The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy have announced a multi-year strategic partnership with global venture capital firm Antler to accelerate the creation of new startups in the emirate. The collaboration will be hosted at the recently launched Dubai Entrepreneurs Hub.
The partnership aims to launch a dedicated entrepreneurship residency program designed to cultivate a new generation of VC-backed technology companies in Dubai. The initiative is expected to upskill over 600 entrepreneurs and facilitate the launch and funding of a strong new cohort of startups.
A Strategic Push for D33 Agenda
This collaboration is a significant step for the Dubai Entrepreneurs Hub, which was established in late 2023 as a joint initiative between DET and the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy. The Hub serves as a central platform connecting entrepreneurs with investors, corporations, and other key ecosystem stakeholders.
The initiative directly supports the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to double the size of Dubai’s economy by 2033. A key pillar of this agenda is to foster the growth of globally competitive companies and develop 30 new unicorns from the emirate.
Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation at DET, stated, “The establishment of the Dubai Entrepreneurs Hub stems from the guidance of our wise leadership to give entrepreneurs the confidence, infrastructure, and sustainable support needed to create globally competitive companies. Our cooperation with Antler, which has a proven global track record, enhances our efforts to achieve these aspirations and support entrepreneurs from the earliest stages.”
Antler’s Zero-To-One Residency Program
At the core of the partnership is Antler’s globally recognized residency program, tailored for early-stage founders. The program assists entrepreneurs in developing their ideas, finding co-founders, building minimum viable products (MVPs), and securing pre-seed investment.
Participants will gain access to the Antler Academy, a comprehensive learning platform offering specialized training programs led by Antler’s network of investors, mentors, and technology partners. This provides a clear pathway for founders, helping them overcome the critical early-stage challenge of transforming individual talent into investable companies.
Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, commented, “The collaboration with Antler represents a qualitative leap in the development of Dubai’s entrepreneurship environment. It combines global expertise with the integrated support model provided by the Dubai Entrepreneurs Hub, enabling founders to access specialized knowledge, practical experience, and build effective relationships with investors for sustainable growth.”
Integrating Global Expertise Into The Local Ecosystem
As part of the agreement, Antler has officially opened its UAE office within the Dubai Entrepreneurs Hub. This move directly embeds its investment and program teams into Dubai’s startup ecosystem, allowing entrepreneurs to test and develop their ideas more rapidly and interact closely with investors.
Magnus Grimeland, Founder and CEO of Antler, said, “As one of the world’s leading early-stage AI investors, we see Dubai as a key hub for the next wave of AI-driven innovation, thanks to the emirate’s strategic focus on empowering founders. This partnership moves us from vision to execution, creating a structured path for exceptional entrepreneurs to build the future of the digital economy from the Dubai Entrepreneurs Hub.”
Applications for the residency program are now open to aspiring entrepreneurs from the UAE and around the world looking to build their ventures in Dubai.
About Dubai Entrepreneurs Hub
Launched in 2023, the Dubai Entrepreneurs Hub is a joint initiative by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy. It acts as a centralized platform in the emirate, connecting entrepreneurs with investors, corporations, and ecosystem enablers to support the growth of the next generation of startups in alignment with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
About Antler
Antler is a global early-stage venture capital firm that invests in the defining technology companies of tomorrow. The firm has offices across six continents and has invested in over 1,000 companies across a wide range of industries and technologies, with the goal of creating a world in which progress is driven by the world’s most exceptional people.
Source: Albayan
