Latest news with #Hub71
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
UAE startup ecosystem climbs to 21st in global rankings
1 June 2025 23:51 KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI)The UAE has climbed two spots in the latest Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025, ranking 21st globally and securing its position as the top-ranked Arab country for entrepreneurship. This marks the sixth consecutive year of advancement for the UAE in the global index, reinforcing the nation's steady rise as a premier destination for annual index, published by global research platform StartupBlink, evaluates over 1,000 cities and 100+ countries based on ecosystem strength, infrastructure, startup activity and 2020, the UAE has rocketed up the rankings, moving from 43rd to 21st in just five years. A leap that, the report says, was driven by aggressive investment, regulatory reform and public-private collaboration. The UAE also remains the number one startup ecosystem in the Arab League, although the competition is UAE's ecosystem is especially strong in fintech, where it ranks 14th globally, and Blockchain, where it holds an impressive 7th position worldwide. The report said these sectors have been key to establishing the country's digital economy as one of the most dynamic in the MENA continued to lead the UAE's innovation surge, ranking 44th globally, a jump of six places from last year. Over the past six years, Dubai has climbed an astonishing 95 spots, thanks to aggressive funding initiatives like the Dubai Future District Fund and infrastructure hubs such as Dubai Internet Abu Dhabi is quickly closing the gap. The capital surged 20 spots to 175th globally, driven by a nearly 50% ecosystem growth rate. The report noted Initiatives like Hub71 and ADQ's DisruptAD for their vital role in fostering a competitive ecosystem, especially in biotech and also made headlines, recording the biggest jump among UAE cities. It soared 98 spots to 762nd place globally, with a growth rate of nearly 46% - a sign of the emirate's emerging potential. The report said institutions like the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa) and the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park are key to this high-profile startups were highlighted as examples that cemented the UAE's credibility on the global stage. Careem, the region's first unicorn, set the precedent with its $3 billion acquisition by Uber. Others like Kitopi, Tabby, G42 and Andalusia Labs have joined the unicorn club, while global tech firms such as Telegram have chosen to relocate their headquarters to Dubai, which the report said underscored the UAE's strategic the report highlighted the introduction of founder-friendly policies including long-term Golden Visas, flexible business licensing, and regulatory reforms like the updated bankruptcy law as key to helping attract and retain talent. It noted that even the introduction of a 9% corporate tax in 2023 had not seemingly deterred investment, with the rate still among the most competitive globally. The report said that despite challenges such as the high cost of living and legacy regulations, the UAE's startup sector shows no signs of slowing.
Zawya
6 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Hub71 and Yas Investments partner to strengthen UAE's Tech Investment Landscape
Collaboration reinforces Tech Barza's role in connecting family offices with high-potential startups and enabling strategic corporate deals Abu Dhabi, UAE: Hub71, Abu Dhabi's global tech ecosystem, has announced a strategic partnership with Yas Investments, a leading multi-family investment platform and fund manager, to enhance investor participation in the UAE's growing venture capital landscape. The collaboration will connect high potential startups with private capital, creating new opportunities to secure strategic investment and scale their businesses. Underpinned by decades of global experience, and investing through Spartech Ventures, Yas Investments focuses on driving a fundamental shift in the region's economic and business landscape. With an understanding of both global and local markets, the firm brings a proven track record in identifying and unlocking high-growth investment opportunities. Family offices are increasingly becoming an important source of long-term capital for startups, providing funding as well as strategic guidance and industry expertise to support their growth. By leveraging Tech Barza, Hub71's exclusive platform that connects regional family offices with its community of over 300 startups, this partnership will unlock new avenues for private capital to support early and growth stage companies while also facilitating corporate collaborations that drive innovation and growth. Yas Investments will play a key role in expanding investor engagement that help startups accelerate product-market fit, scale operations and enter new markets. Additionally, Yas Investments will work with Hub71 to develop investor profiles for Tech Barza members, ensuring a more tailored approach to connecting startups with the right investors. Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, said:"Driving investment and corporate deal opportunities is essential to fueling startup growth. Through our Tech Barza family office network, Hub71 is creating new pathways that support Abu Dhabi's position as a leading global tech destination. Our partnership with Yas Investments will further strengthen the engagement between family offices and high-potential startups, unlocking opportunities for impactful and strategic deals." Yagub Alserkal, CEO at Yas Investments, added: 'We are proud to collaborate with Hub71 to foster a stronger investment landscape in Abu Dhabi. Through this partnership, we aim to bridge the gap between family offices and high-potential startups, facilitating strategic investments that unlock value for both investors and entrepreneurs.' Beyond capital investment, this partnership will enable deeper collaboration between investors and startups, fostering an environment where emerging ventures can access strategic guidance and mentorship. By enabling family offices to explore corporate deal-making alongside investments, this partnership helps unlock broader business synergies and long-term value Abu Dhabi strengthens its role as a global innovation hub, this alliance plays a crucial role in attracting and mobilizing capital towards high-potential startups, driving the next wave of entrepreneurial success. 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 Yas Investments YAS Investments is a MENA-focused alternative asset class investment platform that invests across top-tier private equity and venture capital opportunities within the region. The firm invests in early stage startup through its venture capital subsidiary, Spartech Ventures. YAS has a network of 30+ family offices and corporates in the region, where it aims to provide the entities with access to curated late stage technology and private equity opportunities. Leveraging decades of global experience in private equity and venture capital, the firm enables its investors to capitalize on the economic transformations brought about by emerging technology companies through its deep expertise in investing in this market.
Fintech News ME
6 days ago
- Business
- Fintech News ME
Hub71 Partners with Yas Investments to Connect Startups with Private Capital
Hub71, Abu Dhabi's global tech ecosystem, has entered into a strategic partnership with Yas Investments, a multi-family investment platform and fund manager, to support greater investor participation in the UAE's venture capital sector. The collaboration aims to link high-potential startups with private capital, offering opportunities for strategic investment and business growth. Yas Investments, which invests through Spartech Ventures, brings extensive experience in both global and regional markets. The firm has a track record in identifying and supporting high-growth investment opportunities, with a focus on contributing to the region's evolving economic landscape. As family offices emerge as a key source of long-term capital for startups, providing not only funding but also strategic input and industry knowledge, this partnership will make use of Hub71's Tech Barza platform. Tech Barza is designed to connect regional family offices with a network of more than 300 startups within Hub71's ecosystem. Through this partnership, Yas Investments will work to broaden investor engagement, helping startups refine product-market fit, scale operations, and access new markets. The firm will also assist in developing investor profiles for Tech Barza members, allowing for more targeted connections between startups and investors. Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, said: 'Driving investment and corporate deal opportunities is essential to fuelling startup growth. Through our Tech Barza family office network, Hub71 is creating new pathways that support Abu Dhabi's position as a leading global tech destination.' Yagub Alserkal, CEO at Yas Investments, said: 'Through this partnership, we aim to bridge the gap between family offices and high-potential startups, facilitating strategic investments that unlock value for both investors and entrepreneurs.' In addition to capital investment, the partnership is expected to promote closer collaboration between investors and startups, including strategic guidance and mentorship. By enabling family offices to explore corporate deal-making alongside financial investment, the initiative seeks to create broader business opportunities and long-term value.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
From Hyderabad to Abu Dhabi: How Hub71 Is fuelling a new era of cross-border innovation
