The MBRIF Innovation Accelerator – established in 2018 – is a program designed to serve as a driving force for innovation in the UAE. Aligning with the key sectors outlined in the UAE’s National Innovation Strategy, the Accelerator empowers innovators to maximize their potential and make a meaningful impact on their industries.

Entities selected to join the MBRIF Innovation Accelerator will benefit from a comprehensive support program – including cutting-edge resources, expert coaching, mentorship, and access to investment opportunities and valuable networks – that will help them enhance their capabilities, enable scalability, and achieve their growth ambitions.

Since its launch, the Accelerator has played a pivotal role in advancing a diverse array of innovative start-ups from a range of countries across the globe, empowering them to demonstrate their potential as disruptors and catalysts for economic progress.

Fatima Yousif Alnaqbi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services Sector at the UAE Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry’s representative at the MBRIF, said of the latest selection: “We were immensely proud that once again, our Innovator Accelerator attracted interest from such an exceptionally innovative pool of applicants, each showcasing remarkable potential to create impact within their industries and on the wider economy. The strong global interest in our program reaffirms its role as a catalyst for innovation, enabling visionary startups to thrive and scale. This underscores our dedication to fostering a culture of innovation and supporting the UAE’s journey toward achieving the ambitious goals outlined in its National Innovation Strategy.”

Eligibility for selection to join the MBRIF Innovation Accelerator is based on a number of stringent, carefully identified criteria, with innovators undergoing thorough assessment before final decisions are made.

Cohort 9 comprises 19 start-ups representing 9 countries and a wide range of diverse sectors. Developmental stages of the companies range from prototype to growth and scale-up, highlighting the breadth of support available via the program.

Start-ups joining Cohort 9 of the Innovator Accelerator are:

• BIRD Collaborative: Premium Sustainable Disposables
• The Waste Lab: Comprehensive solution for sustainable food waste management
• Seramic Materials: Pioneering in Recycled Ceramics
• Metguard: A Revolution in Corrosion Prevention
• Rebound: Enabling Materials Circulatory
• NXW: Leading a new Nutrition Category
• AC3D: Patented 3D Printing Construction Automation Technology
• Aura: Innovative Credit Solutions to SMEs
• Smart Eye: Innovative solutions for efficient energy and water management
• Marses: End to End Robotics Solutions
• Darbco: Robotic Solar Panel Cleaning Solution
• Mantas: Tailored Cloud-Downtime Insurance Platform
• Smart Bricks: AI Driven Real Estate Marketplace
• Procure Hub: Remodelling the Procurement of Construction
• SURGiA: The Medical Supplies Hub
• NeuroBLAST: Portable rehabilitation solution that uses interactive video games to help treat neurodegenerative disorders
• Space.TYAR: Leveraging generative AI for unified knowledge and learning creation
• Peekapak: An Integrated Approach to Well-Being Education
• Krucial: Capturing Data at Anytime and from Anywhere

With eight successful cohorts to date, the Innovation Accelerator remains a solid cornerstone of the UAE’s innovation ecosystem, reflecting MBRIF’s dedication to helping drive the growth of disruptive enterprises and contributing to the country’s economic diversification and solidifying its position as a global hub for innovation.

For more information about Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund, please visit https://mbrif.ae.

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MBRIF members will benefit from a comprehensive Business Bundle as part of the collaboration. This includes streamlined onboarding, a six-month free subscription to Wio Business, and quarterly networking sessions to explore innovative banking solutions. Wio Business, the bank’s flagship digital banking application, offers features tailored to businesses of all sizes, enabling them to manage their finances more efficiently. The suite of lending solutions available to MBRIF members will provide the financial support they need to establish themselves in the market and scale up. This suite comprises supply chain finance solutions, channel finance and receivables financing solutions, a revolving overdraft facility with flexible drawdown options, and a unique credit card tailored towards SMEs with several value-adding features.

Members can also access a workshop focusing on banking solutions for start-ups and SMEs.

Fatima Yousif Alnaqbi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services Sector, Chief Innovation Officer at the UAE Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry’s representative at the MBRIF, said: “This MoU with Wio Bank underlines with MBRIFs commitment to innovation and digital transformation. Empowering our members to succeed and achieve their growth ambitions is one of our key priorities, and such collaborations provide practical solutions to help them scale their enterprises efficiently and seamlessly. This aligns with MBRIF’s vision to support the UAE’s accelerating innovation ecosystem, enabling innovators to excel and achieve their growth potential both in the country and internationally, through tailored services and connections that meet their needs.”

