Latest news with #startAD
Zawya
30-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Agility Global partners with startAD
NYUAD-hosted programs include the University Student Entrepreneurship Program and the Impact Hub for Emirati Women Achievers Programs to address opportunities and challenges for female business owners in the UAE Abu Dhabi – Agility Global PLC, a multi-business owner and operator and long-term investor in global and regional businesses, has announced its support for two key programs organized by startAD, powered by Tamkeen and anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), aimed at fostering the next generation of Emirati entrepreneurs. These initiatives will empower young innovators and business leaders by equipping them with the tools, mentorship, and skills needed to build scalable ventures, with a particular emphasis on supporting Emirati women in entrepreneurship. The UAE has rapidly emerged as a leading startup hub in the GCC, with 5,600 new firms registered in Q2 2024 alone, reflecting the country's business-friendly policies and commitment to economic diversification. Recognizing this momentum, Agility Global is deepening its engagement with the local entrepreneurial ecosystem through its support of startAD. The first initiative, the University Student Entrepreneurship Program, will support up to 20 students from NYUAD and the wider UAE. The students will be upskilled and receive guidance on various aspects of the venture creation process including identifying market gaps, formulating business models, and creating minimum viable products. . Agility Global's contribution will be instrumental in providing structured training and upskilling support to students , ensuring students gain practical insights into entrepreneurship and innovation. In parallel, from Agility Global will support the Impact Hub for Emirati Women Achievers, a pioneering program dedicated to empowering visionary Emirati women in business and innovation from February to August 2025, . Studies highlight a notable increase in women entrepreneurs in the UAE over the last decade, driven by government and private sector initiatives. A recent study by Mastercard found that 84% of women in the UAE are considering starting their own business with more women (49%) identifying as entrepreneurs than men (47%) - reflecting the country's rapidly evolving business landscape. Despite significant strides in female entrepreneurship in the UAE, challenges remain. Another recent report by Visa found that access to funding remains a critical challenge for UAE women entrepreneurs, with 57% of women-owned businesses in the UAE relying on personal finances. This makes programs like the Impact Hub essential for equipping women with the skills and networks needed to succeed. Through this program, Emirati women innovators will benefit from expert coaching, skills training, focused on transformational leadership and catalyzing innovation ecosystems. The initiative will also facilitate participation in digital and in-person forums, creating opportunities for professional growth and collaboration. , Agility Global will align its support with women-led ventures that intersect with its strategic business interests in the region. 'Entrepreneurship is a powerful driver of economic diversification, innovation, and sustainable development. By supporting startAD's programs, we are investing in the next generation of Emirati entrepreneurs—both university students and women business leaders—who will shape the future of the UAE's knowledge economy. These initiatives align with our commitment to fostering talent, empowering communities, and driving meaningful change through innovation. We are proud to collaborate with startAD and NYU Abu Dhabi to create opportunities that equip young business leaders with the skills and networks they need to thrive,' said Frank Clary, Vice President, Sustainability at Agility Global. Ashwin Joshi, startAD Director, added: 'Our partnership with Agility will accelerate the next wave of UAE entrepreneurship by equipping emerging leaders with the skills and networks to succeed. With 77.6% of women-owned businesses led by entrepreneurs under 40 and venture funding set to exceed $2 billion by 2024, this collaboration—through the sponsorship of the University Student Entrepreneurship Program and the Impact Hub for Emirati Women Achievers —will drive innovation, industry transformation, and long-term economic growth in the UAE.' startAD was launched in 2016 by Tamkeen in partnership with NYU Abu Dhabi. It has played a pivotal role in enabling early-stage startups to develop and scale in collaboration with local and global partners. Anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi, startAD is committed to driving the UAE's transition into a knowledge-based economy, in alignment with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. startAD equips startups, SMEs, and aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills, frameworks, and industry connections needed to turn innovative ideas into commercially viable ventures. Through this collaboration, Agility Global highlights its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship in the UAE, supporting the nation's ongoing efforts to cultivate a thriving startup ecosystem. By investing in the next generation of business leaders, Agility Global and startAD are helping to shape a future where Emirati entrepreneurs drive innovation and economic progress on a global scale. About Agility Global Agility Global is a multi-business operator