Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center’s (Sheraa) Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund (ERF) has announced AED 5 million in support for more than 60 startups and SMEs, reinforcing Sharjah’s commitment to helping founders navigate periods of operational and market pressure. Established as a rapid-response mechanism for Sharjah-based ventures, the ERF is designed to provide timely, practical assistance to businesses facing rising costs, shifting market conditions, and tightening funding cycles.
Mobilized through a coalition of public- and private-sector partners, the Fund combines equity-free grants, tailored programming, fast-tracked funding decisions, and hands-on advisory support. This blended model ensures that founders receive both immediate relief and strategic guidance—allowing them to stabilize operations while continuing to invest in long-term growth.
H.E. Sara Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, said: “The ERF was established on a simple premise: viable businesses facing short-term pressures should not have to choose between preserving today’s operations and investing in tomorrow’s growth. Supporting these founders is about more than individual businesses. It is about strengthening the entrepreneurial base that contributes to Sharjah’s economic diversification, innovation capacity, and long-term competitiveness.”
The Fund also reflects a collaborative model for strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Developed in partnership with public- and private-sector organisations, it is built on the principle that helping promising businesses navigate periods of uncertainty requires a shared commitment across the ecosystem.
Designed for speed and flexibility, the ERF focuses on the immediate needs that often determine whether a business can continue operating and return to growth. Alongside equity-free grants, it provides tailored mentorship, strategic advisory support, and connections to partners and market opportunities, enabling founders to strengthen operational readiness, make informed decisions, and build greater resilience for the road ahead.
In doing so, the Fund represents a broader shift in how entrepreneurship ecosystems support founders. Rather than focusing solely on helping startups launch, it recognises that long-term economic impact also depends on enabling promising businesses to withstand periods of uncertainty, adapt to changing market conditions, and continue growing over time.
Among the selected startups are Little Sprouties, Shukrani/Hylo, Chocoleaf, RAWA Wellness, Eshara AI, The AM Lab, BookMyPet, The Waste Lab, and Ajada. Collectively, they represent a generation of founders building businesses around real-world needs while navigating increasingly complex market conditions.
