, who transformed his graduation project into a pioneering startup company, SmartValve. The ceremony was held in the presence of Professor Abdulla Al-Hawaj, Founding President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Professor Mansoor Alaali, President of Ahlia University.
On this occasion, Professor Al-Hawaj extended his heartfelt congratulations to Engineer Al-Bayat, expressing profound pride in the accomplishments of Ahlia’s graduates. He emphasized the University’s long-standing commitment to cultivating a dynamic academic environment that nurtures creativity, innovation, and embraces ambitious student projects.
Professor Mansoor Alaali noted that such successes reflect the strength of Ahlia University’s academic approach, which integrates theoretical learning with real-world application. He highlighted the University’s continued dedication to fostering a culture of innovation and knowledge production in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.
Engineer Al-Bayat shared insights into his entrepreneurial journey, recounting how SmartValve emerged in response to a growing societal concern over the sudden outage of gas supplies. The smart device, built using Internet of Things (IoT) technology, enables users to monitor gas levels in real time through a dedicated mobile application, with the added functionality of automatically requesting refills from service providers.
Al-Bayat explained that SmartValve began as a graduation project that won second place at the university level. After joining Tamkeen’s Mashro3i program with Brinc, he developed a full business model, secured over BHD 20,000 in funding, and gained opportunities for expansion in local and regional markets.