and long-term investor in global and regional businesses. Its portfolio of diversified international assets includes the world's largest aviation services company (Menzies Aviation); a global fuel logistics business (Tristar); a leading logistics parks developer and operator across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (Agility Logistics Parks); and other businesses in digital logistics, e-commerce logistics, remote-site services, and public-sector logistics. It holds minority stakes in DSV, the world's third-largest freight forwarder; Reem Mall, a mega-mall in Abu Dhabi; commercial real estate and supply chain companies in the GCC, and emerging technology companies in e-commerce enablement, energy transition, digital supply chain, and more. Agility Global has a global footprint across six continents and 70 countries, with a workforce of 60,000 employees. It is publicly listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX). For more information about Agility Global, visit For Agility Global Nadia Saleem Agility@ About startAD startAD is an Abu Dhabi-based accelerator, steering local and global startups to scale in the UAE and beyond. Powered by Tamkeen and anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi, startAD is a new model for innovation that creates customized and impact-driven programs in partnership with stakeholders including governments, corporations, investors, and innovation entities, furthering UAE's transition into a knowledge-based economy. startAD's unique sprint accelerator model enables corporations to further innovation by partnering with startups disrupting their core businesses, while equipping startups with the training and opportunity to pilot their solutions with industry leaders. startAD offers unparalleled business advancement opportunities to local and global tech startups, SMEs, researchers, investors, and youth through an extensive range of programs, state-of-the-art facilities, and a strong global network. Driving innovation in construction, retail, finance, and other priority industries in the UAE, startAD alumni startups have raised USD 270 million in investment, generated USD 220 million in revenue, secured over 80 global pilot projects with corporations, and created over 2,500 jobs worldwide. For more information about startAD, visit About Tamkeen Tamkeen LLC is a company that partners with leading local and international institutions to deliver projects that enrich the social, cultural and educational landscape of the UAE.
Zawya
09-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
StartAD and VentureSouq to launch third edition of the Conscious Investor Fellowship to boost MENA ClimateTech Ecosystem
The eight-week pan-regional fellowship will focus on climatetech investing. CIF 3.0 culminates with the Angel Rising Investment Symposium, convening global thought leaders to catalyse conversations on powering climate investment across the region Abu Dhabi, UAE – startAD, the Abu Dhabi-based startup accelerator powered by Tamkeen and anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), in collaboration with VentureSouq, one of the leading early-stage venture capital firms in MENA, has launched the third edition of the Conscious Investor Fellowship (CIF 3.0), with partnership from the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD). The eight-week program from April to July 2025 will welcome 25 fellows representing C-suite executives and capital allocators from sovereign wealth funds, family offices, government entities, corporations, and philanthropies. Focused on ClimateTech investing, this invite-only program offers Fellows a tailored curriculum, immersive skill building, and networking led by top-tier global practitioners from the venture capital, technology, philanthropy, and finance industries. As the main partner of CIF 3.0, EAD has played an instrumental role in ensuring that, for the first time, the fellowship is exclusively focused on climatetech investment. As EAD embarks on its 2026-2030 strategy, fostering climate finance is a key priority. This fellowship marks a significant step in that direction by empowering participants to develop investment strategies into early-stage climate technologies. By supporting the fellowship, EAD is not only contributing to capacity building but also reinforcing Abu Dhabi's position as a leader in climate-driven economic transformation. Her Excellency Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD added: "At the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, we recognise that impactful climate action requires collaboration and a strong environmental innovation and investment ecosystem. As a partner of CIF 3.0, we are equipping investors with the knowledge and networks needed to drive change within the ClimateTech space. This initiative supports the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy 2023-2027, reinforcing Abu Dhabi's position as a leader in sustainability and ensuring that capital flows towards solutions that contribute to a resilient, low-carbon future for our region and beyond." This strategic initiative comes at a pivotal moment for the MENA ClimateTech ecosystem. 