As I entered Abu Dhabi 's Hub71 , located on Al Maryah Island, I was immediately surrounded by a palpable sense of innovation and activity. The air crackled with the energy of ideas in motion. Sunlight streamed through the tall glass walls, illuminating the polished floors where startup founders worked intensely on their laptops and prototypes. A faint scent of coffee hung in the air, alongside the consistent sounds of typing and video conferencing. Wall-mounted screens streamed live data from AI and climate-tech ventures, while mentors and investors moved between groups, offering feedback. Global innovators were everywhere, intensely discussing solutions to critical global issues. Launched in 2019, Abu Dhabi's Hub71, a global tech ecosystem in the Abu Dhabi Global Market , has quickly become a leading tech hub in the Middle East. Established under the UAE's 50 billion AED Ghadan 21 economic diversification program, it fosters innovation, entrepreneurship, and global collaboration. Hub71, supported by Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Investment Company, aims to make Abu Dhabi a leading center for tech innovation and entrepreneurship. 'At Hub71, we are building more than just startups. We are building a launchpad that brings together global companies and forward-thinking investors to turn bold ideas into global ventures, all from the heart of Abu Dhabi,' explains Ahmad Alwan, Deputy CEO, Hub71. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like บ้านที่ธนาคารเป็นเจ้าของใน มีนบุรี (ดูราคา) LocalPlan อ่านเพิ่มเติม Undo Core expertise: A holistic support system The hub centers its knowledge on supporting startups and scale-ups with a complete set of aid. Its Company Building Program stands out for offering financial and practical support, such as equity-free incentives, investor/mentor/corporate partner access, plus subsidized housing and office space. Alwan, a Hub71 founding member since 2019, notes its holistic strategy empowers startups of all levels to amplify their worldwide reach. Hub71's key advantage is connecting startups to substantial funding sources. Over 30 venture capital firms, family offices, and commercial partners are part of its ecosystem, offering founders unparalleled opportunities to secure funding. It also attracts top talent from around the world, with its community comprising more than 450 founders from 60 nationalities as of 2025. This diversity fuels creativity and cross-pollination of ideas, enhancing Abu Dhabi's position as a global innovation hub. Live Events Since its inception, Hub71-backed startups have collectively generated AED 4.3 billion in revenue and attracted AED 7.2 billion in funding, underscoring its role in fuelling innovation-driven growth. The majority of Hub71's startups are seed-stage companies (80%), while 15% are Series A and 5% are Series B or later, showcasing a robust early-stage innovation pipeline, says Ahmad Alwan, Deputy CEO, Hub71. The majority of Hub71's startups are seed-stage companies (80%), while 15% are Series A and 5% are Series B or later, showcasing a robust early-stage innovation pipeline. Alwan mentions that hub's support for startups is multifaceted. Incentives include AED 250,000 in-kind, AED 250,000 cash ( SAFE note), and a further AED 250,000 for high-achieving startups completing the year-long program. Startups in the Bright program may get up to AED 750,000 more in investment. These offerings include access to over 40 service providers in legal, audit, marketing, and operations. Hub71's extensive support network includes 23 government, 30 market, 51 capital, 10 talent, 11 cross-border partners, and 48 family offices, fostering a comprehensive ecosystem for collaboration and growth. It rigorously selects high-potential startups. For Cohort 15 announced in September last year, Hub71 received 1,228 applications, narrowed down through several rounds of evaluations to just 48 finalists who were selected to join the program. Sectoral breadth and deep expertise Hub 71 states its sectoral breadth allows Hub71 to address some of the world's most pressing challenges, from climate change to financial inclusion. The sectoral synergies it offers spans fintech, healthtech, climate tech, edtech, AI, robotics, big data analytics, and mobility. Beyond these, the ecosystem is also active in health and life sciences, cyber security, IT, e-commerce, travel and tourism, agritech, foodtech, gaming, telecommunications, legaltech, aviation and space, insurtech,Blockchain, and venture labs. In fintech, Hub71 has become a destination for startups driving innovation in digital payments, lending, and financial inclusion. In the healthtech space, it supports companies focused on telemedicine platforms, digital health records, and AI-powered diagnostics. Climatetech is another key area, with Hub71 backing solutions that address sustainability and climate change in line with global priorities. The hub's commitment to AI and digital transformation is underscored by the launch of the region's first AI Center of Excellence (AI CoE), developed in partnership with e& enterprise (formerly known as Etisalat Group). Enabling Indian startups: Hub71's value proposition Lately, Hub71 has become a focal point for deepening Indo-UAE ties in the technology and startup sectors. According to HUb71, the aggregate valuation of Hub71 startups, including Indian ventures, stands at AED 5.87 billion. These figures highlight the tangible economic benefits of Indo-UAE collaboration within the Hub71 ecosystem. The tech hub's sectoral alignment with Indian startups creates opportunities for knowledge exchange, joint ventures, and co-development of solutions tailored to both markets. Hub71, in 2023, partnered with T-Hub, one of India's largest startup incubators and a leading tech hub in Hyderabad. The organisation says its T-Hub