Team SNFYI

AstroLabs, the Gulf’s leading business expansion platform, in partnership with the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), continues to accelerate the regional growth journey of Bahraini enterprises with the onboarding of a second wave of companies into its Overseas Expansion Program. Since the launch of the initiative, AstroLabs and Tamkeen have successfully onboarded two cohorts of high-potential businesses, all poised to solidify their presence in the Saudi market – a market with high growth opportunities and a strategic gateway to regional expansion. 

Tamkeen’s partnership with AstroLabs aligns with its strategic priorities for 2025, which focus on enhancing the position and competitiveness of Bahrainis in the private sector, equipping Bahrainis with suitable skills for career development in the private sector, and prioritizing enterprise growth, digitization and sustainability and supporting the development of the ecosystem surrounding the labor market and private sector.  

On this occasion, Mr. Joe Kobrianos, Chief Strategy Officer at AstroLabs, stated:
“We’re excited to work alongside Tamkeen to help Bahraini businesses on their regional-growth journey, and expand into the fast-growing Saudi market. Tamkeen has played a key role in enhancing the competitiveness of Bahraini companies, setting the stage for their next steps. These businesses have demonstrated strong growth and are now ready to scale into Saudi Arabia. At AstroLabs, we focus on building strong growth corridors and seamless soft-landing experiences, supporting high-growth businesses, from business registration all the way to making key introductions and unlocking access to the local market, we’re here to guide them.”

Mrs. Marwa AlEskafi, Director of Workforce, Enterprise, and Startup Enablement at Tamkeen, commented: “Our partnership with AstroLabs reflects Tamkeen’s commitment to empowering Bahraini entrepreneurs, equipping them with the necessary tools to scale their operations, and unlocking new opportunities for regional growth. We continue our commitment in supporting Bahraini entrepreneurs through our various programs and initiatives, and we are proud to see the positive impact of this program on the previous Cohort and are looking forward to witnessing the growth prospects it will bring to this new batch of innovative businesses.” 

The first cohort with AstroLabs brought together a dynamic group of ten leading Bahraini companies. These include United Paper Industries (Bahrain Pack), a prominent manufacturer of paper and corrugated cardboard packaging solutions; Right Calories, a renowned food services provider offering balanced dietary plans; Xtrude, an innovator in advanced 3D manufacturing processes; and City Glass, a specialist producer of premium architectural and decorative glass products. The cohort also featured Tanami Capital, a firm delivering Sharia-compliant global investment solutions; Oreem, a comprehensive logistics provider; Boxon Vision, a creative agency delivering advertising and design solutions; Cinqo Media, a strategic communications and advertising provider; and Al-Anzour Physiotherapy and Rehab Complex that offers quality physiotherapy and rehabilitation services.

Building on this momentum, AstroLabs and Tamkeen are proud to announce the onboarding of Cohort 2, a new wave of equally ambitious and high-growth Bahraini enterprises. Among these are – Creative Matter Advertisement, a dynamic creative agency with a decade-long legacy in Bahrain, specializing in branding, digital marketing, and content creation; Fathom Media, a Bahrain-based marketing and technology agency founded in 2013, joins with its 30-strong team delivering innovative branding, web and app development, and strategic marketing services; Gems Industrial Services W.L.L., established in 2016, brings its expertise in engineering, maintenance, and industrial services, catering to Bahrain’s vital oil and gas sectors; Braxtone Group W.L.L, a regional insurance service provider, offers industry-leading insurance solutions with deep local market expertise; DOO, an AI-powered platform, is transforming customer engagement through intelligent automation solutions tailored to startups, SMEs, and enterprises; Alfaa Graph, a specialist engineering office, delivers architectural scale models and 3D design services to real estate developers and investors. Nexcel Computer Solutions W.L.L, a leading IT solutions provider offering a broad range of technology products and services to businesses of all sizes. And Loyale, a mobile loyalty app that ensures customers always have their loyalty cards handy while enabling businesses to effortlessly track customer activities.

