The International Free Zone Authority (IFZA), a leading free zone for business establishment and growth support, has announced the graduation of 14 international startups specializing in artificial intelligence and sustainability through its “Scale 360” program.
After a thorough selection process, the program chose these 14 startups from a total of 136 global applications representing 11 countries. The selected companies presented pitches to investors, corporate representatives, and executives, showcasing innovative solutions in areas such as AI, retail analytics, identity verification, climate and energy platforms, and sustainability technologies. The participating startups engaged in 33 interactions with major companies and government entities in the UAE, conducted 49 meetings with investors involving 11 investment firms, and benefited from over 50 hours of structured mentoring focused on sales, business development, technical strategy, legal aspects, and funding rounds.
Removing Barriers
Jochen Knecht, CEO of IFZA, stated that the “Scale 360” program aims to remove barriers to enable companies to grow from Dubai to the region. This practical support is a crucial part of the UAE’s innovation agenda, and we will continue to invest in the infrastructure and relationships necessary for founders to succeed and thrive here.
Shinade O’Keefe, the manager of the “Scale 360” program, noted that our startups have demonstrated that Dubai is the ideal hub for global AI and sustainability firms to build their operations, forge partnerships, expand rapidly, and the impact has been immediate, starting from launching pilot projects to engaging investors and relocating teams to the UAE.
The program is gaining significant commercial momentum, with eight startups moving forward with licensing and establishing their businesses in the UAE, while two companies are relocating their global headquarters to Dubai.
Additionally, IFZA has launched three pilot projects in collaboration with companies in the fields of AI and sustainability, reflecting the swift adoption and application of solutions in the market.