District 2020’s Scale2Dubai opens applications to global entrepreneurship programme

District 2020 has announced the opening of submissions for its dedicated global entrepreneurship programme, Scale2Dubai.

Scale2Dubai will recruit startups and small enterprises, namely those in the Series A or Seed stage. It is requesting applications as an essential component of its ecosystem and gives startups and small companies the best opportunities for success through several unique perks that assist those admitted into the community with a soft landing in Dubai. The equity-free initiative will help between 80 and 100 of these businesses each year, with the first group to be chosen during the last weeks of Expo 2020 Dubai.

The programme will offer successful applicants two years of free workspace, business setup support and guidance needed to scale up while also providing access to funding, deal flow, networking opportunities and connections with big-name global players.

Evolving from the six-month mega event, District 2020 will be a global hub that attracts diverse stakeholders and organisations, facilitates cross-industry collaboration, and drives regulation that accelerates business and supports innovation will be an immediate benefit and accelerator of success for startup businesses. Among other things, this will be achieved through open regulations, incentives, international partnerships, and connecting industry leaders with policymakers to support their needs, enable agility, and advance growth.

Speaking ahead of District 2020’s Scale2Dubai applications opening, Tala Al Ansari, director, innovation ecosystem and Scale2Dubai, said – “Startups and small businesses from Scale2Dubai will have the opportunity to collaborate with large corporations, government entities, accelerators and, universities at District 2020. They will also have access to venture capitalists and funding entities to support their growth plans.

By early January 2022, shortlisted applications will be evaluated by 50 international judges who are technical experts from various fields. The first cohort will be announced before the end of the Expo, where 80-100 businesses across markets will move into their spaces by October 2022.