GroFin Iraq

𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬 & 𝐒𝐌𝐄𝐬: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬
In our latest session, we took a deep dive into how startups and small businesses can move beyond simply opening a bank account — and start building meaningful, strategic partnerships with banks that fuel long-term growth.

From selecting the right business accounts to leveraging credit, corporate cards, POS systems, and digital payment solutions — the right banking tools are essential for financial stability and scalability.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale, your relationship with your bank should be a partnership — one that helps you manage operations smoothly and unlock future opportunities.

Whether you're launching your first venture or scaling an existing business, your bank should be more than a service provider — it should be a trusted partner in your journey.

After the launch in Baghdad, we’re also excited to kick off Phase II of the Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF) in Erbil! 🚀🎉

With a fresh €2.2 million investment for 2025–2030, OCIF is doubling down on empowering startups, fostering innovation and strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. 💡🤝

Here’s what’s in it for YOU, young entrepreneurs:
✨ Funding opportunities: tailored financial support for startups at every stage.
✨ Capacity building: world-class training, mentorship and tools to level up your business.
✨ Networking & market access: a gateway to connect with experts, investors and partners.

🙌 Big thanks to our partners at GroFin Iraq for making this possible. Together, we’re unlocking funding that will help local innovators drive jobs, economic growth, and impactful change in KRI.

La Dolce Vita, a restaurant in Erbil, Iraq faced its biggest business challenge during the COVID period. Lockdown measures imposed forced the business to close at the time.

Despite that, the business was given a lifeline when it received financing through GroFin's NII COVID-19 SME Support Programme supported by USAID Iraq

The financing allowed La Dolce Vita to cover salaries, rent, and the cost of sales to reopen. “I received this loan at a very critical stage because most likely, I would have had to close my business. This loan brought back my business to life” Says Shadi, Owner of the business.

To read the full story, follow the link here:

La Dolce Vita Restaurant Shadi lived in Europe for over a decade. But when she decided to open her restaurant, she knew she had to return home to northern Iraq. “ISIS destroyed Kurdistan’s economy and increased the unemployment rate. That gave me the incentive to go back and to challenge myself, as a woman, to establish...