DUBAI: Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in cooperation with StartupAmsterdam hosted a startup pitch and investor roundtable session on January 17th at the Chamber’s premises in Dubai, which brought together an exclusive selection of 8 startups from the UAE and Amsterdam. Participating in the pitch session were Autheos, Cabture, ProctorExam, and Upinion from Amsterdam, while Dubai was represented by Clip The Deal, Democrance, Guiddoo, and ULIQ. The Dubai-based startups are the result of some of the emirate’s leading incubators and accelerators, including in5, TURN8, and DTEC. Each startup gave a brief presentation on their businesses to a group of investors, venture capitalists, and tech experts from the UAE and Amsterdam, including the directors of StartupAmsterdam. The two winning startups were Dubai-based ULIQ, an on-demand provider of human translation and interpretation services, and Amsterdam-based Cabture, a provider of digital advertising services and user engagement experiences via in-cab and taxi tablets. The winners will gain access to IBM’s Global Entrepreneur Program and receive $12,000 worth of cloud services. The event, part of an official trade mission led by Amsterdam Deputy Mayor Kajsa Ollongren, provided an opportunity for startups to learn more about the business environment in Amsterdam and Dubai and connect with industry influencers.
Essa Al Zaabi, Senior Vice-President, Institutional Support Sector, Dubai Chamber, and General Coordinator of Tejar Dubai, said the event complements Dubai Chamber’s efforts to support startups and entrepreneurs in the emirate, and described it as “an important platform for both cities to reward promising startups, share insights and explore areas of mutual collaboration.” During his welcome remarks, Mr. Omar Khan, Director of International Offices, Dubai Chamber, explained that Dubai and Amsterdam share many similarities in their approach to nurturing their startup communities. “By joining forces with StartupAmsterdam for this event, we are broadening the horizons for entrepreneurs in the UAE and enhancing their understanding about doing business in Amsterdam and Europe,” said Mr. Khan.
Ruben Nieuwenhuis, Director, Startup Amsterdam, gave an overview of the Startup Amsterdam, and explained how the programme has built up a global network of partners has provided tremendous value to Amsterdam’s startup community. “Collaborating with other cities and a leading business hub like Dubai, opens the door to potential partnerships and growth opportunities for startups. By connecting and sharing insights with organisations and individuals with similar mindsets and ambitions, they can help us improve and move forward,” said Nieuwenhuis. Last year, the Chamber launched Dubai Startup Hub in collaboration with IBM to establish an online community that connects startups, entrepreneurs, developers, venture capitalists and students, enabling them to learn about new opportunities and create new partnerships that accelerate innovation and stimulate the local economy. StartupAmsterdam, launched by the City of Amsterdam, is a public-private action programme that aims to grow and improve the startup environment in Amsterdam. The programme utilises assets to nurturing startups, helping them reach their full potential.