Prateek Vahie, Chief Commercial Officer at Wio Bank PJSC, said: “This partnership reflects Wio Bank’s mission to empower SMEs and start-ups with next-generation banking solutions that drive growth and innovation. By partnering with MBRIF, we’re bringing financial tools and resources to a community that is shaping the UAE’s future economy. Our goal is to simplify and support the entrepreneurial journey, enabling innovators to focus on building impactful ventures while contributing to the UAE’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

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The workshop provided attendees with actionable insights and practical strategies to secure funding and scale their businesses. The event featured a panel discussion titled ‘Bridging the Funding and Investment Gap’ with the participation of expert speakers from the Mohammed bin Rashid Innovation Fund, Oraseya Capital, and Monet Capital. The speakers shared their perspectives on investment criteria, leveraging government funds, and essential steps startups can take to attract investment.

The workshop also featured a presentation from Ziina, a digital payments solutions provider that has successfully secured funding, which offered valuable insights to aspiring entrepreneurs. With focused group discussions and interactive sessions, the event enabled participants to connect with industry experts and fellow entrepreneurs to share experiences and exchange ideas.

The Digital Advocacy Workshop came as part of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy’s ongoing efforts to address key challenges faced by the digital startup ecosystem. By providing impactful platforms for dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, the chamber aims to empower startups to increase their contribution to the growth of Dubai’s digital economy.

Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy plays a key role in strengthening Dubai’s position as the global capital of the digital economy. The chamber is committed to unlocking the full potential of the digital sector and driving Dubai towards its ambitious future as a leading global hub for technology and innovation, in line with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).

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MBRIF, in collaboration with EBRD hosted a comprehensive schedule of activities at the event to enable attendees to connect with both entities, explore their programs and gain knowledge and information on a variety of topics. The activities also offered the opportunity to meet some of the region’s most talented innovators and take part in a series of insightful sessions related to innovation and entrepreneurship.

Fatima Al Naqbi, Chief Innovation Officer at the Ministry of Finance and MBRIF representative, said: “Expand North Star is a unique platform in the region, shaping the future of the digital economy by championing entrepreneurship in the UAE and advancing discussions on the evolution of the innovation landscape. We are always keen to support events and initiatives that contribute to strengthening the UAE’s position as a global center of excellence in innovation, and to engage with our industry peers from the UAE, the region and beyond in our common vision of leveraging technology to propel economic development and expansion.”

The event program put together by MBRIF and EBRD featured panel discussions with industry experts on the opportunities available to innovative start-ups in sectors such as health, tech and space, as well as on expansion into the UAE market and exploration of the collaborative innovation ecosystem in the UAE. Other topics included empowering women in entrepreneurship and future sustainability trends. Alongside the panel discussions, MBRIF and EBRD held info sessions on alternative funding sources and legal considerations for start-ups in the UAE, as well as an introduction to EBRD’s Star Venture program.

MBRIF offers innovators support through its two flagship programs; the MBRIF Innovation Accelerator and the Guarantee Scheme. Whilst EBRD’s Star Venture program targets promising start-ups through accelerators and consultants to help them achieve their full potential.

Zsuzsanna Hargitai, Managing Director, SME Finance & Development at the EBRD, said: “At the EBRD, we are committed to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship that drives sustainable economic growth. Our Star Venture programme plays a pivotal role in empowering high-potential startups with tailored support, mentorship, and market access to help them scale and transform industries. The collaboration with the MBRIF at Expand North Star 2024 further amplifies our shared vision of fostering dynamic innovation ecosystems. It inspires Star Venture companies to seize new opportunities, and I’m thrilled to see that over 35 of our startups are present this week to explore the UAE’s vibrant entrepreneurial landscape.”

