Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED), in partnership with Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, hosted the first MZN Hub71 Demo Day, where the inaugural cohort of 17 Emirati entrepreneurs showcased startups developed during the three-month accelerator programme.
Held at MZN Hub Al Ain, the event brought together investors, government representatives, and ecosystem partners to evaluate innovative startups spanning AI, HealthTech, ClimateTech, FinTech, and AgriTech. Founders pitched their businesses before a judging panel comprising representatives from Khalifa Fund and Hub71.
At the conclusion of the competition, the top three startups received in-kind support packages worth up to AED100,000 to help accelerate their growth.
Limb, an AI-powered physiotherapy platform offering remote patient monitoring and personalised rehabilitation, claimed first place and received AED100,000 in support. Reach LLM, an AI platform that helps brands improve their visibility and performance across large language models, secured second place with AED60,000 in support. Hign Al Khaleej, a digital marketplace for buying, selling, and auctioning camels across the Gulf, finished third and was awarded AED40,000.
Khalifa Fund said the Demo Day highlighted the progress made by participants throughout the programme while demonstrating the potential of the next generation of Emirati entrepreneurs.
Through its collaboration with Hub71, the Fund continues to empower early-stage founders by providing the resources, mentorship, and support needed to transform innovative ideas into sustainable businesses that contribute to Abu Dhabi’s long-term economic development.
Basma Ahmed AlBadi AlDhaheri, Head of Value Creation at Hub71, said the event demonstrated the impact of providing founders with the right environment and support, adding that the achievements of the Emirati entrepreneurs over just three months underscore the importance of investing in early-stage startups.
During the 12-week programme, participants completed 21 workshops, panel discussions, and pitch clinics covering key aspects of building a startup, including product development, market validation, AI strategy, go-to-market planning, fundraising, and corporate partnerships.
The programme also featured expertise from organisations including the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Vertix Holdings, Kraken, and Carzaty & Kavak, equipping founders with practical knowledge to develop, validate, and scale their ventures.
Following Demo Day, the inaugural cohort will continue to benefit from Hub71’s ecosystem of mentors, investors, corporate partners, and government stakeholders as they grow their businesses from Abu Dhabi.
