Get All Access for $5/mo

The Recap: The Demo Day Of The Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund Accelerator Program's Seventh Cohort 18 startups presented their ideas in front of a panel of regional investors, following which three startups emerged as the winners of the Demo Day.

You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

On May 1, 2024, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF) held the Demo Day of the seventh cohort of its Innovation Accelerator Program at the 25Hours hotel in Dubai. The event was held in collaboration with Bolt, Brinc, Emirates Development Bank (EDB), and Entrepreneur Middle East.

Shaker Zainal, Head of the MBRIF and Chief Business Officer at Emirates Development Bank. Source: Entrepreneur Middle East/Alexander Bungas

The event was kickstarted by a welcome address from Shaker Zainal, Head of the MBRIF and Chief Business Officer at EDB. This was followed by a fireside chat between HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, founder and CEO of KBW Ventures, and Aby Sam Thomas, Editor in Chief of Entrepreneur Middle East, which explored the current investment landscape from both a global and regional perspective.

A snapshot of the fireside chat between Prince Khaled and Aby Sam Thomas. Source: Entrepreneur Middle East/Alexander Bungas

18 startups from the MBRIF Innovation Accelerator Program's seventh cohort then presented their business ideas to a panel of judges comprising of KBW Ventures' Prince Khaled, H.E. Dr. Tariq Bin Hendi, Senior Partner, Global Ventures, Hala Ebrahim, Investment Director, Antler Middle East, and Tala Al Jabri, angel investor and board member, Middle East Venture Capital Association.

Hala Ebrahim, Investment Director, Antler Middle East. Source: Entrepreneur Middle East/Alexander Bungas

The startups that took part in the pitch competition included Knowledge Nexus AI, Appro, Arlan Biotech, BelowFarm, Detectiome, Egrobots, Faceki, Finanshels, HealthStay, Hekayati, Hulexo, InvoiceMate, MayaMD, MDBX Health, Oscar, Pulse Technologies, TranspRight, and Uktob.

At the end of the judges' deliberations, three prizes were awarded- Best Pitch, Best UAE Homegrown Business, and Most Impactful Business. The winners were declared as follows:

Best Pitch: MDBX Health

Sarah Miller, co-founder of MDBX Health, was presented the Best Pitch award by H.E. Dr. Tariq Bin Hendi, Senior Partner at Global Ventures. Source: Entrepreneur Middle East/Alexander Bungas

Best UAE Homegrown Business: HealthStay

Sean Conaty and Ruairi Tubrid, co-founders of HealthStay, were presented the Best UAE Homegrown Business award by HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, founder and CEO of KBW Ventures. Source: Entrepreneur Middle East/Alexander Bungas

Most Impactful Business: Detectiome

Arman Vali, co-founder, Detectiome, was presented the Most Impactful Business award by Tala Al Jabri, angel investor and Board Member, MEVCA. Source: Entrepreneur Middle East/Alexander Bungas

Launched in 2018, the MBRIF Accelerator aims to support innovators and entrepreneurs by offering key resources, connections, and services specifically designed to accelerate business growth to ensure their success. Check out the video for more highlights from the seventh cohort's Demo Day!

Related: Empowering The Next Generation Of Innovators: UAE Ministry Of Finance's Chief Innovation Officer Fatima Al Naqbi On The Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund

Starting a Business

Nearly 50% of America's Workforce Has a Secondary Source of Income or Side Hustle. Here Are 7 Steps You Should Take to Create Lasting Value for Yours.

Today's entrepreneurs have the opportunity to generate long-lasting supplementary income if they take these steps.

Technology

Dubai-Based Irish Startup P4ML Aims To Help Save The Lives Of Millions Of Newborn Babies

What if there was a way to detect potential rare diseases in a newborn by creating a "digital twin" of the baby at birth? That's pretty much what P4ML is attempting to do, with its offering aiming to help save the lives of millions of newborn babies.

Growth Strategies

Building Momentum: One Year Since the COP28 Concluded, Here's How the Event Has Impacted the UAE's Private Sector

Insights from L'Oréal Middle East, Accenture Middle East, Chalhoub Group, Radisson Hotel Group, Replate, E2D Food, and Fuelre4m.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Leadership

The Recap: Enterprise Agility Awards 2024

The awards gala was supported by in5, Fluidmeet, and Numai Real Estate.

Leadership

Gateway To Growth: Monty Group's Mountasser Hachem Is Tapping Into The Multi-Billion Dollar Fintech Industry With MontyPay

By launching digital payment gateway MontyPay aims to negate the obsolete nature of existing payment gateways with a one-stop-shop approach to its services.