A guide to Dubai’s start-up accelerators

Accelerators that connect start-ups with investors

Start-ups looking for seed financing or wanting to scale-up find a rich investor pool in the UAE. The country has the second highest proportion of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (those who have amassed a fortune of US$30 million or more) in the MENA region. There are an estimated 810 individuals with this level of wealth, controlling US$120 billion between them, making Dubai a fertile destination for those seeking business capital. Many Dubai based investors have a primary focus on tech-based companies, while many others focus on female-led enterprises.

Peer-to-peer investment platforms are also emerging in Dubai, with Beehive and Ureeca leading the way. These services lower the cost of investment, allow larger numbers of individuals to participate by pooling in resources.

Public-private partnerships providing start-up funding in Dubai

Protecting your work

Start-ups wanting to protect their ideas find that Dubai’s robust intellectual property laws have catalysed innovation across key sectors. Businesses are provided with the confidence and freedom they need to innovate and develop creative solutions. In 2018, 1,302 patents were in force along with 32,797 trademark filings. A new intellectual property law was brought into force in 2019, highlighting Dubai’s determination to protect the assets of resident businesses.

Start-up accelerators in Dubai

Dubai-based start-ups have access to a wealth of accelerator programmes to help take their fledgling business towards initial funding and then on to scaling up.

Startupbootcamp FinTech Dubai

Originating in Copenhagen in 2010, Startupbootcamp now operates globally, with its specialist FinTech accelerator programme taking shape in 2014. The Dubai outpost of this fintech-focussed collaboration between DIFC, Visa, Mashreq Bank and HSBC picked their first cohort to nurture in 2019. The session lasts three months during which the businesses secure proof-of-concept, culminating in a high-stakes pitch day.

Intelak Accelerator

The Intelak Accelerator’s immersive eight-week programme helps mature start-ups looking to disrupt the aviation, travel and tourism industries launch in Dubai. Viable businesses are nurtured through a series of high-level mentorship schemes, workshops and collaborations before getting the opportunity to implement their solutions city-wide. They even get a pitch platform at GITEX Future Stars, the region’s premier technology showcase.

The Greenhouse Accelerator

Chalhoub Group’s The Greenhouse accelerator programme supports technology-driven start-ups specialising in the retail arena with three-month programmes twice a year. It also offers equity-free US$20,000 grants to businesses addressing a series of specific challenges and promotes and fosters a culture of entrepreneurship.

Dubai Future Accelerators

Dubai Future Accelerators facilitates partnerships between entrepreneurs and private sector organisations to shape the future vision and industry of Dubai over a nine-week programme.

TechStars Dubai

This global organisation developed its Middle Eastern base in Dubai in 2017 with a mentorship-driven accelerator in partnership with contracting firm GINCO. TechStars, which had accepted over 1,600 companies into its programmes internationally by 2019, focuses on aspiring businesses looking to disrupt the robotics, IoT, wellness, construction and transport industries.

FinTech Hive

The FinTech Hive is a Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) initiative featuring programmes developed to help FinTech, InsurTech, RegTech and Islamic FinTech.

Dubai Smart City Accelerator

Dubai Smart City Accelerator is powered by a start-up bootcamp. This accelerator fuels Dubai’s smart city ambitions, offering an intensive three-month accelerator programme for companies in high-tech sectors including IoT, connectivity, urban automation and mobility, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, open city data, sustainable cities and living, smart government and smart retail industry.

C3 Social Impact

C3 Social Impact Accelerator offers a week-long programme for entrepreneurs looking to maximise their social or environmental impact on the community. Up to 20 finalists from across the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, whose entrepreneurial ideas contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will attend. The programme offers group workshops, expert sessions, cash prizes, media exposure and referrals.