Empowering the future: SEF 2026 launches ‘Sharjah’s Little Founders’

The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF 2026) has launched ‘Sharjah’s Little Founders’ (SLF), a curated new zone specially designed to nurture entrepreneurial aspirations and skills among children aged 7 to 12.

The launch reflects SEF’s broader vision to empower aspirants to excel in all stages of their entrepreneurial journey, from generating creative ideas to leading innovation. Applications are now open for young participants to join the inaugural cohort of the zone.

Sharjah’s Little Founders introduces a hands-on, age-appropriate experience that allows children to explore entrepreneurship through practical learning, idea development, and pitching in a fun and supportive environment.

SLF takes place as one of the 10 specially curated SEF zones, each addressing a distinct stage or dimension of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, reinforcing the festival’s position as the region’s most comprehensive platform for founders, innovators, and future changemakers.

Highlighting the significance of the new zone, Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, which organises SEF, said: “Entrepreneurship is a journey that begins with curiosity and confidence at an early age. By further diversifying SEF’s curated zones to include Sharjah’s Little Founders, we are thoughtfully creating a space for young minds to explore ideas, build problem-solving skills, and engage with entrepreneurship in a way that is both accessible and inspiring. SLF reflects our dedication to developing a truly inclusive ecosystem, investing early in the next generation of innovators.”

Candidates can use an online submission form to apply to SLF. Judges will select the top 10 Little Founders, who will receive exhibition booths in the SLF zone and who will attend a workshop at SEF 2026 to prepare before presenting their idea in the main SLF Pitch Competition Prize. Each pitch from 10 candidates will be allocated 5 minutes on stage, followed by 5 minutes of questions and answers with judges.

There will be an overall Pitch Competition winner, who will be awarded a grand prize of Dhs 10,000 and a family staycation at Shurooq properties. Winners will be announced during the SEF closing ceremony.

SLF also includes 10 booths where candidates will showcase their business idea, promote its potential for revenue, and make their booth appealing and interactive. Three winners will receive trophies and all participants will receive certificates.

Applications to join Sharjah’s Little Founders and further details are now open on the SLF landing page (https://sharjahslittlefounders.com) of the SEF website (https://sharjahef.com). Applications close on January 18, 2026.

Under the theme Where We Belong, SEF, now in its ninth edition, will be held from January 31 to February 1 at.the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK). With an expected audience of 14,000 attendees, SEF 2026 will create a dynamic space where 300 brightest minds across industries will present invaluable guidance and inspiration for startups, professionals and graduates seeking to achieve their full potential.

Meanwhile the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF 2026) is expanding its support for entrepreneurs at every stage by hosting a series of masterclasses, designed to equip founders, creators, and aspiring startups with the skills to build, grow, and sustain their ventures.

Hosted within the SEF Academy, the masterclasses deliver applied, skill-driven learning led by regional and international experts, addressing the practical demands of funding, technology, branding, creative growth, leadership, and founder sustainability.

Taking place on January 31 and February 1 at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP), SEF 2026 is expected to welcome more than 14,000 global attendees, convening founders, investors, aspiring entrepreneurs, and ecosystem leaders from across the region and beyond.

A core pillar of the SEF 2026 focuses on strengthening the fundamentals of building a venture, with masterclasses designed to support founders as they navigate the financial realities of growth.

The masterclass ‘Demystifying the Mechanics of Equity Fundraising’ equips founders with a practical understanding of cap tables, equity structures, and investor readiness. At the same time ‘Money Mastery 101: The Do’s & Don’ts Of Saving & Investing’ focuses on managing personal and business finances with intention. Complementing these sessions, ‘Consumer Spending Behaviour: Patterns & Risks’ examines how market behaviour impacts pricing and demand, helping founders make more informed commercial decisions.

Technology-driven execution is another key focus of the festival, with masterclasses centered on applying artificial intelligence in real business contexts.

The masterclass ‘Artificial Intelligence Automation for Businesses’ explores how AI agents are being used to engage customers and streamline operations, while ‘Building Your AI Workflow for Storytelling and Creativity’ demonstrates how founders and creatives can integrate AI into ideation and content production.