Hub71 Expands Initiate Programme After Almost 5500 Founders Register for Early-Stage Startup Support

Abu Dhabi, UAE, August 2026: Hub71 Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, is expanding Initiate, its early-stage founder programme, after attracting more than 5,500 applications since launch. A startup has already been selected to begin its venture-building journey with Initiate at Hub71, receiving support to refine its products, validate market demand and prepare for commercial growth.

Through Initiate, Hub71 is combining venture builder expertise with practical founder development. Founders receive hands-on support to refine ideas, validate opportunities and build new ventures, while aspiring entrepreneurs can access workshops designed to develop the skills, networks and confidence needed to take their first steps towards building a startup.

Initiate has attracted almost 5,500 applications, reflecting strong demand from aspiring founders looking to turn early-stage ideas into viable ventures. This momentum has extended into the programme’s workshop series, with 500 aspiring founders attending seven sessions across July and August focused on problem validation, customer discovery, venture-building and co-founder identification. Delivered by Hub71 partners, the workshops equip aspiring founders with practical tools, industry insights and opportunities to build connections within Abu Dhabi’s startup ecosystem, helping them turn ideas into viable ventures.

Hub71 has also added Disrupt.com and TMC2 MEA to Initiate’s venture-builder network, expanding founders’ access to technical, commercial and investor expertise across a wider set of sectors.

Mohammad Alkhoori, Head of Startup Journey and Communications, Hub71, said: “Demand for early-stage support in Abu Dhabi is growing quickly. Every founder’s journey starts with an idea, but turning that idea into a successful startup requires the right guidance at the right time. Through Initiate, we are giving aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage founders access to experienced venture builders and a collaborative ecosystem that helps them validate ideas, build ventures and take their next steps with confidence.”

Marking an early milestone for the programme, Hub71 has selected a startup to advance through Initiate, aligned with a priority sector for Abu Dhabi’s economy. Prism56, an AI-driven platform developed by Fikra Ventures to automate venture capital deal evaluation and investment committee workflows, has progressed from concept to minimum viable product and will now move into validation and pilot deployment. As a studio-led startup, Prism56 will continue to receive tailored venture-building support, mentorship and resources from Fikra Ventures to support its path to commercialisation. The startup will also receive licensing and office space support from Hub71 for one year, alongside access to its wider ecosystem of over 150 corporate, government and investment partners, service providers and founder community.

Through Initiate, Hub71 supports founders at the ideation and pre-seed stages by combining venture builder expertise with practical founder development, helping them validate ideas, develop business models and prepare their ventures for growth. Startups completing Initiate are positioned to progress into Hub71’s Access programme, forming a clear pathway from idea to growth within Hub71’s broader tech ecosystem.

By supporting more founders as they build scalable ventures, Hub71 is strengthening Abu Dhabi’s pipeline of high-growth startups and reinforcing the Emirate’s position as a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.

About Hub71:

Hub71 is Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem that enables founders to build globally enduring homegrown tech companies in any sector by providing access to global markets, a capital ecosystem, a global network of partners, and a vibrant community filled with highly skilled talent governed by forward-thinking regulation. Backed by the Government of Abu Dhabi and Mubadala Investment Company, Hub71 is growing its vibrant community of tech startups, investors, government, and corporate partners to ensure the availability of investment, commercial activities, and incentives from the public and private sectors. Through Hub71’s entrepreneurial infrastructure, value-add programmes, enabling services and support packages, founders can build, and scale widely adopted technologies with purpose and impact. Hub71 is on a mission to introduce new minds and technologies to Abu Dhabi, finding new ways to build globally enduring technology companies and sustain the nation’s continuous economic development.