• Ten startups demonstrate their business ideas in the presence of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah
• UAE’s first university-based accelerator program out of Sharjah sets a major milestone to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs 

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, February 18, 2017:  In the esteemed presence of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, Sheraa unveiled its cohort of new entrepreneurs on a Showcase Day following the completion of the first accelerator program which was conceived and launched at American University of Sharjah. Sheraa currently is the only university based accelerator program in the UAE.
At an event to mark this momentous occasion, Sheraa unveiled the first batch of 10 teams who have completed its accelerator program. These ten teams having passed through rigorous screening for innovativeness, commercial viability and potential impact were shortlisted by Sheraa, after which they underwent an intensive 4-month training and mentorship program. The new startups were supported with seed funding, trade license, office-space and access to customers amongst other benefits. 

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), said: “While Sharjah is celebrated for its rich history, arts and architecture, platforms like Sheraa shine a light on the Emirate as a hub of young entrepreneurial talent. We are proud of the teams who entered the accelerator as students but are now graduating as confident entrepreneurs. We look forward to their innovative ideas taking shape and form and positively impacting our lives.”

Also reviewing the business models and vision for these 10 startups at the Showcase Day were potential investors and industry veterans from the UAE business community who gave their valuable suggestions to the entrepreneurs while evaluating their potential. The 10 teams represent a diverse mix of industries, tapping into ‘sharing economy’, video gaming, Arabic content, handicraft, Food and Beverage (F&B), energy and skill development. 

Ms. Najla Al-Midfa, General Manager of Sheraa, said: “It is a great honour to have his Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah in our midst today to grace this occasion. His unstinting support along with the commitment and encouragement of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi who is our Chairperson has been instrumental in creating Sheraa in order to fulfill the aspirations of our youth in their entrepreneurial journey.” 

Ms. Midfa added, “The conclusion of our inaugural accelerator program which coincides with our first anniversary, signifies our commitment to nurturing a new generation of young entrepreneurs with our wholehearted support and mentorship while instilling our belief in their dreams.  We are excited at this opportunity to harness the skills and energy of this critical mass of young talent, and enable them to build a better and more prosperous future for the UAE and across the region while leveraging their dynamism, keen insights and innovative spirit. I congratulate all the teams and wish them the best, because their journey has only begun.” 

Also present at the event were key strategic partners who have pledged their support for Sheraa’s growing ecosystem of entrepreneurs. His Excellency Khalid al Huraimel, CEO of BEE’AH; Mr. Badr Jafar, CEO of Crescent Enterprises; Mr. Adel Ali, Group CEO of Air Arabia; His Excellency Sheikh Mohamed bin Saud al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Asset Management and His Excellency Sheikh Khaled bin Abdulla bin Sultan al Qasimi, Chairman of SAIF Zone graced the Showcase Day event to encourage the accelerator teams and evaluate the potential of their ideas.

Startups shortlisted for the accelerator:

1. CARTPOOL

‘Cartpool is a crowd-powered platform that facilities group buying for individuals giving them access to significantly reduced prices. The platform lists niche products specifically targeting millennials.

2. CAMEL GOAT INTERACTIVE

An indie video game company for gamers who want to experience creative, meaningful and story-driven adventure games.

3. HAMZA

Hamza uses the latest findings in Natural language processing to facilitate the creation of high-quality Arabic content. Hamza is a writing enhancement platform that corrects spelling and grammar mistakes, and provides style enhancement suggestions.

4. JUXTAPIECE

Created using unique technology, Juxtapiece produces modern, hand-crafted, customized art pieces using a variety of wood types and styles as the primary material.

5. MOGZ

‘Mogz is a collaborative educational platform that enables university students to connect, share study materials and find peer tutors.

6. TAYAR

Tayar’s hardware and software solution allows users to monitor and control electrical devices through their smartphones, and also strategizes methods for more efficient energy consumption.

7. YADOH FATIMA

An F&B startup that brings the traditional Emirati breakfast experience back with efficiency and affordability to employees in government entities.

8. THE MAWADA PROJECT

The Mawada Project creates skill-building community engagement programs for children, providing them with transformative experiences that shape them into young leaders of the future.

9. YALLA PICKUP

YallaPickup is an app that allows customers to connect to pickup truck owners in a secure, affordable way.

10. KEZA

KEZA a seamless technology platform that aims to streamline the F&B industry from the dining experience to the management of restaurants.