The UAE-based AI talent intelligence platform Professional.me has been selected to join the 11th cohort of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF) Accelerator. As an initiative of the UAE Ministry of Finance, the MBRIF program identifies high-potential startups solving critical regional challenges. Professional.me was chosen from hundreds of applicants as one of only 21 companies for the 2026 intake, signaling strong government backing for its mission to dismantle traditional, keyword-based recruitment barriers and replace them with context-aware agentic AI.
Redefining Talent Intelligence with Agentic AI
Professional.me is positioning itself as the “Google Maps of Talent Management,” moving beyond the limitations of static resumes and job descriptions. The platform utilizes proprietary “micro-LLMs” (Large Language Models) trained on specific industry contexts and organizational dynamics. By creating a shared language between employers and candidates, the system captures nuances such as specific capabilities, potential, and career pivots that traditional applicant tracking systems (ATS) often penalize.
The platform’s technology is designed to support the entire talent lifecycle. Beyond initial hiring, Professional.me provides tools for internal mobility, upskilling, and career path planning. This holistic approach helps organizations retain their workforce by identifying how individuals can thrive in different roles based on actual capability rather than just historical job titles.
Strategic Momentum and Regional Recognition
The selection for the MBRIF Accelerator follows a period of significant growth and accolades for the Abu Dhabi-headquartered firm. In August 2025, Professional.me secured $3.1 million in seed funding led by Raha Beach Ventures to scale its engineering efforts and expand platform access across the EMEA region. The startup also gained international attention as the only UAE-based winner at the 2025 Gitex Europe Award during the AI Everything Global competition.
By joining the MBRIF ecosystem, Professional.me gains access to a specialized support framework that includes world-class mentorship, investor networks, and strategic training. The accelerator’s non-equity model allows the startup to scale while maintaining its independence, leveraging the UAE’s federal infrastructure to transition from a high-growth startup to a regional industry standard in HR tech.
Addressing Global Hiring Inequities
The platform’s focus on “fairer evaluation” is a direct response to the “black box” nature of modern hiring. Founders emphasize that the current recruitment landscape is “broken at the data layer,” where international backgrounds or non-linear career paths are often invisible to automated tools. By layering structured, AI-enriched datasets over candidate profiles, Professional.me aims to surface global talent that has been historically overlooked, providing job seekers with “AI advocates” that represent their true potential to prospective employers.
About Professional.me
Professional.me is an agentic-AI powered talent management platform that replaces traditional resumes with interactive, data-rich profiles. Founded in 2024 and headquartered in the UAE, the company uses micro-LLMs to provide structured talent intelligence for organizations and professionals. The platform’s suite of tools handles everything from AI-powered sourcing to internal mobility, enabling faster and more inclusive hiring decisions. Professional.me is a previous winner of the Greater Good Awards for Employment and holds the 2025 Gitex Europe Award for AI excellence.
Source: Professional.me
