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Arab News
3 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
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.
Entrepreneur
3 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Ethara Launches UAE's First Sports Entrepreneurship Incubator in Abu Dhabi; Eight Startups Unveiled
By bridging ideas with investors and corporations, E1H offers a fast-track for entrepreneurs looking to scale regionally and globally. You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Ethara, an Abu Dhabi-based live events and venue management firm, has launched the inaugural Ethara 1TW Innovation Hub (E1H) Pitch- the UAE's first dedicated sports ecosystem and incubator. The launch event, which took place at the Yas Conference Centre on June 3, 2025, brought together more than 100 key stakeholders from sport, entertainment, government, and investment sectors to witness the unveiling of startups shaping the region's sports and entertainment economy. Image source: Ethara The E1H Pitch marked the culmination of a six-week program in which eight early-stage ventures received expert mentorship, strategic guidance, and venture capital support to fast-track their development. By providing startups with unique access to expertise, commerce, and capital, E1H thus aims to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship in Abu Dhabi, the UAE, and the wider region. 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 rising prominence as a strategic base for sports tech and entertainment ventures. The session was hosted by sports broadcaster Chris McHardy. Image source: Ethara "Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Ethara- that's why we created E1H with our partners at OneToWatch [a sports investment advisory firm based in Abu Dhabi Global Market]," Saif Rashid Al Noaimi, Chief Executive Officer of Ethara, stated. "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 event then highlighted how the eight founders from E1H's inaugural cohort address a wide spectrum of areas including technology, content, services, and sustainability. E1H Cohort 1 startups: • ArabsMMA founded by Zahi Ephrem: The first media platform dedicated to combat sports in the Middle East. • Athlyn founded by Ahmed Cheikh Omar: A platform that bridges sport and corporate engagement. • Esportian founded by Ivan Kerkoc: Merges traditional sports and esports education. • Icosium Technologies founded by Billel Boudouma and Mohamed Ali: This venture blends robotics, AI, and human experience to deliver real-world micro-automation solutions. • MyParkBuddy founded by Daniel Hachem: Aims to revolutionize urban mobility through smart parking solutions. • Neoma founded by Francois Chabaudie: Aims to improve human interactions through smart environments. • The Mettleset founded by Dawn Barnable: A platform to tell meaningful stories through the lens of sport. • E1H Venture Studio, Greenlight Abu Dhabi Branding (GADB) founded by Robert Angelieri: Drives innovation in sustainable events through branding, logistics, and venue strategy.
