Creators HQ, the UAE’s first dedicated hub for content creators, and Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm 500 Global have officially concluded the Creators Ventures Accelerator program. The 10-week accelerator, which wrapped up during the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai, showcased a cohort of 21 creator-led startups and enablers selected from over 1,100 applicants across 70 countries. Collectively, the graduating companies are valued at over $130 million and serve a global audience of more than 20 million followers and users.
A Competitive Global Cohort
The program attracted a highly diverse group of applicants, reflecting the global nature of the creator economy. Following a rigorous selection process, the final cohort included founders from the UAE, USA, UK, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Bahrain, and beyond. The selected startups span a wide range of sectors including fintech, edtech, healthcare, and marketing, signaling a shift from simple content monetization to robust, technology-driven business models.
Evolution of the Creator Economy
The accelerator’s curriculum focused on equipping creators with the tools to build sustainable, scalable businesses. According to the program leaders, the industry is moving away from a reliance solely on virality and visibility.
“Creators represent a growing class of bona fide entrepreneurs, with 50 million creators globally, projected to grow at 10-20% annually over the next 5 years,” said Courtney Powell, COO at 500 Global. “With consumers getting savvier and more discerning, we believe the new means to commercialization will belong to those who are focused on business fundamentals, deep community engagement, quality content, diversified strategies, and building with long-term vision and product-market fit.”
Funding Finalists
The program culminated in final presentations at the 1 Billion Followers Summit, an event attended by over 30,000 people and 15,000 content creators. Two startups distinguished themselves during the showcase, advancing to the final stage to qualify for funding consideration from Creators HQ:
- Bump (USA): A fintech platform powering financial infrastructure for the creator economy, led by James Jones.
- Kami (Turkey): A community-powered IP engine that transforms stories into AI-generated franchises, founded by Yağmur Aydemir.
UAE’s Strategic Vision
The initiative aligns with the UAE’s broader strategy to position itself as a global capital for the creative economy. Her Excellency Alia AlHammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office and CEO of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, highlighted the program’s role in empowering digital storytellers.
“The Creators Ventures Accelerator embodies our ongoing support for content creators and influencers, empowering them to develop their ideas and transform them into sustainable projects that generate tangible developmental outcomes and align with future aspirations,” AlHammadi stated.
The 2025 Cohort
The 21 companies that completed the accelerator include:
- Bump (USA): Fintech powering financial infrastructure for the global creator economy.
- Bupple (USA): AI agents that streamline content creation by replacing disconnected workflows.
- dromOS (Mexico): Gamifies habit formation and creator-led challenges for self-improvement.
- Echooo AI (Pakistan): Automates influencer management workflows using AI agents.
- Geeva (UAE): AI-powered support for brand-creator collaborations.
- Hypesociety (UAE): Turns creators into a real-time distribution engine for brands.
- InfluSense (UK): Identifies emerging creators before they become famous.
- Intuition Intelligence (USA): Helps creators engineer virality into their content.
- Kami (Turkey): Community-powered IP engine turning stories into AI-generated franchises.
- Mindfull (Healthcare, USA): Personalized women’s health platform replacing calorie counting with nutrition intelligence.
- MoonTech (UAE): transforms influencer marketing into a measurable growth engine.
- Neura Coach (USA): Combines human support with AI agents to guide users toward goals.
- Noqta Creative (Bahrain): Delivers structured professional education for Arabic-speaking creators.
- SHAIKE (France): Builds Hollywood-level ads faster and cheaper with AI.
- Skillstore (UK): Platform helping creators become educators.
- So Squared (UK): Optimizes creator-led commerce for global brands.
- Societiz (USA): Turns creators in emerging markets from influencers into founders.
- Stareable (USA): Helps creators scale their IP and businesses.
- Super Abla (Egypt): Edtech platform teaching Arabic through culture, history, and geography.
- The Good News (Egypt): Amplifies stories of hope to and from Arab youth.
- Trenderz (Ivory Coast): Helps creators turn influence into real travel bookings.
About 500 Global
500 Global is a venture capital firm with over $2.7 billion in assets under management that invests early in founders building fast-growing technology companies. The firm focuses on markets where technology, innovation, and capital can unlock long-term value and drive economic growth. 500 Global has backed over 5,000 founders representing more than 2,600 companies operating in 80 countries. Their portfolio includes 51 companies valued at over $1 billion and 140 companies valued at over $100 million.
Source: 500 Global
