The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa) has signed a MoU with du at GITEX Global, to focus on enhancing the offerings of Sheraa’s Centers of Excellence (CoE) by expanding du’s technical support across CoE’s programs and initiatives, to ultimately deepen the positive impact of Sharjah’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Through this collaboration, du and Sheraa will provide tailored support in the form of capacity building, mentorship and market access, enabling mentee startups to accelerate their growth in four of Sharjah’s priority industry sectors: sustainability, advanced manufacturing, creative industries and EdTech.

Strategic partnership to support startup growth and capacity building
The scope of the partnership encompasses several key areas aimed at bolstering Sheraa’s strategic initiatives aimed at empowering and launching successive generations of founders. du will support capacity building through entrepreneurship workshops, offer mentorship and advisory sessions for Shera’s incubation programs, and help startups tap into new markets and networks.

Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO at du said: “We are excited to forge pathways that ignite startup potential through strategic partnerships as demonstrated with Sheraa at Expand North Star 2024. Together, we are committed to integrating technology and expertise to empower Sharjah’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, accelerating startups in sustainability, advanced manufacturing, creative industries, and EdTech towards remarkable achievements in their respective fields and beyond.” Sheraa is highlighting four of its startups at the du Pavilion throughout Expand North Star 2024. These startups will represent Sheraa’s four focus sectors under the CoE and engage with potential investors, industry leaders, and partners to further accelerate their growth.

H.E. Sara Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, commented on the collaboration: “At Sheraa, our vision is to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs to shape the future of Sharjah’s priority sectors. Through our Centers of Excellence, we connect startups with the resources, partners and market insights they need to drive impactful growth. Our partnership with du strengthens this mission, providing startups with cutting-edge technological support and market access that will help them scale their businesses. Together, we are reinforcing Sharjah’s position as a regional leader in innovation and entrepreneurship, enabling founders to build ventures that not only succeed but create lasting impact.”