Sheraa participation at the STEP Conference 2024.

Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) has concluded a successful and multifaceted participation at the STEP Conference 2024 as their official Start Track partner. Among the six tracks on which the two-day conference ran, the Start Track hosted esteemed tech influencers who shared success stories, growth strategies and investment insights. The event, considered amongst the leading tech festivals for emerging markets, took place in Dubai Internet City on February 21 & 22.

Against the backdrop of the bustling tech scene offered at STEP 2024, Sheraa shared its success stories, programmes and initiatives that have positively impacted the entrepreneurial landscape in the UAE and beyond. Sheraa’s participation focused on the Edtech industry and the specific opportunities the sector offers founders in the UAE and the region.

Reflecting on the center’s participation, Abeer Al Ameeri, Head of Partnerships at Sheraa, emphasized the critical role of supportive ecosystems for startups. “As a pivotal hub for entrepreneurship and innovation in the region, Sheraa recognises the immense value of engaging with like-minded visionaries, industry leaders, and disruptive startups at STEP, hence coming on board as a Start Track sponsor. This strategic participation underscores Sheraa’s commitment to driving the future of entrepreneurship in the UAE and beyond”, she noted.

Celebrating the success of Sheraa-incubated startups in Edtech and clean mobility At Sheraa’s dedicated booth, visitors gained valuable insights into the center’s diverse initiatives, programs, and success stories. Three impactful startups incubated through Sheraa’s programs took center stage, exemplifying innovation across various sectors, including Edtech, Health & Wellness..These included Arabee, an award-winning online educational platform; iSchool, featured in Forbes Under 30 Middle East list, providing coding and AI education for students;and Esaal, a leading tech platform for online health consultations. These startups represent innovation across various sectors, demonstrating Sheraa’s commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship in the region.

Sheraa leads a panel discussion highlighting emerging innovation opportunities in EdtechThe panel discussion hosted by Sheraa, titled Edtech: Opportunities for Future Growth, convened industry experts to explore the evolving landscape of Edtech and its potential for future growth. With insightful discussions and shared experiences, the panel underscored the vital role startups play in driving innovation and progress. Moderated by Abeer Al Ameeri, the discussion was led by Arabee Education’s Ferakh Lakhani and Muhammad Gawish from iSchool, who shared real-time experiences and insights about the fast evolving landscape of Edtech and the opportunities it presents for future growth.

The two panelists also spoke about Sheraa’s contribution and support in bringing their respective entrepreneurial visions to life, and in turning them into successful ventures.

STEP is one of the largest tech festivals in Dubai started over 11 years ago. With 6 main tracks, more than 400 global startups showcasing, hundreds of global investors, and 8000+ global attendees over two days. Sheraa’s partnership in this event highlights its commitment in advancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region.

Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) 2024, organised by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) has concluded recently its monumental two-day gathering, leaving an indelible impression on the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Drawing 10,000 visitors — double the attendance compared to its last edition, SEF has reinforced its prestigious reputation as one of the region’s largest celebrations of entrepreneurship in the region. The remarkable gathering, attended mainly by founders and startups, was once again successful in empowering all who visited with knowledge, inspiration and skill development, showcasing the vibrancy of the entrepreneurial community within Sharjah, the region, and beyond.

Through the efforts of Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center, organisers of the annual festival, SEF 2024 took an immersive approach, bringing together over 200 renowned speakers, industry leaders, investors, and emerging entrepreneurs. These pioneers and thought leaders participated in over 200 activities including discussions, pitch competitions, performances, creative workshops, and investor-investee networking sessions through SEF’s dedicated ‘Investors Lounge’.

The historic event spanned five specialised zones, creating mini-ecosystems focused on the key pillars of ‘Impact’, ‘Founders’, ‘Community’, ‘Sustainability’ and ‘Creativity’ in various sectors such as technology, creative economy, and sustainability, to name a few. Through the success of SEF 2024, the two-day event has proven to be a global hub and an all-encompassing platform for networking, investment, innovation, and knowledge exchange.

Najla Al Midfa, the CEO of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), emphasised that the current era requires a global platform for knowledge sharing, one that transcends borders and attracts diverse talent from around the world to exchange ideas and experiences in the fields of entrepreneurship and innovation. This is precisely what the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival has achieved, as proven by the impressive turnout to this year’s edition.

She added, “This achievement reflects the depth of the vision, and the guidance of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and under the patronage of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the Chairperson of Sheraa. It also affirms the stature and confidence that the Emirate of Sharjah enjoys, both from international experts, and business leaders, who joined us to share their knowledge, insights, and advice with the festival audience, as well as from founders who see Sharjah as an enabling environment to build and expand their businesses.”

A major highlight of the final day of SEF 2024 was the Pitch Competition which provided a catalyst for the startups to grow their business in the thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, attracting an impressive pool of over 100 entries from Canada, Egypt and other countries.

Recognising the outstanding efforts of entrepreneurs who presented their innovative ideas before a discerning panel of judges during the festival, the competition featured four distinct tracks of Tourism, Creative, Tech, EdTech, and Impact, each supported by heavyweights in their respective industries.

Each category winner received a substantial AED 50,000 to fuel the growth of their startups, while providing crucial support as they continue to shape the future of entrepreneurship in their respective sectors.