'The region's ClimateTech ecosystem is growing rapidly, attracting regional and international startups eager to scale. However, early-stage investors with the right expertise remain scarce, creating a 'missing middle'—MENA accounts for just 0.2% of global ClimateTech funding. CIF 3.0 aims to bridge this gap by equipping investors with the tools and networks to unlock this opportunity,' said Director of startAD Ashwin Joshi. Co-Founder and General Partner at VentureSouq Sonia Weymuller, continued: "As we witness an unprecedented surge in climate innovation across emerging markets, there's never been a more critical time to build a robust ecosystem of climate investors. Through CIF 3.0, our aim is not just to support investors; we are creating a connected community of capital allocators who understand the unique dynamics of ClimateTech in emerging markets. Our focus extends beyond traditional climate sectors into areas where our markets have the opportunity to lead globally - from food security and supply chain resilience to climate fintech and carbon solutions. By empowering the next generation of climate investors, we're helping bridge the funding gap while ensuring capital flows to innovations that can scale across similar climate-vulnerable regions." The program will culminate in the 9th annual Angel Rising Investment Symposium, which has grown to be the region's most prominent startup investor program. It convenes global thought leaders and catalyses conversations on the future of the impact investment industry and how it can be powered across the region. Established in 2020 by startAD and VentureSouq, the Conscious Investor Fellowship empowers the next generation of capital allocators to align investment with purpose. This invite-only program offers a tailored curriculum led by top global practitioners in technology and finance. With 57 regional alumni, 30 speakers, and a global reach of three million, CIF builds on the momentum of COP28, which emphasized climate finance, technology-driven solutions, and a just transition away from fossil fuels to achieve net zero by 2050. About startAD startAD is an Abu Dhabi-based accelerator, steering local and global startups to scale in the UAE and beyond. Powered by Tamkeen and anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi, startAD is a new model for innovation that creates customized and impact-driven programs in partnership with stakeholders including governments, corporations, investors, and innovation entities, furthering UAE's transition into a knowledge-based economy. startAD's unique sprint accelerator model enables corporations to further innovation by partnering with startups disrupting their core businesses, while equipping startups with the training and opportunity to pilot their solutions with industry leaders. startAD offers unparalleled business advancement opportunities to local and global tech startups, SMEs, researchers, investors, and youth through an extensive range of programs, state-of-the-art facilities, and a strong global network. Driving innovation in construction, retail, finance, and other priority industries in the UAE, startAD alumni startups have raised USD 270 million in investment, generated USD 220 million in revenue, secured over 80 global pilot projects with corporations, and created over 2500 jobs worldwide. About Tamkeen Tamkeen LLC is a company that partners with leading local and international institutions to deliver projects that enrich the social, cultural and educational landscape of the UAE. About NYU Abu Dhabi NYU Abu Dhabi is the first comprehensive liberal arts and research campus in the Middle East to be operated abroad by a major American research university. Times Higher Education ranks NYU among the top 30 universities in the world, making NYU Abu Dhabi the highest-ranked university in the UAE and MENA region. NYU Abu Dhabi has integrated a highly selective undergraduate curriculum across the disciplines with a world center for advanced research and scholarship. The university enables its students in the sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, and arts to succeed in an increasingly interdependent world and advance cooperation and progress on humanity's shared challenges. NYU Abu Dhabi's high-achieving students have come from over 120 countries and speak over 100 languages. Together, NYU's campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai form the backbone of a unique global university, giving faculty and students opportunities to experience varied learning environments and immersion in other cultures at one or more of the numerous study-abroad sites NYU maintains on six continents. About Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) Established in 1996, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) is committed to protecting and enhancing air quality, groundwater as well as the biodiversity of our desert and marine ecosystem. By partnering with other government entities, the private sector, NGOs and global environmental agencies, we embrace international best practice, innovation and hard work to institute effective policy measures. We seek to raise environmental awareness, facilitate sustainable development and ensure environmental issues remain one of the top priorities of our national agenda. About VentureSouq VentureSouq (VSQ) is a MENA-based venture capital platform managing over $235M across multiple funds. VSQ has established itself as a pioneering force in technology investments in MENA and beyond, with dedicated investment vehicles across Climate and FinTech. The firm is backed by leading sovereign wealth funds and institutional investors from the region. Through its thematic investment approach and flagship initiatives like the Conscious Investor Fellowship, VSQ has built a strong track record in identifying, investing in, and scaling breakthrough technologies that address critical challenges in emerging markets.
