In an exciting finale to the fourth iteration of the Access Sharjah Challenge-Al Mamsha organised by Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) and Alef Group, Ahmad Kassem’s ‘Frappy’ café and Yuliya Sukhanova and Gulnar Tyndybaeva’s ‘Nature Hedonist’ clothing grabbed top prizes from among the competition’s 13 finalists.

HE Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and SMEs said “The value of the SMEs sector to our economy cannot be overstated. With 94 percent of the national economy being represented by startups, the sector forms the cornerstone of economic growth and diversity. Going forward, our leadership’s goal for this sector is to contribute over 65 percent to our gross non-oil economy”, the minister told the event’s attendees including leading government and private sector ecosystem players, startups, and Sheraa alumni.

“However, venture-building dreams can only be realised with sufficient access to mentorship, a supportive growth environment and funding, which makes the role of entities like Sheraa critical to not only building and empowering successive generations of entrepreneurs in the UAE, but also to reinforcing the nation’s position as a strong, globally-connected startup hub”, he added.

Jointly launched earlier in January by Sheraa and Alef Group and held in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth, the current edition of Access Sharjah Challenge, titled ‘Al Mamsha’, is a pitching competition to empower innovative entrepreneurs invested in accelerating the development of Sharjah’s and the GCC’s fast-growing food and beverage (F&B) and retail sectors.

While Frappy (Fresh + Happy), dedicated to serving colourful global cuisine in a cheerful atmosphere, won its creator AED 100K along with a rent-free unit in Al Mamsha for a year, Nature Hedonist brought its two founders a AED  25K cash prize, along with a rent-free booth in Sharjah’s Zero6 Mall by Alef Group for a year. Through capsule collections, Nature Hedonist’s founders seek to encourage sustainable and soulful daily wear.

All winners will receive turnkey fit-out services in their retail setups from Alef Group along with setup support from Sheraa.

Congratulating the winners, Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Youth, said: “Innovation and entrepreneurship are at the heart of the UAE’s cultural and creative industries, which are key drivers of sustainable development and economic diversity. We are very proud of our partnership with Access Sharjah Challenge and the role it is playing in cultivating the UAE’s creative entrepreneurship and promoting the cultural and creative industries. The completion of the fourth edition of this initiative is testament to the UAE’s thriving start-up ecosystem and the synergy between public and private sectors. I congratulate the winners for their outstanding projects and wish them all the best for the future.”

Extending a warm welcome to the majlis guests, Najla Al Midfa, CEO, Sheraa, said “Tonight, as we honour the entrepreneurial prowess of the winners of Access Sharjah Challenge and turn the spotlight on the passionate ideas of the Sharjah Startup Studio graduates and Sheraa members, we reinforce Sharjah’s and Sheraa’s commitment to continue fostering entrepreneurial excellence by offering a solid foundation on which to build innovative, sustainable, and socially minded ventures.”

Commenting on the importance of the partnership, Issa Ataya, CEO, Alef Group, said “Innovative and progressive ideas are essential factors in driving forward a sustainable economy in the UAE.  We truly believe that competition plays a key role in fostering dynamic markets and in stimulating economic growth. We were delighted to partner with Sheraa in this initiative, not least due to its alignment with the Alef Group’s mission to support the community of Sharjah. We are always keen to assist Emirati entrepreneurs and UAE residents in the establishment and expansion of their distinguished businesses; this helps to develop a diverse economy.”

“The Access Sharjah Challenge Al Mamsha was not only an opportunity to encourage our country’s youth to invest in their talents, but also to enhance shopping experiences and lifestyle within the emirate. We congratulate the winners on their well-deserved success, diligent work, and devotion to the project”, added Ataya.

The Majlis also marked one year since the launch of Sharjah Startup Studio (S3), Sheraa’s unique venture building programme designed to support early-stage entrepreneurs by helping them validate their idea, build their product and take it to the market.