Ethara champions sports innovation and investment with landmark pitch in Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI: Ethara has launched its inaugural E1H Pitch, during which eight business founders presented their startup projects to investors at an event held at the Yas Conference Centre in Abu Dhabi.
The management company, which organizes some of the region's biggest sporting events such as the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, UFC and the NBA games.
The event brought together more than 100 key stakeholders from sport, entertainment, government, and investment sectors to witness the unveiling of the regional startups hoping to secure funding for their development.
As the UAE's first dedicated sports ecosystem and incubator, the Ethara 1TW Innovation Hub (E1H) was established to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship in the UAE and the wider region by providing startups with access to expertise, commerce and capital.
The first E1H pitch was the culmination of a six-week program in which the eight early-stage ventures received strategic guidance and venture capital support to fast-track their development.
The event opened with keynote addresses from Mike Shapiro, head of ventures at City Football Group, and Mohamed Berrada, partner at Portas. Their insights into global sports investment and the future of digital fan engagement highlighted the UAE's growing influence as a strategic base for sports tech and entertainment ventures. The session was hosted by sports broadcaster Chris McHardy.
'Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Ethara,' said Saif Rashid Al-Noaimi, CEO of Ethara. 'That's why we created E1H with our partners at OneToWatch. We want to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs to build new ventures that add value not just to Ethara but to Abu Dhabi's global vision for sport and entertainment.'
The eight presentations attracted immediate interest from investors and highlighted strong potential for UAE-based growth.
Jamie Cunningham, founder of OneToWatch, added: 'The UAE is no longer just hosting world-class events it's now building the companies that will power them. E1H is unlocking entrepreneurial potential and connecting it directly to capital and opportunity. We're proud to partner with Ethara and Abu Dhabi to help shape the next generation of global sports and entertainment ventures.'
E1H Cohort 1 startups
ArabsMMA – Zahi Ephrem
A marketer and martial artist, Zahi founded ArabsMMA, the first media platform dedicated to combat sports in the Middle East.
Athlyn – Ahmed Cheikh Omar
With 15-plus years' experience in the UAE sports and corporate sectors, Omar's platform bridges sport and corporate engagement.
Esportian – Ivan Kerkoc
A Spanish university professor and former NCAA recruiter, Kerkoc founded Esportian to merge traditional sports and esports education.
Icosium Technologies – Billel Boudouma and Mohamed Ali
This venture blends robotics, artificial intelligence, and human experience to deliver real-world micro-automation solutions.
MyParkBuddy – Daniel Hachem
Daniel aims to revolutionize urban mobility through smart parking solutions, drawing on his engineering and entrepreneurship expertise.
Neoma – Francois Chabaudie
With a background in private equity and consulting, Chabaudie created Neoma to improve human interactions through smart environments.
The Mettleset – Dawn Barnable
A seasoned communicator and endurance athlete, Dawn founded The Mettleset to tell meaningful stories through the lens of sport.
E1H Venture Studio, Greenlight Abu Dhabi Branding (GADB) – Robert Angelieri
An event operations expert, Robert drives innovation in sustainable events through branding, logistics, and venue strategy.
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