Under the pavilion of the MBRIF at Expand North Star, an impressive lineup of innovative companies showcased their cutting-edge solutions across various industries. These included Hoopla, an app for mental wellness; CrossVal, a fintech system for GCC companies; Reme-D, a medical technology innovator; BigDot, an AI-driven business optimization platform; Duverse, a smart city and urban tech provider; Nadeera Technologies LTD and Oxytech.io, both leaders in environmental technology; Sulmi, an AI-powered business solutions platform; jalebi.io, a business automation tool; and Verofax, offering blockchain-based supply chain solutions. Together, they represented the forefront of innovation, contributing to the UAE’s rapidly evolving digital economy.

Moreover, more than 35 innovative companies from EBRD’s Star Venture programme showcased their solutions, including Investbanq (Kazakhstan), which expanded into the UAE in 2024, securing its first client by offering AI-driven WealthTech solutions for asset managers and banks. Similarly, BANTgo (Estonia), operating within the UAE’s ecosystem, launched its waste management platform in 2024 with pilot projects supported by local partners like Cartlow and Verofax, furthering its impact in responsible waste management using AI and blockchain.

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Innovators selected to join the latest cohort of the program can look forward to a comprehensive support package including state-of-the-art resources and expert coaching and mentorship, with the aim of increasing their capabilities, scaling up their businesses and accelerating growth. Beyond support, the program also provides cohort members access to potential investment and a host of valuable connections, including established entrepreneurs across the region, opening doors to networking and offering the opportunity to form strategic alliances.

Fatima Yousif Alnaqbi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services Sector, Chief Innovation Officer at the UAE Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry’s representative at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund, said of the latest cohort application opening: “The consistent influx of hundreds of applications from across the globe is a source of great pride, highlighting the intense interest in our initiative and the many benefits it offers both entrepreneurs and our innovation ecosystem. Once again, we are excited to explore ideas and innovations that we believe have the potential to create a profound impact on industries and drive our economy forward.”

Al Naqbi concluded: “The Innovation Accelerator is testament to our solid commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration as part of a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in the UAE, in line with our support for the UAE’s National Strategy for Advanced Innovation, and we look forward to welcoming yet more of the brightest talents to our program.”

Entities welcomed to join Cohort 9 will join the ranks of more than 150 diverse businesses from 28 countries that have already benefited from the many valuable facets of the IA program. Notable success stories from the Innovation Accelerator include Fortyguard, a cleantech platform pioneering urban temperature intelligence which exhibited at the GTC 2024 alongside NVIDIA and their ecosystem partners; Verofax, a platform for asset tracking management and sustainable lifecycle tracing and Appro, recently named Best Fintech at the Fintech World Cup, Dubai Fintech Summit.

The application window to join the Innovator Accelerator Cohort 9 is now open and applications can be made online via https://mbrif.cognistreamer.com/

For more information about Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund please visit https://mbrif.ae.

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The program has been instrumental in helping drive growth and development for a diverse range of innovative companies across the globe, enabling them to showcase their potential as disruptors and drivers of economic growth.

Fatima Yousif Alnaqbi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services Sector, Chief Innovation Officer at the UAE Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry’s representative at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund, said of the latest selection: “Once again, we were delighted to select from such an innovative pool of applicants, each demonstrating tremendous potential to shape our future. The fact that we continue to attract applications from the brightest talents around the world – and, indeed, enable success for so many entrepreneurs – is testament to our efforts to drive innovation and development, with the aim of helping achieve the goals of the UAE’s National Strategy for Advanced Innovation.”

Innovators chosen to join Cohort 8 were meticulously selected from a broad pool of applicants, with eligibility for selection based on a number of carefully identified criteria. A pool of over 200 companies from 35 countries was whittled down to 20 successful applicants, representing a range of diverse sectors. Developmental stages range from prototype to growth and scale-up, highlighting the breadth of support available via the program.

