The Creators Ventures Accelerator, a program organized by the UAE’s first content creator hub, Creators HQ, in partnership with global venture capital firm 500 Global, has attracted 1,131 applications from over 70 countries. The initiative, part of the upcoming 1 Billion Followers Summit, aims to identify and incubate promising startups led by content creators and those building enabling technologies for the creator economy.
Global Interest and Program Scope
The accelerator received significant interest from individual creators, business platforms, and emerging digital startups, with 609 applicants qualifying for the next phase. Content creators represented 347 of the qualified applications, hailing from countries including India, Egypt, the USA, the UK, and Syria. Additionally, 262 startups and business platforms applied, spanning diverse sectors such as Creator IP, AI solutions, monetization tools, media, gaming, and wellness. From this pool, 20 applicants will be chosen for the inaugural cohort.
Khadija Hussain, Executive Director of Government Communication at the UAE Government Media Office, stated, “We are pleased with the tremendous response to the Creators Ventures Accelerator program, which reflects the UAE’s growing stature as a global hub for purposeful content creation and innovation.”
Fostering the Next Generation of Creator-Led Businesses
The program is designed to equip participants with the skills and support needed to build sustainable businesses. Through mentorship, knowledge sharing, and access to networks, the accelerator aims to empower founders to develop leading companies in the rapidly growing creator economy. A specialized team of venture capitalists and digital media experts will assess projects based on innovation, impact, scalability, and investment potential while providing guidance throughout the program.
“The creator economy is a significant contributor to today’s global social and commercial outcomes, with the potential to drive real economic value and innovation,” said Mei Chel Tan, Managing Partner at 500 Global. “We’re thrilled to partner with CreatorsHQ in this initiative, through which we’re empowering content creators and creator technologies to build and scale meaningful businesses and solutions.”
Accelerator Structure and Investment Opportunity
Selected participants will undergo an intensive 10-week training program leveraging 500 Global’s company-building expertise. The initial cohort of 20 will present their ideas on-stage during the 1 Billion Followers Summit in January 2026. This group will be narrowed down to 10 semi-finalists, with three finalists ultimately being selected. The chosen projects will receive an investment opportunity and funding of up to AED 50 million from Creators HQ and its investment partners to scale their ventures.
About Creators HQ
Creators HQ is the first content creators hub in the UAE and the Middle East, launched under the Content Creators Support Fund. It provides a foundation for creators, innovators, and creative initiatives to thrive. Creators HQ is part of Visioneers, the UAE’s largest content management and development platform, which encompasses 21 companies and platforms, including the 1 Billion Followers Summit and the New Media Academy.
Source: Zawya
