Dubai Future Accelerators Opens Registration for Fall 2020 Program, Invites Applications from International Startups to Address Challenges in a Post COVID-19 World

Dubai Future Accelerators (DFA), an initiative of Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), has opened registration for The Fall 2020 Program. Now in its eighth edition, the Program aims to attract startups from around the world to participate in an acceleration program that will take place both virtually and physically in Dubai, UAE.

The announcement of the upcoming edition follows the success of earlier cohorts that saw 14 government entities and 299 startups working in synergy to find solutions to more than 115 challenges. Furthermore, more than 125 of the participating startups went on to sign agreements with their partner entities to test their solutions through pilot projects or to implement them within their organizations.

DFA’s program provides startups with the opportunity to co-create innovative solutions to future challenges in collaboration with Dubai government. The Program will have startups work on utilizing technologies to tackle challenges facing the future of Dubai in key sectors, including transport, energy, health, and digital technologies.

The 2020 edition is a 10-week program that is structured into two phases. A four-week virtual program; which concludes with a virtual pitching session, where each company will present its customized proposal to a committee. Following an evaluation period, shortlisted startups will advance into the second phase and join a six-week in-residence program in Dubai. In this phase, participants will test and run a proof of concept (PoC) and pilots of their proposed solutions.

The selected startups to join DFA’s in-residence program will receive a plethora of opportunities to partner with government entities and industry leaders throughout the duration of the program. They will have access to a series of workshops, office hours with mentors, social and cultural activities, infrastructure support, and be part of an ecosystem that enables them to scale their solutions to a potential market of two billion people. DFA is a no-equity accelerator program and the participating startups are offered a complimentary roundtrip airfare to Dubai as well as accommodation for the duration of their participation in the program.

The last date for receiving applications is September 20, 11.59pm GMT+4. Startups keen to join the global accelerator program can register and apply at https://www.dubaifuture.ae/initiatives/future-design-and-acceleration/dubai-future-accelerators/challenges/