Startups joining Cohort 8 of the Innovator Accelerator include:

• TheraCann: Fogponics urban indoor vertical farming solution
• Green and Seed: Bio-degradable film & drip irrigation solution for rice & wheat cultivation
• Manhat: Sustainable water and floating farm solution
• Nadeera: Rewarding platform for communities recycling management
• Circa Biotech: Pioneering sustainability with insect farming
• Greenfi: AI enabled ESG due-diligence solution for sustainable financing
• Jalebi: Unlocking restaurant value through data
• Aqlama: High quality data collection for AI development
• CrossVal: The future of financial modelling
• Duverse: Enhancing performance by utilizing AI and metaverse
• BigDot: Decentralized digital commerce network for MSMEs
• Equevu: Pioneering workplace savings plans
• Pulsar.ml: Redefining AI governance with ML innovation
• Madari Space: Redefining data management
• Basetrack: Efficient and sustainable autonomous trucking solutions
• Sulmi: 1st UAE designed and manufactured electric motorbike
• SpaceLab: Innovative IoT infrastructure and satellite data transmission
• Reme-D: Patented diagnostics made in the MEA for the MEA
• Hoopla: Mental wellness app for children and parents
• OxyTech: AI for X-rays complex analysis

The Innovation Accelerator continues to act as a key part of the innovation ecosystem in the UAE, underscoring MBRIF’s commitment to championing the growth of disruptive enterprises with the aim of helping drive economic diversification and sustainable development in the country.

For more information about Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund, please visit https://mbrif.ae.

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Commenting on this announcement, Fatima Al Naqbi, Chief Innovation Officer at the Ministry of Finance and MBRIF representative, expressed, ” As MBRIF launches Cohort 8, we renew our commitment to fostering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. The IA program stands as a testament to our dedication in providing tailored resources, expert mentorship, meaningful connections, and access to investors. By nurturing local talent and attracting global innovators, we aim not only to shape the future of the national economy but to position the UAE as a beacon for entrepreneurship, driving sustained growth and innovation in the region.”

Beyond comprehensive assistance, the IA program provides cohort members with an exclusive avenue to connect with potential investors, industry experts, and accomplished entrepreneurs in the region. This opens doors to valuable perspectives, broader networking opportunities, and the establishment of strategic alliances.

Al Naqbi added, “The MBRIF IA program consistently draws hundreds of applications annually, underlining the increasing interest in our initiative. Recently, we introduced Cohort 7, selecting 22 new members from a pool of over 230 applicants from 41 countries. This represents a significant milestone in our mission to further solidify MBRIF as a beacon for innovation on the international stage.”

The opening of the Cohort 8 application window allows innovators and entrepreneurs from across the globe to join the ranks of more than 130 innovative businesses from 24 countries that have taken part in the IA program. Several success stories have emerged from the program alumni, including Verofax, a platform for asset tracking management and sustainable lifecycle tracing which was featured on the famous Beban platform; Desolenator, developer of innovative solar thermal desalination technology which was crowned the official champion of the SuperNova challenge at GITEX North Star, and Sarwa, one of the prominent online independent financial advisors in the UAE.

Over the years, the MBRIF IA program has played a pivotal role in shaping the success of its members and facilitating access to the UAE market. By assisting members throughout the value chain and providing insights from the industry ecosystem, the program has proven instrumental in leveraging the demand of the local and regional business landscape.

For more information and to apply for Cohort 8 of the MBRIF Accelerator program, please visit https://mbrif.cognistreamer.com/

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Aligned with the National Innovation Strategy, The IA program focuses on innovation and cooperation and provides world-class services and training to founders to accelerate their business, raise capabilities and expertise, boost standards, and create added value. MBRIF will mentor aspiring innovators and entrepreneurs from priority sectors: technology, health, education, transportation, renewable energy, water and space.

Commenting on the announcement, Fatima Al Naqbi, Chief Innovation Officer at the Ministry of Finance and MBRIF representative, said: “MBRIF aims to empower innovative businesses by providing access to the tailored resources, expert mentorship, meaningful connections and affordable funding they need at every stage of their growth, from start-up to scale-up, in order to achieve sustainable growth and impact. Our IA program has supported some of the most innovative companies globally in accelerating their growth trajectories. With the opening of applications for our new cohort, we look forward to welcoming the next generation of entrepreneurs to our network.”

The program also offers a unique opportunity for cohort members to network with key players, potential investors, market experts, and successful entrepreneurs in the region, enabling them to gain valuable insights, expand their reach, and create new partnerships.

“By fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, we are not only helping to shape the future of the national economy, but also attracting talent and investment to the UAE. Since the inception of this program in 2018, the IA program has brought together 112 members from 21 different countries in diverse sectors of the economy and has placed emphasis on nurturing and growing local entrepreneurs to augment the domestic innovation base.”

