ADIB partners with StartUp Academy to support UAE entrepreneurs

Abu Dhabi - MENA Herald: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) has partnered with StartUp Academy on an event for UAE entrepreneurs and SME leaders entitled “Start-up lessons from other markets”. The event was the last in a series of StartUp Academy forums held in 2016 and featured interactive sessions with leading UAE investors on the opportunities and challenges of expanding a local company into regional and international markets.
“Contributing to initiatives like the StartUp Academy is one of the many ways ADIB supports the growth of the SME sector in the UAE. ADIB Business enables business leaders to reach their full potential, not just by providing capital and technology, but also by building strong advisory relationships to support a company’s evolving business needs and aspirations,” said Mahdi Kilani, Head of ADIB Business. “We believe that banking works best when it is in partnership, and we follow this approach with all of our start-up and SME clients.”
More than 200 start-up founders, SME leaders and entrepreneurs attended the event at Grosvenor House, Dubai Marina on December 5th. Guest speakers included two of the top angel investors and venture capitalists in the UAE, Prashant Gulati, TiE Dubai president and SmartStart Fund founder, and Amir Farha, Co-founder and Managing Director BECO Capital. In an interactive session, the two investors shared their insights on what it takes to launch, grow and manage a business in new markets.
Participants at the StartUp Academy forum also received advice on best-practice for entrepreneurs when pitching to investors, and tips on how to think critically about the issues that will strengthen their business proposition in an increasingly competitive environment.
The fourth and final Arabian Business StartUp Academy of 2016 was supported by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, AJSM Investments, ADIB, and Creative Zone.