Latest news with #AhmadAliAlwan
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
13 AI-driven startups join Abu Dhabi's Hub71
Abu Dhabi-based global tech ecosystem Hub71 has attracted 13 new AI-driven start-ups during the first half of 2025, a report said. With this addition, the number of AI-focused start-ups under Hub71 has risen to 53, representing top talent and entrepreneurship from around the world. This growth underscores the emirate's status as a global centre for digital innovation and a preferred destination for high-value investments in this vital sector, Ahmad Ali Alwan, Chief Executive Officer of Hub71 told the Emirates News Agency (WAM). Alwan said Hub71 plays a pivotal role in accelerating the growth of these companies by providing specialised mentorship, facilitating market access, and opening new avenues for regional and global expansion. As these companies advance, he noted, their impact extends to the wider economy through the creation of high-quality jobs, knowledge exchange, and support for the growth of strategic sectors, reinforcing Abu Dhabi's role as a global hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and advanced technologies. The list of new companies joining in the first half of the year includes Aurem, CambioML, Fundbot Technologies, Mithry, New Path Bio, Nodeshift, Onloop, Redbrick, Simpleem, Skipr, Vivan Therapeutics, xMap, and Vaxo. Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its position as a leading global destination for ambitious projects in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, supported by advanced infrastructure, progressive legislation, and a thriving investment environment. This has been reflected in the steady growth of advanced technology companies in the emirate, said the report. Copyright 2025 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Arabian Business
5 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Business
Abu Dhabi attracts 13 cutting-edge AI start-ups to Hub71 in global tech push
Abu Dhabi is cementing its position as a global hub for artificial intelligence (AI), driven by world-class infrastructure, progressive legislation, and a thriving investment climate. The emirate's flagship global tech ecosystem, Hub71, attracted 13 new AI-focused start-ups in the first half of 2025, bringing its total to 53 companies specialising in AI innovation. The latest cohort represents top entrepreneurial talent from around the world, underscoring Abu Dhabi's appeal as a destination for high-value tech investment. AI firms in Abu Dhabi Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, saidthe platform plays a critical role in scaling these businesses by offering mentorship, facilitating market access, and creating pathways for global expansion. As these companies grow, he said, they generate high-quality jobs, drive knowledge exchange, and support strategic sectors. This reinforces Abu Dhabi's position as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and advanced technologies. The new AI-driven start-ups joining Hub71 in 2025 are: Aurem CambioML Fundbot Technologies Mithry New Path Bio Nodeshift Onloop Redbrick Simpleem Skipr Vivan Therapeutics xMap Vaxo With AI adoption accelerating worldwide, the emirate's continued success in attracting and nurturing cutting-edge tech firms positions it at the forefront of the global digital economy.
Zawya
6 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Hub71 attracts 13 AI-focused start-ups in first half of 2025
Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its position as a leading global destination for ambitious projects in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, supported by advanced infrastructure, progressive legislation, and a thriving investment environment. This has been reflected in the steady growth of advanced technology companies in the emirate. In this context, Ahmad Ali Alwan, Chief Executive Officer of the global tech ecosystem Hub71, told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that the platform successfully attracted 13 new AI-driven start-ups during the first half of 2025. With this addition, the number of AI-focused start-ups under Hub71 has risen to 52, representing top talent and entrepreneurship from around the world. This growth underscores the emirate's status as a global centre for digital innovation and a preferred destination for high-value investments in this vital sector. Alwan explained that Hub71 plays a pivotal role in accelerating the growth of these companies by providing specialised mentorship, facilitating market access, and opening new avenues for regional and global expansion. As these companies advance, he noted, their impact extends to the wider economy through the creation of high-quality jobs, knowledge exchange, and support for the growth of strategic sectors, reinforcing Abu Dhabi's role as a global hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and advanced technologies. The list of new companies joining in the first half of the year includes Aurem, CambioML, Fundbot Technologies, Mithry, New Path Bio, Nodeshift, Onloop, Redbrick, Simpleem, Skipr, Vivan Therapeutics, xMap, and Vaxo.
