- All participants will be sponsored to show and pitch their start-up at the region’s largest start-up and technology event, GITEX 2022
- The application deadline is 28 August 2022
Abu Dhabi, UAE – startAD, the Abu Dhabi-based start-up accelerator powered by Tamkeen and based at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), has announced that applications are now open for the ninth edition of the Corporate Sprint Accelerator (CSA 9).
In partnership with the Ripples University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI), the three-week market access accelerator will enable global startups to bring groundbreaking FinTech innovation to the UAE. Accepted startups will be sponsored to travel to the UAE and showcase their efforts at GITEX, the region’s largest technology fair, which will run from 10 to 14 October this year.
The engagement will also include training, networking, branding and one-on-one meetings with prominent investors, the media and sought-after members of the region’s start-up ecosystem. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to win the prestigious XRPL scholarship to work on open source, decentralized and unlicensed public blockchain solutions – worth $ 25,000, through a fast-paced application process.
Commenting on the ninth edition of startADs CSA, startAD CEO and NYU Abu Dhabi engineering professor of engineering, Ramesh Jagannathan, said: “CSA 9 offers the most groundbreaking fintech startups a platform to put their best foot forward in the GCC, by open doors to business agreements and partnerships with leading local companies, prepare startups for the region’s regulatory framework, provide investment opportunities and build their network in the global financial services and start-up ecosystem. Partners like Ripple’s University Blockchain Research Institute to disrupt the global market from Abu Dhabi.
“In partnership with startAD, Ripple is excited to support fintech startups utilizing blockchain and crypto to develop new applications and real-world enterprise solutions. These technologies will play a key role in the finances of the future, and entrepreneurs have a huge opportunity to make a global impact by building innovative solutions that will usher in a more inclusive and accessible financial system, “said Lauren Weymouth, Director of University Partnerships at Ripple.
The program is open to startups that build solutions or technologies in the fintech area. Participants will be on pre-seed or seed rounds of growth, after completing the product development phase with a clear minimum viable product in place. A minimum of two team members is required, giving them the opportunity to dedicate resources to the program.
Focus areas for CSA 9 include, but are not limited to, blockchain-driven applications, P2P lending, insurance, digital financial product distribution platforms, cryptocurrencies and remittances, identity and authentication, payment gateways, financial education and financial inclusion. Other program partners include Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and VentureSouq. Application closes August 28, 2022.
Since its inception, startAD has supported more than 380 startups, resulting in 66 pilots. These startups have generated $ 70 million in revenue and have raised $ 100 million in funding. The 8th edition of startAD’s Corporate Sprint Accelerator has been rated as one of the top 10 fintech accelerators in the region, resulting in five pilot and partnership announcements and $ 25,000 in grants.
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About startAD
startAD is an Abu Dhabi-based accelerator, which manages local and global startups to scale in the UAE and beyond. Powered by Tamkeen and based at NYU Abu Dhabi, startAD is a new model for innovation that creates customized and impact-driven programs in collaboration with stakeholders, including governments, companies, investors and innovation units, and promotes the UAE’s transition to a knowledge-based economy. startAD’s unique sprint accelerator model enables companies to continue innovation by collaborating with start-ups that disrupt their core business, while equipping start-ups with training and the ability to pilot their solutions with industry leaders.
startAD offers unique business development opportunities to local and global technology startups, SMEs, researchers, investors and young people through a comprehensive range of programs, state-of-the-art facilities and a strong global network. To drive innovation in construction, retail, finance and other priority industries in the UAE, startAD alumni startups have raised $ 70 million in investment, generated $ 50 million in revenue, secured over 50 global pilot projects with companies and created over 270 working all over the world.
About Tamkeen
Tamkeen is an Abu Dhabi-based company with a mandate to deliver projects to meet the UAE’s vision of knowledge-based development. Tamkeen works with a number of local and international institutions to enrich the UAE’s social, cultural and educational landscape.
About NYU Abu Dhabi
NYU Abu Dhabi is the first comprehensive liberal arts and sciences campus in the Middle East run abroad by a major American research university. NYU Abu Dhabi has integrated a highly selective curriculum for liberal arts, engineering and science with a World Center for Advanced Research and Scholarships that enables students to succeed in an increasingly interdependent world and promote collaboration and progress on the common challenges of humanity. NYU Abu Dhabi’s high – achieving students have come from 115 nations and speak over 115 languages. Together, NYU’s campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai form the backbone of a unique global university, giving faculty and students the opportunity to experience varied learning environments and specialization in other cultures at one or more of the many campuses that NYU has. on six continents.