partnership has significantly increased interest from Indian startups, with around 30% of applications to its programs now coming from India. Moreover, the collaboration helped foster stronger ties between the two startup ecosystems. A good example of successful collaborations is Stride Ventures, an Indian venture debt fund that has joined Hub71 as a capital partner. Stride actively engages with Hub71 to source deal flow from the region, while also playing a role in startup selection. Recently, it invested $1M in Maalexi, a Hub71 startup. Similarly, Cars24, a used car marketplace, was the first Indian company to join Hub71. It has since become the largest used car platform in the UAE, boasting a valuation of $1.84 billion and annual revenues exceeding $600 million. Ultrahuman, a Bengaluru-based longevity and health platform, is also leveraging Hub71's global network of investors, corporate partners, and mentors to expand beyond India. The company says Hub71's programs are helping it access capital, navigate regulations, enabling it to scale its healthtech solutions internationally. Three more Indian startups are now operating from Hub71. Arcab is a mobility service transforming work commutes through shared vans, collaborating with over 40 operators and managing a fleet of more than 3,000 buses. Hafla claims to be the world's first AI-based event ideation and sourcing platform, offering comprehensive solutions for venues, equipment, and services. And, Funder AI is a digital financing platform serving SMEs and salaried professionals, providing innovative funding solutions. Abu Dhabi's strategic advantages further sweeten the deal: ranked the world's second most stable economy by the U.S. News & World Report (2024) and named the fastest-growing emerging startup ecosystem in MENA by the Global Startup Ecosystem Report (2024), the emirate offers 0% income tax, 100% foreign ownership, on‑ and offshore licenses, and a 10‑year Golden Visa . 'It's also one of the safest cities in the world, with 80% of the global population just an eight‑hour flight away,' Alwan highlights. 'These factors make Hub71 a formidable choice for founders.' The author recently visited Abu Dhabi at the invitation of the Abu Dhabi Media Office.
Time Out Abu Dhabi
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi has been named one of the top cities for the ultra wealthy
Turns out, when the world's wealthiest are looking for their next address, Abu Dhabi is high on the wishlist. New research from Savills has ranked Abu Dhabi as one of the top two global cities for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) to live, work and yes – play. With its tax-free lifestyle, year-round sunshine, glittering cultural institutions, luxury real estate and the all-important sense of safety, Abu Dhabi has emerged as a magnet for millionaires and billionaires alike. According to the report, more than 6,700 ultra-wealthy individuals made the move to the UAE last year, many from the UK, where taxes can gobble up as much as 45 percent of earnings. In comparison? The UAE offers a tempting buffet of no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax and generous investment-friendly policies. Add a 10-year golden visa and a tech-savvy, forward-looking economy to the mix and you've got yourself a luxury-lifestyle jackpot. While Dubai took the top spot in the rankings thanks to its high-profile tax perks, Abu Dhabi isn't far behind – beating out heavy-hitters like Singapore, Zurich, Auckland and major US cities. What gives the UAE capital an edge? It's not just the money talk. Savvy HNWIs are now choosing cities based on quality of life, climate, safety and culture, not just tax breaks. Here's what else is fuelling the millionaire migration: A strong real estate market Access to world-class healthcare and education A stable, geopolitically neutral location in turbulent times A rich cultural calendar packed with opera, art and Formula 1 thrills With bold ambitions and a booming economy, Abu Dhabi isn't just a destination for wealth – it's a destination of choice. Whether you're drawn by art on Saadiyat, tech in Hub71, or a villa on the Corniche, the message is clear: the good life is calling. Paul Tostevin, Director at Savills said: 'Against an increasingly changeable geopolitical and economic backdrop, global wealth flows are evolving, as HNWIs and businesses adapt their decisions on where to locate. 'Traditional predictors of global wealth flows, such as government policies, taxes and incentives, and the presence of either innovative talent pools or existing communities of similar individuals, have always been key drivers of dynamic footloose companies and individuals, and will continue to play a major role, but a sense of place, and a high quality of living, are progressively the deciding factor when making location decisions.' More things to do in Abu Dhabi Everything happening in Abu Dhabi in 2025 From new openings to big events, this is shaping up to be quite a year It's official: Abu Dhabi Comedy Season is returning for a second edition with some huge names Wow, look at this line-up Abu Dhabi's best restaurants: Everywhere you should eat at least once Your dinner inspo is sorted
