Dubai SME introduces incubation services to participants of ‘startup weekend’ programme

Dubai SME, the agency of the Department of Economic Development in Dubai mandated to develop the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) sector, organized an interactive workshop to introduce the services of the Incubation Centre at Dubai SME, as part of a world-wide programme, ‘startup weekend,’ specializing in educating entrepreneurs and building business communities around the world. The workshop emphasizes the commitment of Dubai SME, in adopt 21 projects involved in the programme. It also addressed how entrepreneurs could join the Incubation Centre and benefit from its services. 

The participants discussed their projects needs an how Dubai SME Incubation can play a pivotal role in providing  opportunities for the Entrepreneurs to test ideas and projects in the local market and help them understand their customers’ needs and how to fulfill it. 

The Incubation Centre at Dubai SME plays a vital role in helping entrepreneurs to translate their ideas into projects that can be implemented by providing an integrated business environment that enables them to develop action plans and provide a dedicated team that follow up their implementation on a regular basis. The Centre also helps entrepreneurs evaluate the market response and enables them to face various entrepreneurial challenges. 

Abdul Baset Al Janahi ; CEO of Dubai SME said that the "startup weekend" program has helped highlight the talent and creativity of young and promising Entrepreneurs, and the successful projects that emerged from the “Startup Weekend” will enjoy the business environment and services provided by the Incubation Centre. 

He stressed on the commitment of Dubai SME to provide all forms of support needed by these Entrepreneurs to create, start or develop their projects effectively, and help them communicate with established business owners and entrepreneurs to share the market challenges and opportunities they faced. 

The startup weekend programme is one of the most ambitious initiatives that support Entrepreneurs around the world and is usually held for three days with up to 54 working hours, preparing the participants obtain the preliminary approval to present their ideas. 

The participants were divided into two categories: the first category encompasses Entrepreneurs with IT, Engineering, or designing backgrounds; and the second category included those with qualified skills such as management, marketing, finance, or law.  All the participants shared ideas, and formed teams based on those ideas and started building products and launching a startup business.