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January 21, 2024

Abdüllatif’s innovative coffee tablets win startup competition

Being an entrepreneur and refugee means starting anew in a completely unfamiliar environment. Often tasked with learning a new language, forging fresh connections, attracting investors, refugee entrepreneurs face unique challenges. Abdüllatif Babelly, the Syrian founder of Prifa Coffee based in Türkiye, recently won the NAMA 4 competition and shared his entrepreneurial journey.

It’s been 12 years since the Syrian Civil War first unfolded and 11 years since Abdüllatif Babelly arrived in Türkiye seeking sanctuary temporarily. ‘When I left Syria, I initially thought I would only be away for a couple of months, seeking a place solely to save my life and my family’s lives. Now, it’s been 11 years here in Türkiye,” explained Abdüllatif.

Abdüllatif eloquently portrayed the multifaceted weight of seeking asylum: the relentless quest for an affordable place to rest, the pursuit of any job to sustain oneself, the responsibility to provide for family, all of which have pilfered away the prime years of his life. “It’s a struggle marked by a sense of squandered time, living day by day while aspirations, ideas and plans persistently linger, haunting and compelling as the years swiftly pass, leaving dreams and ambitions trapped within the confines of one’s mind.”

Since Abdüllatif arrived in Türkiye, working numerous jobs he noticed that life often moves so quickly, leaving little time to even grab a cup of coffee. This realisation led to the birth of Prifa Coffee, which aims to address the fast-paced lifestyles of workers and athletes by offering a quick, health-conscious and energising caffeinated solution. Prifa Coffee combines Abdüllatif’s passion for coffee with the time constraints of everyday life through its 1.5 calorie coffee tablets that promise boundless energy for the day. To culminate in your pocket as a coffee tablet, it undergoes a lengthy and intricate process. The coffee is extracted, crystallised, dried and roasted then shaped into a lozenge. 

Transitioning from the ideation to the execution phase poses the toughest challenge. Along this journey, Abdüllatif immersed himself in understanding the Turkish ecosystem, delving into supply chains, marketing strategies, and financial management.

In a commitment to support Syrian entrepreneurs in Türkiye and as part of the Economic Resilience programme, SPARK, Qatar Charity and BINA Business Incubator, with the financial support from Qatar Fund For Development joined forces to deliver the NAMA competition for the 4th time

NAMA is an entrepreneurship competition designed for distinctive projects and startups, which offers a plethora of bootcamps, mentoring opportunities, business competitions, seed funding and institutional capacity building projects.

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 An unexpected opportunity arose when Prifa was invited to participate in the NAMA 4 competition. Abdüllatif expressed his surprise: “I never anticipated a competition with prize potential, but my primary aim was to leverage the available courses, network within the entrepreneurial community, and optimistically, connect with potential investors.”

NAMA 4 received more than 800 applications, which were  shortlisted to 250, based on a thorough assessment process. Prifa Coffee, along with other projects, underwent a comprehensive three-stage process, consisting of the Pre-Incubation Stage, Incubation Stage, and Bootcamp Stage. Throughout these stages, Prifa Coffee received initial training, including 12 hours dedicated to team building and pitching skills. Additionally, the startup benefited from three months of mentorship and business development services, coupled with one-on-one coaching. The winning project was selected based on its management skills, covering both the establishment and efficient management of the project. Furthermore, the project’s investment portfolio was taken into consideration.

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Abdüllatif faced the jury, pitching his idea for the very first time. He described it as an exceptional experience  and an arena to confront his fears and witness the tangible fruits of his hard days. Prifa Coffee claimed the top spot, securing a 60,000TL seed funding, which he plans to use to scale up the business.

Abdüllatif said that this prize is just a starting point for expansion. His products are now available on Amazon and he plans to expand to other large e-commerce sites. This expansion will aid in creating new, decent job opportunities for both refugees and the host community. “I’ve tried different jobs, and I know the struggle of finding employment as a refugee. I will always work to sustain this business and expand it to provide others with opportunities for a decent source of income,” Abdüllatif concluded.

 

Behind his product is a diverse team of 5 to 10 members, with a core team of 7 individuals, each bringing a unique background and nationality, aligning with the company’s commitment to diversity. Whether Syrian, Sudanese, Turkish, or Moroccan, their shared dedication ensures the creation of high-quality coffee tablets for the best experience.