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12/19/23, 1:14 PM DIFC Innovation Hub concludes Investor Day – Bizpreneur Middle East
DIFC Innovation Hub concludes Investor Day

LATEST NEWS, NEWS December 19, 2023 News

DIFC Innovation Hub, home to the first and largest financial technology accelerator in the Middle
East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, concluded its annual flagship Investor Day, with over
500 people attending the event, including key figures from the investor community and finalists of the
ninth edition of the FinTech Accelerator Programme and the seventh edition of AccelerateHer.
The event was attended by HE Essa Kazim, Governor, DIFC, and Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer,
DIFC Authority, who actively engaged with speakers, investors and entrepreneurs.
Delivering the opening keynote, Mohammad AlBlooshi, Chief Executive Officer, DIFC Innovation
Hub, said: “The FinTech Accelerator Programme has a phenomenal track record of empowering
start-ups by helping them to transform their ideas into products and offerings unique to the financial
market. The solutions showcased this year are some of the best we have seen within the industry
and we congratulate these pioneers on successfully completing their programmes. We have
numerous success stories to share, with over 200 start-ups graduating from our programme that
have collectively raised over USD 600mn in funding. In 2023, the programme also saw a record-
breaking number of participants with over 700 applicants for a single cohort, out of which 19 start-
ups graduated. We wish them every success as they continue to innovate and push boundaries.”
The keynote was followed by a panel discussion on the ‘Future of Investment: Tech Investment
Trends in the Region’ including industry thought leaders such as Sharif Elbadawi, CEO of Dubai
Future District Fund, Khaled Talhouni, Managing Partner of Nuwa Capital, Khaled Lababidi,
Operating Partner at Arbor Ventures, moderated by Saqr Ereiqat, Co-founder Crypto Oasis.
The event served as a ‘graduation day’ for 19 start-ups from the FinTech Accelerator Programme –
with a record-breaking 20+ proof-of-concepts created – and 10 women financial services
professionals from AccelerateHer who showcased their business plans and enhanced skillset,
having been mentored by some of the region’s leading banks and insurance companies.
This year, AccelerateHer participants received endorsement and mentorship from Dubai Islamic
Bank, whereas the FinTech Accelerator Programme was supported by Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
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