#startup

zepto india's unicorn for 2023

Zepto is first Indian unicorn for 2023, valued at $1.4bn

The platform which promises to deliver groceries in under 10-minutes was founded in 2021 by two 19-year-olds

8 great books to inspire ceos of a startup Getty Images

Startup reading list: 8 inspiring books for entrepreneurs

Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned business leader, these reads will equip you with the tools and wisdom to navigate the exciting world of startups

Top startups

GCC: Top startups to watch in 2023

We shine the spotlight on some of the region’s most prominent startups

UAE Ministry of Economy, Huawei Cloud launch startup programme

The programme will provide up to $150,000 in vouchers and access to Huawei Cloud ecosystem resources for eligible businesses

Vivium Holding

Vivium Holding, MEVP partner to fuel tech startup growth

The partnership comes as MEVP launches its fourth flagship MENA VC fund with a target size of $150m

Tabby

Dubai buy now, pay later firm Tabby raises debt to $350m

The financing round for Tabby was led by US-based Partners for Growth, Atalaya Capital Management and CoVenture

Lumina’s role is to support UK companies

Flat6Labs Ignite programme spurs growth, backs 38 startups with $10.2m

The programme hosts an intake cycle every six months and has thus far completed four cohorts with the fifth cohort to be announced shortly

startup

The untold truth about startup failures: What most entrepreneurs don’t know

Some of the most obvious hurdles are cash flow issues, a lack of research and ineffective marketing

Purvi Munot Sav CEO

Homegrown startup Sav raises $750,000 in pre-seed round

The savings platform is part of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund’s (MBRIF) Innovation Accelerator programme

Burger Index

Food tech startup Burger Index raises $1.3m seed funding to expand into GCC

The funding round was led by Flat6Labs, MENA region’s seed and early-stage venture capital firm

Hub71

Abu Dhabi launches ‘Hub71+ Digital Assets’ to accelerate growth of Web3 startups

The new ecosystem will benefit from the regulated environment of Abu Dhabi Global Market

Alibaba

Alibaba, PIF-backed fund to raise $1bn for tech deals

The fund has already invested in 16 companies and plans to list three of them on the Saudi stock exchange and two in the US next year

Sharjah

Sharjah Media City unveils new company to launch media, technology startups

The company will serve as an integrated platform that brings together media talents, entrepreneurs and experts to establish media projects supported by advanced technology

Etisalat

Etisalat by e& partners with ADGM to digitally enable startups and businesses

The proposition is an all-in-one solution designed to ensure complete business mobility by equipping each employee to work remotely or in a hybrid work environment

Hub71

Hub71, Yahsat partner to advance UAE’s mobile satellite capabilities

Hub71 startup, Mental VR, secures first contract resulting from new partnership to support Yahsat with remote learning

Latin America’s biggest startup Kavak expands footprint into Middle East

The Mexico City-based company is branching into the UAE and Oman

UAE based start-up Nadeera receives $100,000 grant from PepsiCo to scale circular economy solution

UAE startup Nadeera receives $100,000 grant from PepsiCo to scale circular economy solution

Nadeera, the winner of PepsiCo’s MENA Greenhouse Accelerator Program, was selected from a pool of 10 regional startups shortlisted earlier this year

Unicorn

Procurement: The key to unlocking unicorn status

Procurement allows startups to understand the challenges and steps needed to scale up a business to become the next unicorn

Lovely Human NFTs

Hub71 startup GLEAC introduces utility NFT ‘Lovely Humans’

Starting October 15, users can bid on a Lovely Human NFT for a chance to be a part of a community of leaders and game changers

in5

Business incubator in5 to showcase seven Dubai-based startups at Gitex Global

The startups include businesses advancing cloud-based workflow automation, consumer electronic subscriptions, media streaming and targeting services

The cloud's George Karam and Kamil Rogalinski

Cloud kitchen platform The Cloud raises $10m in latest funding round

The funding round was led by Middle East Venture Partners and Olayan Financing Company with participation from Rua Growth Fund

Hub71 startups

Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 accepts second cohort of tech startups

The second cohort includes 16 startups that have collectively raised more than $67m in funding

World of Farming

UAE venture builder hatch & boost launches agritech startup World of Farming

World of Farming is introducing a first-of-its-kind hydroponic fodder farming methodology for the meat and dairy industry to the Middle East market

Produze receives $2m in seed funding

Farm-to-retailer platform Produze receives $2.6m in seed funding

Produze aims to serve multiple agri produce categories across countries in the Middle East, North America and Europe

Deel

UAE partners with startup Deel to expedite foreign worker visas

San Francisco-based Deel was last valued at $5.5bn in October and has received backing from investors including Coatue and and Altimeter Capital

Flat6Labs

ADQ’s venture platform, Flat6Labs reveal startups under Ignite programme’s new cycle

The cohort includes seven UAE-born startups and three international companies that will now establish significant business operations in Abu Dhabi

Hub71 AIQ

Abu Dhabi’s Hub71, AIQ partner to accelerate AI-driven transformation of the energy industry

The collaboration will see both companies accelerate the development of digital technologies to unlock greater value from oil and gas operations

Giving up meat? A vegetarian-only food app launches in Dubai

Yalla Veggie offers a selection of green restaurants, supermarkets, organic stores, bakeries and ethical startups

Texub

Dubai-based startup Texub launches a B2B marketplace

The platform supports smaller vendors in establishing themselves in global markets and handling their end-to-end business requirements

Plumm’s Asim Amin shares why a healthier and happier employee is a huge asset to every workplace

The founder and CEO of the mental wellbeing platform says organisations must provide a holistic support system to ensure employee wellbeing