Khaleej Times
08-03-2025
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
Women's Day 2025: 4 times UAE women made country proud
People all over the world celebrate International Women's Day on March 8 to honour the women in their lives. From the workplace to familial ties, women are doing it all, leading generations and sparking change across various fields. The theme for 2025 is 'accelerate action', which emphasises the need to take swift steps to achieve equality, and remove systemic barriers that women face. Here are four times UAE women have paved the way for others in their different fields, from engineers to athletes to photographers. What started as a way to gain acceptance from her family and community culminated in a historic achievement for this young Emirati. Marwa Al Mamari, the UAE's first aerospace engineer, joined the field "without realising" she was the first Emirati to pursue it. With a penchant for academic excellence, she initially expected to become a doctor, but later wanted to explore a new field, and "step out of her comfort zone." While her family was initially uncertain about her decision, they gave their blessing, and the young engineer also had the support of the country's leadership. "You don't have to live the same dream forever; you can start a new one, work toward it, and achieve it,' she stressed. As a mother, she stressed there is no single recipe for balancing family and career; it is simply a matter of trying again and again. After completing her studies, Marwa assumed a pivotal role at the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) as a specialist in accident prevention and safety recommendations within the accident investigation sector. Marwa was recognised at the Emirati Women Achievers 2024 organised by startAD, a global accelerator based at NYU Abu Dhabi that guides startups in launching, developing, and scaling their businesses. Emirates' Equestrian Fatima Al Ameri, a 32-year-old Emirati, embodies the spirit of resilience as she takes control of her horse's reins. The athlete who faced bullying for her riding style almost gave up during her early training, but her passion overpowered her desire to leave, and she went on to be named "Emirates' Equestrian," capturing the hearts of many. Fatima went viral for her horseback salute to President Sheikh Mohamed during the UAE's 53rd National Day celebrations. She describes the ruler as her "father and master." Horse riding is not the only sport she embraces; camel racing is another field where she continues to break barriers. Fatima made history as the first Emirati woman to participate in an international event at Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Festival in Taif. She uses her voice to encourage young girls to participate in equestrian sports, and emphasises the importance of proper training. All-women esports team From young girls interested in gaming, these Emiratis went on to become competitive athletes who represented UAE on their global debut at World Esports Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in November 2024. The country's first all-female esports team felt a "sense of responsibility" to do well for the country and pave the way for women in the field. Among the members of the UAE female team were Moza Khalid (25), Fatima Al Ansari (24), and Mariam Al Shamisi (34). The young athletes have the support of the women in their lives, like their mothers, friends, and sisters. The global debut was a "surreal feeling" where all the hard work paid off, the esports team members said. These women inspire young girls to work at it, no matter what their dream is, and "develop, grow, and achieve greatness.' First female nuclear safety inspector This 22-year-old initially did not fully understand the field of nuclear engineering; however, her passion for science and the country fuelled her determination to succeed. Meera Al Mheiri made history as the first Emirati woman to take on the role of nuclear safety inspector at the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR). Her first site visit was "quite dramatic; I even fainted," the young scientist said. Having graduated as one of the top students from the nascent nuclear programme, she was determined to adapt her lifestyle to adapt to the intense physical demands of working on construction sites, especially in harsh conditions. Meera continues to volunteer and learn constantly, balancing her work with her hobbies. With her hunger for knowledge, she recognised the importance of observing the experts around her and learning as quickly as possible. 'I wasn't as intimidated as much as I felt a tremendous sense of responsibility,' she said.