These companies have shown strong market leadership and strategic ambition, with many already operating in Saudi Arabia. Their next step is to formalize their presence by setting up legal entities and enhancing operations. AstroLabs will support this expansion with end-to-end services, including business registration, compliance, and growth support, along with access to digital tools and expert consultancy.

Through this partnership, the Bahraini companies from both cohorts join a growing network of over 800 international firms that have expanded into Saudi Arabia with AstroLabs’ support. Working hand-in-hand with public and private sector partners, AstroLabs designs tailored programs that foster innovation, bridge industry gaps across key sectors in the Gulf, and facilitate market expansion into emerging economies. To date, AstroLabs has empowered over 1,800 companies to scale across the region, providing a robust and professional business environment that ensures seamless market entry, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Tamkeen continues to offer a range of programs and initiatives that are designed in line with labor market needs and is driven by its strategic priorities and support initiatives which include employment support, career development support and enterprise support programs.

Starlink Set to Launch in India with Plans Under ₹840/Month, But Regulatory and Capacity Hurdles Remain

India is gearing up for the entry of satellite internet services, with Elon Musk’s Starlink preparing to roll out unlimited data plans priced below ₹840 per month (approximately $10). The low-cost offering marks an aggressive push to capture a broad user base—up to 10 million subscribers over time—helping the company absorb high spectrum and licensing expenses through scale.

While satellite broadband is traditionally costlier than terrestrial alternatives, companies like Starlink are expected to shake up the market with competitively priced plans aimed at rural and underserved populations.

However, the road ahead is not without challenges. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed a regulatory framework that includes a ₹500 monthly urban user charge, a 4% levy on adjusted gross revenue (AGR), a minimum annual fee of ₹3,500 per MHz of satellite spectrum, and an 8% license fee. These recommendations are still pending final government approval.

Analysts caution that Starlink’s current satellite network—designed to support around 4 million users globally—may limit its reach in India. Projections suggest only about 1.5 million users in the country could be served by 2030, unless infrastructure rapidly expands.

Although Starlink has secured approval from the Department of Telecommunications, it still awaits final clearance from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe). Similar entrants like OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications have faced regulatory processes that can stretch over two years.

If successful, Starlink’s affordable internet rollout could revolutionize digital access across India’s remote regions. However, regulatory green lights and infrastructure upgrades remain critical to unlocking its full potential.

Byju’s Faces Major Disruptions as AWS Payment Issues Take App Offline

Edtech giant Byju’s is grappling with a significant service outage, with its Android app no longer available on the Google Play Store and its website stripped down to a basic landing page, according to Moneycontrol. Users with the app already installed have reported being locked out of paid subscriptions and video content, while most of the website’s SEO-optimized content is currently inaccessible.

The root of the disruption appears to be delayed payments to Amazon Web Services (AWS), which hosts Byju’s cloud infrastructure. A source close to the matter confirmed that these payment delays have led to the suspension of core services, impacting app content, web functionality, and video delivery.

Even the Think & Learn Premium app — another product by Byju’s that remains on the Play Store — is non-functional, with many users complaining of being unable to access any learning materials. On iOS, while the app is still listed, critical features are down due to backend issues.

At the time of reporting, Byju’s and its court-appointed resolution professional had not responded to queries.

The company is currently under immense financial and operational strain, including investor delays, legal battles, and auditor exits. With insolvency proceedings underway, control has been handed over to a resolution professional by the NCLT.

This disruption coincides with recent public statements from CEO Byju Raveendran, who has been promoting a renewed vision dubbed “Byju’s 3.0.” In interviews and online posts, Raveendran has acknowledged past errors — such as overleveraging — and outlined a plan to return to the startup’s roots by focusing on personalized, AI-powered learning for students and teachers.

Despite the turmoil, Raveendran has expressed hope for the future, emphasizing that the company’s true place is in “classrooms, not courtrooms,” and has promised to compensate students affected by service interruptions.