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Under the partnership, members of the MBRIF Innovation Accelerator programme will be granted discounted lease rates, license and processing fee waivers for the first year and access to all business activities in DSO, enabling them to engage with the largest network of SMEs and technology entrepreneurs from around the world in the region.

Commenting on the announcement, Fatima Al Naqbi, Chief Innovation Officer at Ministry of Finance and MBRIF representative, said “A flourishing entrepreneurial ecosystem can only be achieved when we empower innovation by providing the ideal space, resources, and opportunities for growth. At MBRIF, our aim is to support innovative businesses to grow and make a positive economic and social impact on the communities in the UAE through strategic partnerships and collaborations with public and private entities. Since our members have continuously exceeded expectations and repeatedly demonstrated the power of entrepreneurship in transforming lives, industries, and economies, our partnership with Dtec will provide our members with a stimulating environment where they can network and collaborate with entrepreneurs from around the world and find potential investors to scale-up their operations and continue their growth.”.

Ghanim Al Falasi, Senior Vice President of Technology and Entrepreneurship at DSO, said “Empowering entrepreneurs and emerging technology startups is crucial to the growth of the innovation-based digital economy. Dubai Silicon Oasis, as a hub for innovation and knowledge in the Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040, has been working since its inception to attract technology companies of various sizes, emerging, small, medium and large. This contributes to enhancing Dubai’s status as a global capital of technology and digitalization, supporting local talents and competencies and enabling owners of innovative and promising ideas. It also supports the objectives of the UAE’s Digital Economy Strategy to double the contribution of the digital economy to the UAE’s gross domestic product.”

Al Falasi added “This valuable cooperation between DSO and MBRIF extends the advanced capabilities of the Dubai Technology Entrepreneurship Campus (Dtec), the largest center of its kind for technology and co-working spaces in the Middle East, to entrepreneurs and innovators in the technology sectors. This solidifies Dubai’s status as a preferred destination to establish and grow businesses.”

The agreement also provides flexible terms for visa processing and activity lists where MBRIF members will not be restricted to the activity list at Dtec but instead have access to all business activities in DSO.

The partnership emphasizes the significance of joint efforts to provide technology startups with the opportunity to network and collaborate and contribute to UAE’s National Innovation Strategy and economic growth.

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The agreement is a result of increased demand for ProvenMed’s flagship product for people with urinary incontinence – the ActivGo– from distributors all over the world. The ActivGo kit, which includes wearable catheters, a unique integrated cleaning system, a portable bidet, and a sleek wearable urine bag, is currently selling in 7 countries, with 6 newly signed territories.

Souheil Guessoum, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at ProvenMed said: “The ActivGo kit has helped thousands of people with urinary incontinence resume an active lifestyle without the risk of infections. Now we’re looking to rapidly expand our manufacturing capacity so that we can meet the growing demand from our distributors in a timely manner.”

As part of the agreement, HubForward will also support ProvenMed with research & development capabilities in South Korea to accelerate the testing and commissioning of its upcoming MedTech products namely the Comffi , the first hybrid stress incontinence solution for women, the ActivFront for supporting front-liners and the ActivGo Smart the first AI-powered wearable for bladder health monitoring.

Furthermore, in line with the UAE’s desire to grow domestic manufacturing, ProvenMed is also looking to develop near-future local production capacity bringing together HubForward’s qualified manufacturing partners from South Korea with local UAE qualified partners.

Commenting on the announcement, Fatima Al Naqbi, Chief Innovation Officer at Ministry of Finance and MBRIF representative, said: “Transforming lives, industries, and economies is central to our purpose at MBRIF. With the success of ProvenMed, an alumni of the MBRIF Innovation Accelerator programme, we are further cementing our commitment to the healthcare sector as their products continue to gain global demand from distributors. The agreement between ProvenMed and HubForward also paves way for best practice transfer to local manufacturing, aligning with the UAE’s vision to localize the manufacturing of innovative products and transform the nation’s industrial sector into a global manufacturing hub.”

The ActivGo Smart is the world’s first AI-powered wearable for non-invasive bladder monitoring that is designed to detect and prevent kidney failure, strokes and dehydration conditions in an advanced stage, while the Comffi is designed for women, especially hospital in-patients, to manage the stress of incontinence comfortably and conveniently with total comfort and no fear of infections.

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