Creative Zone, the UAE’s largest business start-up consultancy, has partnered with Sharjah Media City (Shams) to launch an accelerator programme, with the goal of attracting promising international entrepreneurs and business owners to the UAE.
StartupX will annually invest AED100,000 ($27,225) worth of business support services in four of the UAE’s most impressive start-ups that seek to better their community. Each of the four selected start-ups will be granted access to Creative Zone’s services and resources to help develop their business plans fully.
The selection process includes a minute-long video pitch, from which ten candidates will be shortlisted, followed by a formal StartupX Demo Day where shortlisted candidates will present their business plans to a panel of UAE business experts.
Managing director of Sharjah Media City, Shihab Alhammadi, said: “Sharjah Media City has a mission to develop the entrepreneurship landscape and support promising start-ups in the Emirate of Sharjah and the UAE as a whole… With that in mind, we are excited to be launching this initiative in collaboration with Creative Zone to scout innovative and promising ideas and play a part in turning them into concrete projects.
“We believe this is only the beginning and look forward to launching many more initiatives in the future.”
In addition to business support services, selected entrepreneurs will receive a year-long free trade license from Sharjah Media City, free banking, discounted insurance protection and more.
Lorenzo Jooris, CEO of Creative Zone, said: “This initiative reinforces the resilience of the regions’ entrepreneurial spirit and provides a platform for all to gain advice, mentorship, and learn as they proceed from one stage to the next. We have already seen an interest with the soft launch early Feb and look forward to seeing some future business leaders by the close of the programme.”
Applications for the StartupX Accelerator Programme are due by August 18.
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