Aspiring business owners in the emirates can get a boost toward realizing their goals through an innovative partnership between aerospace firm Boeing, nonprofit group INJAZ UAE and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Tejar Dubai entrepreneur development program.
Dubbed the Start-Up Bridge Program, the joint venture offers support services to youth wishing to turn their creative concepts into feasible commercial projects by providing mentoring, seed money and training for four to six months. The plan is for Tejar Dubai to select five top projects annually to invest in further, incubation-style.
“Through its Tejar Dubai initiative, Dubai chamber aims to train enterprising entrepreneurial talents, and transform innovative business ideas into world-class ventures that are … capable of withstanding the tests of the marketplace,” Hisham Al Shirawi of the Dubai chamber said. “Mentoring young people at each stage is critical if we are to see young startups succeed in the long term. To do this we must create a pipeline whereby the private sector and government organizations provide sustained support. The Start-Up Bridge is designed to do exactly that through our collaboration with Boeing and INJAZ UAE.”
INJAZ UAE CEO Sulaf Saleh Al-Zu’bi complimented the program for filling a vital niche for young business-minded residents, pointing out that while school programs cover the basics academically, programs that “bridge the gap between conception and reality” is a welcome link.
“The Start-Up Bridge Program seeks to close the ‘circle’ and ensure that young people are provided with the right support during each stage of the business development process,” Al-Zu’bi said.
Tejar Dubai was designed to support young nationals between the ages of 18 and 45. Its larger vision recognizes the need to stimulate a more diverse, knowledge-based commerce system for growth and security in a post-oil economy.
“The collaboration between ourselves, INJAZ UAE and Tejar Dubai gives young Emirati entrepreneurs the perfect partner and catalyst to help turn their ideas into a reality,” Bernard Dunn, president of Boeing Middle East for North Africa and Turkey, said.
Alerts Sign-up