Gulf Business
08-08-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Hub71's Ahmad Ali Alwan on steering Abu Dhabi's tech ecosystem into a global scale-up phase
Image: Hub71 Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Under his leadership, Hub71 welcomed its 16th cohort in February, onboarding 27 startups selected from over 1,300 applications across programs including Access, Hub71+ ClimateTech, and Hub71+ Digital Assets. These startups had collectively raised over $145m (Dhs532m) prior to joining, adding momentum to an ecosystem now home to 357 startups . Building on this momentum, Hub71 partnered with Google for Startups in May to launch the Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First programme in Abu Dhabi. This accelerator targets AI-focused startups in the Hub71+ AI vertical, offering tailored mentorship, technical support, and access to Google Cloud credits, reinforcing Abu Dhabi's standing as a rising global AI hub. Gulf Business recently spoke to Alwan to find out more about Hub71's and its journey. The conversation revealed his forward-thinking approach and vision, which is focused on transitioning Hub71 from a launchpad for early-stage companies into a vibrant, globally connected ecosystem that nurtures scaleups and tech innovators targetting the MENA region and beyond. Here are excerpts from our chat. To start, could you walk us through some key developments at Hub71 and why 2025 is shaping up to be such a pivotal year for the startup ecosystem? Absolutely. Hub71 was launched in 2019 with the vision of creating a thriving environment for early-stage tech startups to scale from Abu Dhabi. Since then, we've built a community of 357 startups. They've collectively raised $2.17 billion in funding, generated $1.2bn in revenue, created more than 1,100 jobs, and represent over 20 different sectors. What sets us apart is twofold. First, the strength of our partnerships — across government, corporates, and investors — that unlock real commercial and strategic value for startups. Second, and personally my favourite part, is our focus on community. Founders here aren't just building companies, they're building together, in a shared space with a shared mission. You mentioned partnerships — can you highlight some recent ones and how they support Hub71's mission? One standout is our partnership with Google. Over a year ago, we entered a strategic agreement to bring the Google for Startups programme to Abu Dhabi. The programme was launched in May at Hub71 and 26 startups participated, gaining access to Google's infrastructure and mentorship to help them build globally competitive AI-led businesses. Together with Google, we are empowering founders to develop transformative technologies that address real-world challenges We also benefit from Abu Dhabi's broader AI positioning. The city has invested heavily in becoming a global AI hub, supported by entities like the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), TII, HPE, AWS, and more. Hub71 plays the role of channeling all this momentum directly into opportunities for our startups. Among the startups in your ecosystem, are there any standout performers or promising players you'd like to spotlight? That's always a tough one — it's like picking your favorite child. But yes, a few come to mind. In AI, Base2 is doing incredibly well. They've developed an industrial AI suite that helps large enterprises optimise operations for efficiency. Another is Cambio, which is building its own large language models (LLMs) to power AI agents — think AI-led customer service or call centres. Cambio is also woman-led. Rachel, its CEO, is doing a phenomenal job alongside her co-founders. Outside of AI, Archireaf is really unique. They use 3D printing to reconstruct coral reefs, helping with blue carbon capture. They expanded from Hong Kong and now operate out of Kizad, with growing investment interest from the region. Hub71 has launched specialised ecosystems — or 'Hub71 +' verticals — in areas like climate tech, AI, and digital assets. Why are these verticals important? These verticals were born out of a desire to go beyond the traditional role of a tech hub. We wanted to create deep, focused ecosystems that attract global interest and investment into specific sectors. For example, Hub71+ Digital Assets was one of our first. It's anchored by ADGM, which has had progressive crypto regulations since 2016, and FAB, which joined to stay close to digital asset developments. Today, we host about 30 to 40 startups in that vertical, supported by a strong partner network. We took a similar approach with climate tech, especially around COP28, and now with AI. In each vertical, we're creating pathways for startups to plug into funding, regulation, and commercial traction. What role does Hub71 play in helping startups expand globally from Abu Dhabi? We like to say: you don't just set up in Abu Dhabi, you work from Abu Dhabi to access the world. The emirate offers progressive regulations, high security, and global connectivity. We tap into that value proposition and channel it into opportunities for our founders. We've built over 10 international partnerships that help our startups scale into Saudi, the US, Hong Kong, Japan, and beyond. From your experience, what separates startups that succeed from those that struggle or fail? There are three personal and professional principles I often share with founders: Embrace failure. It's part of the process. Most investors value second-time founders who've learned from past experiences. Resilience. The startup journey is never linear. You need to weather the ups and downs. Be the best version of yourself. Learn from others, yes, but stay grounded in your own strengths. Operationally, one key factor is corporate governance. Many early founders ignore this, but without proper structures in place, it's tough to scale. Products get you in the door, but governance is what helps you grow sustainably. And as a leader yourself, what values have helped you navigate your own path? Those same three values — embracing failure, resilience, and authenticity — have served me well. But I'd add purpose. I feel incredibly fortunate to work at the intersection of innovation, people, and national economic development. That sense of purpose keeps me going. You mentioned the importance of community earlier. How do you foster collaboration and buy-in within your team? Two things: active listening and structure. I've trained myself to really listen — not just to what's said, but what's unsaid. That presence builds trust and helps align personal priorities with the broader mission. And while our environment is dynamic and collaborative, structure is critical. It helps steer culture and allows us to work cohesively — though I always leave 10 to 20 percent room for healthy chaos, to keep things fresh and stretch thinking. What's next for Hub71? What can we expect in the coming months? We're going to double down on unlocking capital access for our startups. Abu Dhabi has abundant capital, and our job is to help startups tap into it. We'll also continue refining the city's value proposition across verticals — AI, climate tech, digital assets — and there will be more to come. Our job is to make sure every global development in these sectors translates into a tangible opportunity for startups within Hub71. Read:
