Latest news with #Sheraa-backed
Sharjah 24
22-05-2025
- Business
- Sharjah 24
Sheraa and HORIVISTA forge strategic partnership
The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration aimed at supporting the growth of startups between the United Arab Emirates and China, leveraging HORIVISTA's deep expertise in bridging both markets to create long-term impact. The MoU was signed by Her Excellency Sara Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa and Sam Sun, Managing Director of HORIVISTA and Sheraa alum. Under this agreement, Sheraa shall extend support to eligible Chinese startups referred by HORIVISTA by facilitating their expansion in the UAE through setting up in Sharjah, as well as participation in Sheraa's programs, including the Sharjah Startup Studio (S3) and the Access Sharjah Challenge, in accordance with Sheraa's prevailing eligibility and selection criteria. Where such startups seek to establish a presence in the United Arab Emirates, Sheraa shall provide access to subsidised business licensing, coworking facilities, and tailored advisory services to support their market entry and operational setup. In turn, HORIVISTA will support Sheraa-backed startups to scale their ventures to the Chinese market. This agreement reflects the shared commitment of both parties to fostering cross-border collaboration and supporting startups in accessing new markets. Startups seeking to enter the Chinese market will receive support that includes market insights, introductions to local business networks, and guidance on navigating China's regulatory landscape, enabling a smooth market entry. Sara Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, said: "At Sheraa, we believe that enabling startups to scale beyond borders is key to building resilient, future-ready economies. Our partnership with HORIVISTA is a powerful step in this direction, opening new doors for entrepreneurs from both the UAE and China to collaborate, innovate, and tap into dynamic markets. By combining our ecosystems, we can accelerate growth opportunities and create lasting impact.' Sam Sun, Managing Director of HORIVISTA and Sheraa alum said: "This MoU marks a significant milestone in bridging two vibrant startup ecosystems. Through our collaboration with Sheraa, we look forward to supporting Chinese startups in navigating the UAE's thriving business landscape, while also offering a gateway for Sheraa-backed entrepreneurs into China. Together, we aim to foster a two-way flow of innovation, talent, and investment that drives meaningful cross-border growth.' Sheraa's Programmes Build the Foundations for Startups Success During the "Make it in the Emirates 2025" forum, the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) is showcasing its range of programs that support founders at every stage of their journey. These programs include Startup Blueprint, a self-paced online course introducing aspiring founders to fundamental entrepreneurial skills. Startup Dojo helps turn early ideas into viable business models while building strong team dynamics. Its follow-on program, Startup Dojo+, supports founders in validating their solutions, developing MVPs, and preparing for market entry. Among Sheraa's key offerings is the Sharjah Startup Studio (S3), its flagship incubator program, which enables early-stage startups to grow, acquire customers, and become investor-ready. The Access Sharjah Challenge (ASC) rounds out the journey by helping growth-stage startups co-create pilot projects with local partners and enter new markets. Driven by its programmes and strategic partnerships, Sheraa continues to empower founders at every stage of their journey, turning ambitious ideas into scalable ventures that grow from the UAE and expand to global markets.
Gulf Today
15-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Why startups must adapt to technological shifts
Startups today are no longer confined by location, and digital platforms such as social media and e-commerce empower even the smallest ventures to access global audiences overnight. For example, transformed from a local e-commerce site into a regional powerhouse before being acquired by Amazon. Similarly, fintech pioneer Tabby expanded into five countries within two years by leveraging cloud infrastructure. The digital age has truly rewritten the rules of entrepreneurship, creating an enterprising environment where innovation moves at lightning speed and borders dissolve into pixels. For startups, this era is a double-edged sword; offering unparalleled opportunities to scale and innovate, while demanding constant adaptation to survive fierce competition and market volatility. THE RAPID PACE OF TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE: Startups must constantly adapt to technological shifts, and rapid advancements in AI, IoT, and Web3 require founders to upskill continuously or risk falling behind. The digital marketplace is increasingly competitive, making differentiation a critical factor for success. Cybersecurity is another major challenge, and according to PwC's 2024 Global Digital Trust Insights survey, 36% of businesses reported data breaches exceeding $1 million, and 61% of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) were targeted last year alone. Market saturation adds further complexity, especially in sectors like food delivery and fintech, where differentiation is essential. Additionally, navigating regulatory hurdles, such as GDPR and evolving data laws, demands legal expertise that many founders may lack. Success in this environment requires far more than just a great idea and necessitates strategic guidance and support. BUILDING A FUTURE-PROOF LEGACY: In this high-stakes environment, organisations that support entrepreneurship are important as they equip founders with invaluable knowledge, tools, networks, and learned resilience to turn digital disruption into a launchpad for success. The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center's (Sheraa) ecosystem approach mirrors the UAE's vision of fostering a knowledge-based economy. Its programs are designed to address every stage of a startup's journey, and mentorship from industry leaders helps founders refine agile methodologies. Cost-effective innovation further levels the playing field, and open-source tools and AI-driven solutions enable startups to compete with industry giants without requiring massive capital. Sheraa-backed ventures like DataFirst Solutions exemplify this shift, using advanced analytics to provide decision-makers with over 200 key performance indicators (KPIs) for optimizing revenue and operations. The centre's emphasis on digital literacy also compliments the UAE's Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031, providing workshops on AI ethics and data governance to ensure startups not only adopt technology but do so responsibly. For instance, Sheraa alumni AR Engineering, which secured Dhs50,000 after winning the centre's 'Startup Pitch Competition', integrates reliable high performance Augmented Reality experiences and solutions to propel prototyping and other ventures. Speaking on the trajectory of the digital economy, Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, stated: 'Startups have proven to be initiators of innovation and economic transformation, especially when it comes to digital transformation; often creating entirely new industries to address new challenges and gaps in the market. 'At Sheraa, we empower these visionaries to harness the power of technology, navigate the complexities of digital transformation, and contribute to the benefit of communities and societies. As we continue to cultivate a thriving ecosystem where startups can turn challenges into opportunities, we are confident that they will redefine the future and open new paths to success.' Sheraa promotes a digital-first culture, encouraging startups to integrate digital technology as a core component of all aspects of business operations; fostering agility, innovation, and continuous learning, which are essential for success in the digital age.
