Dubai SME and the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) are convening an exclusive gathering of the city’s most resilient entrepreneurs for “What It Takes To Grow: Founder Stories for Next Gen.” Taking place on May 7, 2026, at the 25hours Hotel One Central, this event moves away from generic startup advice to offer a localized, candid look at scaling a business within the UAE. Designed specifically for early-stage founders, the session features three prominent UAE-based entrepreneurs who will share the raw realities of cash flow crunches, logistics hurdles, and the strategies that actually move the needle in the Dubai market.
Event Details
- What: Panel Discussion, Q&A, and Networking Clinics
- When: May 7, 2026 | 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Where: Dubai Founders HQ Campus, 25hours Hotel One Central (Wind Room, 1st Floor), Dubai
- Focus Areas: Scaling Operations, Cash Flow Management, Bootstrapping, Brand Building
About The Event
“What It Takes To Grow” is an initiative powered by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and Dubai SME, designed to support the next generation of home-grown success stories. Recognizing that much of the available founder advice is tailored for foreign ecosystems, this event focuses on the unique rewards and challenges of the Dubai market. The mission is to provide a platform for honest storytelling where successful founders reveal the “behind-the-scenes” moments that almost broke their businesses, providing actionable insights for those currently navigating the early stages of their entrepreneurial journey.
What to Expect
- Candid Panel Discussion: A deep dive into the operational and financial realities of scaling in the UAE, moderated by Alysha Malik (Strategic Partnerships Lead, Dubai SME).
- Live Q&A: A dedicated session for attendees to probe deeper into the founders’ strategies and experiences.
- On-Site Expert Clinics: Practical, one-on-one sessions provided by DHL and Paymob to solve immediate shipping, logistics, and payment processing challenges.
- Curated Networking: Opportunity to connect with 100+ fellow founders and ecosystem enablers at the Dubai Founders HQ Campus.
Featured Speakers
- Wajdan Gul: Co-Founder & Co-CEO of SQUATWOLF, who bootstrapped a performance wear brand from a Dubai apartment into a regional powerhouse.
- Shouk Kasemi: Founder of Milky Makers, a fast-growing lactation brand supporting hundreds of thousands of mothers across the GCC.
- Preet Vasudev: Co-Founder of VARAK, who scaled a home-kitchen dessert concept to a high-volume commercial operation in Business Bay.
How to Attend
Registration is essential as spots are strictly limited to ensure an intimate and high-value environment. Founders can RSVP via the official Luma event page: Register Here. The event begins promptly with registration at 4:00 PM, followed by the panel at 4:30 PM.
About The Organizers
This event is brought to you by Dubai SME and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the primary engines driving the growth of the UAE’s small and medium enterprise sector. The session is further supported by industry leaders DHL and Paymob, providing startups with the logistics and fintech infrastructure necessary to scale effectively.
Learn More: Luma
