Ten start-ups qualify for Dubai 'Islamic lifestyle mini bootcamp'

Ten start-ups have made the cut for the first 'Islamic Lifestyle Mini Bootcamp' that will run from 12th - 16th November at the Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Centre, Dtec, the largest technology incubator in the Middle East, located within Dubai Silicon Oasis, DSO, the integrated hi-tech park.

As part of the five-day bootcamp, international trainers and serial entrepreneurs will mentor the selected start-ups on the main pillars of accelerating a business. Alongside interactive and hands-on training sessions, the programme will feature a segment titled 'Introduction to Start-Up and Business Model Design', as well as dedicated workshops on customer development, growth hacking, and fundraising among others.

The ten selected start-ups come from different parts of the world including the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and operate within various sectors such as media, design, toys, hardware, travel, education, health, food, entertainment, art, and fashion.

Organisers of the mini bootcamp, including Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre, DIEDC, Dubai Culture and Rainmaking Innovation conducted the review of submissions and selection of finalists.

Abdulla Mohammed Al Awar, CEO of DIEDC said that the centre strongly supports Dubai’s vision to hone the talent and creativity of our youth and encourage entrepreneurship as part of its priority to emerge as the global capital of Islamic economy. "Given this mandate, we are committed to contributing to the incubation of diverse innovative initiatives that enrich the culture of Islamic economy."

"The success of the Islamic Lifestyle Mini Bootcamp and the selected start-ups will serve as a guide for us to step up our efforts in supporting sectors such as art, culture, architecture, trade, fashion and tourism that are making rapid strides and hold the potential to exert tremendous influence on Muslims and non-Muslims alike," he added.

Bader Buhannad, Executive Vice President of Strategy, Business Services and Risk Management at DSOA, said, "At DSOA, we prioritise innovation as a core component of all our initiatives in line with the vision of the UAE leadership to position the UAE as a global leader in spearheading innovation. The first-of-its-kind Islamic lifestyle mini bootcamp reiterates our commitment to supporting aspiring entrepreneurs in the lifestyle and cultural domains.

"We look forward to welcoming the ten selected start-ups to learn the intricacies of expanding their businesses first-hand from established founders. We are delighted to witness the increasing interest of international, regional, and local entrepreneurs to venture into the Islamic lifestyle sector that presents multiple opportunities across a wide range of sub-sectors."

The Islamic Lifestyle Mini Bootcamp appeals to all start-ups in the Islamic arts and culture, architecture and design, as well as family-friendly and halal tourism, among other domains.