The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa) is bringing a curated selection of startups to VivaTech 2025 in Paris, held from 11–14 June, as part of the UAE’s official delegation. Spanning sustainability, manufacturing, EdTech, and the creative economy, these ventures exemplify Sheraa’s founder-centre model and its mission to cultivate a resilient, globally connected ecosystem anchored in Sharjah.
The event brings together 165,000 attendees, including 13,500 startups, 3,500 exhibitors and 3,200 investors. VivaTech 2025 stands as the largest startup and technology event in Europe.
The Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) 2025, a comprehensive study of startup ecosystems worldwide published by Startup Genome in collaboration with the Global Entrepreneurship Network, is unveiled at VivaTech. Despite intensifying regional competition and a rapidly evolving landscape, Sharjah retains its #7 ranking in MENA, underscoring the emirate’s resilience and strategic clarity. This performance is driven by Sheraa’s founder-first approach to venture building, which continues to deliver practical, lasting outcomes and elevate Sharjah’s standing on the global innovation map.
Najla Al Midfa, Vice Chairperson of Sheraa, said, “Maintaining Sharjah’s position in the GSER rankings reflects the strength of an ecosystem built on clear vision, strategic alignment, and an unwavering drive to empower founders. At Sheraa, we believe in building an ecosystem where every founder feels supported, not just at the start but throughout their entire journey. By aligning government, academia, the private sector, and capital, we create purposeful pathways that fuel progress. True impact comes from steady, thoughtful investment in people and ideas, and from nurturing a culture where innovation can take root and grow.”
Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, said, “Sheraa’s participation at VivaTech is a strategic step in connecting Sharjah’s entrepreneurial ecosystem with global innovation networks. As one of the world’s leading tech events, VivaTech provides a unique platform to spotlight the UAE-based startups we support and open new pathways for cross-border collaboration. We are showcasing a model rooted in market insight, founder needs, and long-term value creation. By focusing on high-impact sectors such as EdTech, sustainability, manufacturing, and creative industries, we continue to drive economic diversification and sustainable development. This participation reflects the UAE’s national vision to embed entrepreneurship and innovation into every stage of growth, and at Sheraa, we are proud to contribute by enabling founders to scale purposeful ventures that create real-world impact.”
Sheraa showcases a curated lineup of its high-impact startups aligned with its four strategic Centres of Excellence: Sustainability, EdTech, Manufacturing, and Creative Industries. Together, these ventures reflect Sheraa’s founder-first ethos and global ambition.
These startups are engaging with global investors, partners, and innovators, expanding their reach and contributing to the UAE’s global entrepreneurship narrative.
As part of their agenda at VivaTech 2025, the UAE delegation engages in several enriching activities to foster cross-border collaboration and entrepreneurial growth.
WAM