Deepak Ahuja, Co-Founder and CEO of iAccel Gulf Business Incubator (iAccel GBI), discusses the Startup Meetup program, which helps technology-focused startups to grow through networking, mentorship, and market access in the UAE.
Can you provide an overview of your Startup Meet Up program?
iAccel GBI “Startup Meetup” is an event that brings together iAccel GBI’s dynamic ecosystem. As a go-to market accelerator for startups in the UAE, we provide a platform for startups to showcase their innovative tech solutions to our network of market access enablers , ecosystem partners, and mentors.
The selected startups delivered their pitches successfully. Alongside stimulating pitch sessions, we hosted a panel discussion with our stellar mentor board. Mr. Bashar Kilani, Mr. Sivarama Subramanian, and I held a discussion on the topic ‘Fostering a Strong Startup Ecosystem in the UAE.’ We were privileged to have Mr. Suresh Kumar, Chairman of IBPC, who has followed iACCEL GBI’s journey from inception, sharing encouraging words on our progress. The event also welcomed UAE entrepreneurial figures like Karl Tlais and Raman Thiagarajan, enriching the gathering with their expertise.
What are the criteria to get into iAccel GBI?
Firstly, the company must be technology-focused, with a demonstrable use case for the Middle East. While their solution may have proven successful in their home country, it is essential to evaluate its applicability and potential impact in this region.
Additionally, the company must be beyond the ideation stage and should have generated some revenue, demonstrated market traction and validated their business model. We seek to partner with tech companies from various industries like healthtech, B2B SAAS, Sustainability, Fintech and more. Our goal is to support innovative enterprises with proven solutions that can drive growth.
The startups from our portfolio that pitched at our event are from diverse industries. AURA Finance operates in fintech, Mobilous specializes in IT app development, Gosu Academy focuses on eSports, ReflowX leads in the energy sector with its online marketplace, and Trezi offers an AR/VR immersive platform.
What kind of support or resources will iAccel GBI provide to the startups following the pitch event?
iAccel GBI provides comprehensive support to startups seeking to expand their operations in the UAE. Our services encompass everything from entity registration and strategic market entry planning to leveraging our extensive network of industry experts, mentors, and market access specialists. As their dedicated go-to market accelerator partner in this region, we are committed to guiding startups through every stage of their business journey, ensuring they achieve their goals effectively and sustainably. Numerous startups have successfully entered the market in the last fifteen months with our assistance.
How do you see these startups contributing to the innovation ecosystem?
Dubai has long served as a global hub for expansion, and the UAE government’s proactive efforts to nurture the startup ecosystem have positioned the region as ideal for innovative enterprises. These startups are exemplifying this environment by disrupting their respective industries through innovative use cases of technology. They are addressing industry gaps in areas such as fintech, sustainability, architecture, and real estate, thereby modernizing operational processes. This symbiotic relationship between startups and their industries yields mutual benefits, enhancing efficiency and fostering innovation across sectors.
What are the plans for future pitch events or similar initiatives by iAccel GBI?
We do these events on a quarterly basis, where we engage our dynamic network of mentors, ecosystem players and market access specialists through this forum where they can interact with our portfolio startups.
What were the key takeaways from this Startup Meet Up?
This event is a medium for us to engage and network with our community of 375+ industry experts and mentors, connecting them with good startups. It was extremely enriching to hear from our mentor board on their journeys and how our network members can get involved in contributing to the startup ecosystem. The event served as a catalyst for driving forward the ambitions and aspirations of emerging businesses.
