The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Growth (KFED) and Hub71 have signed a strategic settlement to launch the MZN Hub71 Programme, a brand new initiative designed to speed up Emirati entrepreneurship in Al Ain.
Signed throughout Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2025, the partnership goals to decentralise the emirate’s tech ecosystem, bringing Hub71’s world experience to the japanese area of Abu Dhabi. The initiative aligns with the emirate’s ‘Falcon Economic system’ imaginative and prescient, which prioritises financial diversification, sustainability, and innovation.
A launchpad for Al Ain’s entrepreneurs
The programme can be hosted on the newly established MZN Hub in Al Ain, a facility created by Khalifa Fund as a part of its AI-driven ecosystem technique. Every cohort will help 10 to fifteen Emirati startups, guiding founders by an intensive three-month journey to rework early-stage concepts into minimal viable merchandise (MVPs).
By combining Khalifa Fund’s long-standing expertise in nationwide enterprise improvement with Hub71’s confirmed monitor document in scaling tech startups, the collaboration creates a complete help system for founders.
Her Excellency Mouza Obaid Al Nasri, CEO of Khalifa Fund, commented: “At Khalifa Fund, we’re dedicated to empowering Emirati entrepreneurs, fostering innovation and offering programmes and initiatives that function real incubators for entrepreneurs. In keeping with this dedication, we’re happy to collaborate with Hub71 by this settlement to boost the capabilities of 15 Emirati startups in Al Ain by an intensive three-month coaching monitor.”
Structured for progress
The three-month programme is structured into three distinct phases designed to de-risk the startup journey:
- Academy Stage: Focuses on constructing important enterprise abilities by workshops and mentorship in monetary modelling, pricing, and go-to-market planning.
- Validation Stage: Helps founders develop a deeper understanding of their clients and markets whereas participating with company companions to discover actual enterprise alternatives.
- Prototyping Stage: Strengthens merchandise by tailor-made mentorship, helps UAE authorized incorporation, and refines progress methods for market entry.
The programme concludes with a Demo Day, the place startups will current their options to authorities leaders, traders, and private-sector stakeholders.
Increasing the ecosystem
Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, highlighted the significance of making new pathways for native expertise: “Our partnership with Khalifa Fund by the MZN Hub71 Programme displays this dedication by creating new pathways for Emiratis to rework their concepts into pioneering firms. By equipping them with mentorship, assets, and entry to markets, we’re enabling the subsequent technology of Emirati entrepreneurs to construct ventures that create financial worth and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s place as a number one heart for entrepreneurship.”
Purposes for the primary cohort are at the moment open to Emirati startup founders with modern concepts, with the programme scheduled to start in early 2026.
