LinkedIn reveals UAE top startups list for 2021

Professional network LinkedIn has announced its 2021 LinkedIn Top Startups list, identifying the top 10 startups in the UAE.

In its inaugural year, the UAE’s list identifies the country’s emerging startups through a four pillar methodology that measures employment growth, engagement, job interest and talent attraction. It showcases startups that navigate consumer and business needs in the post-pandemic landscape.

The top 10 companies on the list are as follows:

1. CAFU
2. Kitopi
3. Inspire Integrated Services
4. Yellow Door Energy
5. Hello Chef
6. Swan
7. Pyypl
8. YAP
9. Sehteq
10. Swvl

Many startups are paving the way through the Great Reshuffle – a phrase coined by LinkedIn to signify the moment of unprecedented change where employers and employees are rethinking how and why we work. The startups are exploring new frontiers in technology, responding to consumers’ increasing demand for connection, and helping accelerate business growth and success. Almost all the companies are currently hiring and embracing the flexibility workers want now, a statement said.

Salma Altantawy, MENA news editor at LinkedIn said: “Startups are a natural place to look to for cutting edge innovation in how we are approaching the future of work, and LinkedIn’s Top Startups list is the place to find the startups you should be paying attention to.”

“UAE’s startups are innovative and robust, and they play a big role in shaping the country’s thriving SME ecosystem. Although we remain in a state of economic recovery, it’s important that we acknowledge the companies that have made an impact in their field amid global uncertainty, while continuing to be an employer of choice to their teams.”

Key trends 
● Convenience is key: Startups are offering easy-to-use apps that have redefined convenience in the country; CAFU will deliver fuel to your car at your convenience and Hello Chef delivers weekly recipes with the box of exact ingredients to your door.

● Money talks: Startups such as Pyypl, a digital alternative for a credit card, and YAP, a digital banking company that helps users manage money through mobile, is revolutionising money management for users. Sehteq, a low-cost digital health insurance company covers close to half a million consumers in the UAE.

● Innovation for a greener tomorrow: Through innovation and technology, small companies are able to make a big impact. Yellow Door Energy is paving the way in sustainable energy, as their solutions enable businesses to reduce energy costs, improve power reliability and lower carbon emissions. Another company providing sustainable solutions and reduced waste is Kitopi, a cloud kitchen platform that enables restaurants to open delivery-only locations by providing the necessary infrastructure and software.