The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) has successfully concluded its 2025 Dojo+ program, an intensive incubator for university students, with a final Pitch Competition held at the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park. The latest edition of the program incubated 34 startups from 14 universities, focusing on strategic sectors like edtech, sustainability, artificial intelligence, and manufacturing, in line with Sharjah’s vision for a knowledge-based economy.
Spotlight on the Winning Innovators
The competition awarded a total of AED 32,000 in grants to three winning teams, who also received the opportunity to join the Sharjah Startup Studio (S3) for further support. The winning projects showcased innovative solutions to real-world challenges:
- First Place: Suhoola, founded by Omar Mokhtar, which re-engineers the ablution (Wudu’) experience through ergonomic and hygienic units designed for public spaces.
- Second Place: Speak.ai, founded by Faris Nasser and Khaleel Zamqan, a multilingual voice automation platform that uses AI and business analytics to enhance customer support and drive sales.
- Third Place: FoodSwap, founded by Lamis Abualkheir, which leverages AI to create personalized dining experiences by matching users with restaurants and meals tailored to their specific tastes.
Additionally, the Public Favorite Award was presented to Twe, an all-in-one platform founded by Osama Damati, Deemah Abdelkader, and Umair Ahmed, designed to connect students with universities, scholarships, and internship opportunities.
An Intensive Pathway to Entrepreneurship
The Dojo+ program is an 8-week incubation journey designed to transform promising student ideas into scalable businesses. It builds upon the foundational Startup Dojo program by providing participants with specialized workshops and one-on-one mentorship. The curriculum covers essential topics such as intellectual property rights, funding strategies, marketing fundamentals, prototyping, and designing an investor-ready pitch. Throughout the program, founders benefit from the guidance of an extensive network of international experts who help them navigate challenges in product development, financial planning, and market readiness.
Fostering Sharjah’s Knowledge-Based Economy
The success of the Dojo+ program underscores Sheraa’s commitment to cultivating a new generation of entrepreneurs who can contribute to Sharjah’s strategic priorities. Abeer AlAmeeri, Director of Ecosystem Development at Sheraa, stated, “Dojo+ is a strategic platform that empowers young entrepreneurs to transform innovative ideas into scalable and sustainable ventures. By offering an integrated environment of training, mentorship, and market access, the program equips participants with the skills, resources, and confidence needed to compete at the highest levels.” This initiative reaffirms Sheraa’s pivotal role in nurturing university-based startups and strengthening Sharjah’s position as a leading regional hub for innovation.
About Sheraa
The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) is a government-supported entity dedicated to building a vibrant startup ecosystem in Sharjah. It provides a launchpad for aspiring and established entrepreneurs by offering a range of programs, mentorship, and access to a network of investors and partners. Sheraa supports founders from the idea stage through to scaling, fostering innovation and contributing to the economic development of the UAE.
Source: Zawya
