Building the nation's entrepreneurial capacity

We enable local and global startups to scale in the UAE and beyond.
We empower corporate and government leaders to drive innovation within their organizations.

startAD programs equip global and regional startups from tech and non-tech industries with the tools, skills and frameworks to excel in the unique opportunity that the UAE market presents.

We co-create these impact-driven programs with government departments and corporate leaders to help further UAE’s transition into a knowledge-based economy.

Powered by our partner Tamkeen and anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi, startAD is a new model for entrepreneurship education and innovation.

35

Corporations Activated

200+

Emirati Entrepreneurs Advanced

428

Tech startups Accelerated

363+

Jobs Created

Meet the Team

Having successfully conceptualized and implemented over 150 local and global entrepreneurship programs in Abu Dhabi, the startAD team
comes with proven local expertise that is critical for program success

Designers and builders of startup ecosystems

Koel Banerjee

Marketing & Communications Manager

Hamda Alzaabi

Program Assistant

Aneesha Mamtora

Business Support Manager

Sabira Huda

Innovation Programs Lead

Nihal Shaikh

Associate Director

Hana Barakat

Senior Associate Director

Ramesh Jagannathan

Board Advisor

Dominique Chatfield

Innovation Programs Lead

Ashwin Joshi

Director

Fatima Alyafei

Program Coordinator

Rami Aljundi

Assistant Director - Innovation Programs

Mouza Aldhaheri

Program Coordinator

Qamar Rabah

Program Coordinator

Shaikha Almarzooqi

Marketing Coordinator

Learn more about startAD’s mission to further UAE’s global competitiveness, to contribute to capacity building for homegrown innovation and to strengthen entrepreneurship capabilities of universities, explore our brand deck.

View brand deck

6000+

Aspiring entrepreneurs benefited

970+

Investors engaged

90+

Pilot projects awarded

$290M+

Funding raised by startups

Meet the alumni startups of startAD programs

A vibrant community of global and regional entrepreneurs from diverse sectors of Web 3.0 to F&B retail, fintech to sustainable materials.

Meet our alumni

Our Partners

startAD partners with corporations and government departments to ensure that the goals of every stage of their innovation and digital transformation journey are met.

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startAD Spaces

startAD Central

An open, multifunctional, modular space that enables collaboration, fostering of communities and bringing together entrepreneurial serendipity.

Al Warsha

Al Warsha is a space for creativity and innovation. The lab is open for people of all skill levels to come in and use the tools and equipment to build their own projects and seek any support they may need.

Building the nation’s entrepreneurial capacity

We enable local and global startups to scale in the UAE and beyond.
We empower corporate and government leaders to drive innovation within their organizations.

35

200+

428

363+