Mid East Info
17-06-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Abu Dhabi Startup Ecosystem Ranks 3rd in MENA for Performance Amid Global Slowdown - Middle East Business News and Information
Startup Genome launches the world's most comprehensive report on startup ecosystems, released at VivaTech Paris Abu Dhabi, UAE — June, 2025 —Abu Dhabi's startup ecosystem has made remarkable strides, emerging as one of the fastest-growing hubs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), according to the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) launched today at VivaTech in Paris. Recognized as the world's most comprehensive research on startup ecosystems, the GSER leverages the largest quality-controlled dataset in the industry, analyzing data from over 5 million companies across 350+ entrepreneurial innovation ecosystems worldwide. The GSER 2025 highlights Abu Dhabi's impressive leap into the top emerging global ecosystems, ranking in the #51-60 tier, up from its previous #61-70 position. This advancement comes despite a global 14% decline in overall startup ecosystem value. Notably, Abu Dhabi generated $4.4 billion (approximately AED 16.2 billion) in Ecosystem Value between July 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024, marking a 6% annual growth. Abu Dhabi also ranked 3rd in the MENA region for Performance, a category that evaluates startup success through valuations and exit activity. This recognition reinforces Abu Dhabi's position as a dynamic, results-driven hub for entrepreneurship and innovation. 'Abu Dhabi's rise in the global rankings is a testament to the exceptional pace and cohesion of its innovation ecosystem, with Hub71 at the heart of this transformation. Amid a global downturn in startup ecosystem value, Abu Dhabi's long-term vision is beginning to pay off – demonstrating bold leadership and collaborative strength. We expect this momentum to continue, with Abu Dhabi poised to grow at a faster rate than many global peers in the years ahead.' says Samantha Evans, Managing Director MENA, Startup Genome. The report also places Abu Dhabi among the top five ecosystems in MENA across several core categories, including Knowledge, Funding, and Talent & Experience. Additionally, the emirate was recognized among the region's best for 'Bang for Buck,' reflecting efficient use of venture capital and a strong return on investment. Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, said: 'Abu Dhabi's rise in global rankings reflects the strength of our startup community and the impact of Hub71's ecosystem-enabling initiatives. Over the past six years, Hub71 has built a connected network of founders, investors, corporates, and global partners, enabling sustainable startup growth, international scaling, and the evolution of Abu Dhabi's early-stage technology landscape. This progress is driven by Abu Dhabi's deliberate focus on innovation and technology, alongside an increasingly agile business and regulatory environment. Hub71 and its startups continue to benefit from a compelling Abu Dhabi value proposition, allowing them to contribute meaningfully to the emirate's economic and technological ambitions.' Sectoral drivers of startup growth in Abu Dhabi: FinTech, ClimateTech, and Digital Assets are key strengths of Abu Dhabi's innovation landscape, supported extensively by strategic regulatory frameworks, and sector-specific infrastructure. Key developments including ADGM's expanded licensing frameworks, substantial venture funding, and strategic partnerships in sustainability-focused enterprises, and strategic alliances in blockchain technology, exemplify the emirate's deliberate and cohesive strategy for long-term economic diversification and innovation. Why startups choose Abu Dhabi: The emirate's appeal lies in forward-thinking policies, such as streamlined regulatory procedures and targeted government support for technology-driven sectors. Initiatives such as Khalifa Fund's MZN HUB are pivotal in bridging local startups with international innovation networks, further amplifying Abu Dhabi's global entrepreneurial influence. The GSER is widely regarded as the most comprehensive evaluation of global startup ecosystems, offering data-driven insights essential for policymakers, ecosystem leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide. Abu Dhabi's consistent rise in global rankings over the past three years highlights the strength of its strategy and the growth of its startup ecosystem, positioning the emirate as a leading global hub for innovation. About HUB71: Hub71 is Abu Dhabi's global tech ecosystem that enables founders to build globally enduring homegrown tech companies in any sector by providing access to global markets, a capital ecosystem, a global network of partners, and a vibrant community filled with highly skilled talent governed by forward-thinking regulation. Backed by the Government of Abu Dhabi and Mubadala Investment Company, Hub71 is growing its vibrant community of tech startups, investors, government, and corporate partners to ensure the availability of investment, commercial activities, and incentives from the public and private sectors. Through Hub71's entrepreneurial infrastructure, value-add programs, enabling services and support packages, founders can build, and scale widely adopted technologies with purpose and impact. Hub71 is on a mission to introduce new minds and technologies to Abu Dhabi, finding new ways to build globally enduring technology companies and sustain the nation's continuous economic development. About STARTUP GENOME: Startup Genome is the world-leading innovation ecosystem development organization, having worked with more than 180 economic and innovation ministries and public/private agencies in over 65 countries. We work to catalyze startup success and ecosystem growth and ensure that all cities and countries capture their fair share of the new economy. Startup Genome strategy clients grew their ecosystem values 59% faster than peers (41% vs. 25%). On average, Startup Genome clients produced $1.4 billion per year more in ecosystem value from an average starting point of $9.2 billion. Our evidence-based ecosystem research, advisory, and scaleup programs are rooted in global experience with the world's largest AI-curated startup dataset and proprietary instruments developed from over a decade of primary research.
