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startAD Impact Report
Anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi and powered by its partner Tamkeen, startAD began its journey in September 2016 as a new model for entrepreneurship education and innovation for the region. startAD supports Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s goals of becoming a knowledge-based economy by equipping students, startups, and corporates with the necessary tools to build innovative new products that serve a global need, collaborate across organizations, and develop entrepreneurial capacity.
We are proud of our impact to date, directly contributing to the UAE economy through new business development, job creation, and homegrown innovation.
Download our impact report to see how much of a difference we’ve made!

Startups WaveX, Docswallet And uHONCHO Win At StartAD’s Fintech Venture Launchpad
Marking the end of a 10-day program that helped participating entrepreneurs develop skills around business model design, MVP development, team culture, and fundraising, startAD held a demo day of the Fintech Venture Launchpad at NYUAD on September 14
The rise of the angel investor in the UAE
The UAE and wider region, still don't have enough angels. "If you look at the US there are 400 of these angel groups and there are 300,000 angel investors. Over here there is of course VentureSouq, Wain, Womena – there are a few groups doing a really good job, but we need more of them.
VentureSouq And StartAD Create Investor Awareness With Angel Rising
Seeking to create awareness and share insights on topics relating to angel investing, the event brought together regional and global speakers in addition to private investors
VentureSouq and StartAD Host Angel Rising 2017 To Raise Investor Awareness
With study after study pointing to the importance of a well-developed seed and early-stage financial support for MENA entrepreneurs, the absence of a mature angel investor class in the region’s ecosystem is often raised as an issue.
Investors urged to back UAE business ecosystem
In partnership with the UAE Ministry of Economy, the 3rd Annual Angel Rising Investor Education Symposium organized by startAD and VentureSouq saw local and global experts come together to discuss Global vs. Local Investing Perspectives
UAE Exchange, NYU Abu Dhabi to empower Fintech startups
UAE Exchange and New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to advance Fintech (Financial Technology) innovation in UAE through startAD
Budding entrepreneurs face the judges in inaugural startAD programme at NYUAD
Venture Launchpad, which ran for two weeks in early January, saw 37 teams develop their business ideas under expert tutelage and at the end, battle it out for accolades and potential backing from startAD.
NYUAD Idea Lab rebrands to startAD
The name change is in sync with the launch of an entrepreneurial literacy program aimed at “building the capacity in the community and connecting outside of our bubble here”
NYUAD And Flat6Labs To Kick Off Startup Series 2016 In Abu Dhabi
New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) and Flat6Labs Abu Dhabi have come together to organize the newest edition of Startup Series, a four-month-long program comprising of panel discussions and group activities aimed at promoting a culture of entrepreneurship among its students as well as the community at large.
Are Angel Investors Born or Made?
VentureSouq Director, Tammer Qaddumi, writes about the current state of entrepreneurship and the future of angel investment in the MENA region in anticipation for the Angel Rising Investor Education Symposium.
Meet the angels watching over business start-ups to help them get off the ground
"Tammer Qaddumi, co-founder of the UAE-based angel investing group VentureSouq, adds, 'Anyone can be an angel investor. If you believe in an idea, business model, and most importantly, a team of people, then it could make sense to participate in that company.'
NYUAD Visiting Faculty Owen Davis, “Why Everyone Should Take a Course in Entrepreneurship “
Owen Davis, the Managing Director of NYC Seed, and the force behind NYUAD's Innovation & Entrepreneurship Engineering course talks to Entrepreneur Middle East about why he believes everyone should study entrepreneurship.