Get All Access for $5/mo

DIFC Innovation Hub Launches The Ninth Edition Of Its Fintech Accelerator Program DIFC Innovation Hub is the region's leading innovation ecosystem with 686 innovation and tech firms.

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

DIFC

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), an onshore financial hub for the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, has announced the launch of the ninth edition of the DIFC Innovation Hub's FinTech Accelerator Program, which will focus on increasing financial literacy through the use of emerging technologies.

As an initiative that aims to support innovative and revolutionary fintech-focused startups and scaleups, this particular edition of the program will concentrate on areas such as open banking, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation in an effort to enhance financial literacy.

The ninth edition of the FinTech Accelerator Program will commence with an in-person bootcamp at DIFC Innovation Hub -a DIFC sub-entity that offers a growth and innovation ecosystem for tech startups- that will have workshops led by industry experts. These workshops will provide insight into local laws and regulations, as well as upcoming market shifts, technology trends, recruitment strategies, and funding avenues.

With 20 startups expected to join this year, each of the participants will also be able to gain access to leading banks and insurance companies in the region. Furthermore, the startup founders will be able to avail plenty of investor networking opportunities to help bring their business ideas to market.

Mohammad Alblooshi, CEO of DIFC Innovation Hub. Image Credit: DIFC

"The FinTech Accelerator Program is not just about promoting innovation; it is about boldly shaping the future of finance with tangible outcomes, in collaboration with the startup community in Dubai," said Mohammad Alblooshi, CEO of DIFC Innovation Hub. "We recognize the tremendous impact startups that are hungry for transformative change have on our financial ecosystem and the wider economy, and we look forward to welcoming the next cohort of entrepreneurs to the DIFC Innovation Hub."

To date, around 3,000 entrepreneurs have entered the DIFC FinTech Accelerator Program. This year's key partners include high profile companies such as Emirates NBD, Emirates Post Group (EPG), Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC), HSBC, Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB), Visa, and Zurich.

Fintech-focused startups can apply to the DIFC FinTech Accelerator Program here.

Related: Focused On The Future: Mohammed Alblooshi, Head Of DIFC Innovation Hub And FinTech Hive

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Finance

EFG Hermes Completes Advisory on Talabat's USD$2 Billion IPO and LuLu Retail's USD$ 1.7 Billion IPO

The IPOs of Talabat and LuLu Retail bring EFG Hermes' total GCC IPO count to nine this year, including three IPOs on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and two on the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX).

Growing a Business

How to Keep Eyes on Your Business Even When Google's Algorithm Changes, According to a Marketing Expert

If you're only optimizing for Google, you're missing where your audience is spending their time.

Thought Leaders

Meet 16 Teen Founders Who Are Building Big Businesses -- and Making Big Money

Today's youth is already hard at work, building everything from delivery apps to robotic kits to sustainable fashion brands.

Technology

Empowering Enterprises: Jayesh Patel, CEO, WIO Bank

The region's first platform bank Wio Bank contributes to the UAE positioning itself as a pivotal digital economy hub both regionally and globally.

Entrepreneurs

Lucia Clinic Founder Dr. Radmila Lukian On How She Built One Of Dubai's Foremost Cosmetic Medicine Centers

"As a dermatologist, I discovered my talent for aesthetic medicine very early on, since my results were outstanding from day one."