Fintech Incubators and Accelerators in the Middle East

1864 Accelerator

Location: Cairo, Egypt |

The 1864 Accelerator constitutes the first local fintech startup accelerator program of its kind in Egypt.

Powered by Flat6Labs in partnership with Barclays Bank Egypt, the accelerator aims to foster fintech innovation in Egypt by enabling entrepreneurs to transform their disruptive ideas into commercially viable solutions.

The highly competitive program places emphasis on fintech and disruptive solutions, giving a selected group of innovative startup companies the full access to both Barclays and Flat6Labs’ expansive and far-reaching partnership networks.

To encourage the community to come up with new ideas, Flat6Labs hosts several activities prior to the program, such as themed ideation sessions, a fintech Hackathon, business-focused bootcamp and workshops.

Flat6Labs also provides selected entrepreneurs with seed funding, strategic mentorship, office space, a multitude of perks and services from partners, and entrepreneurship-focused business training and development workshops, all engineered to prepare companies to be investment-ready within 14 weeks.

AUC Venture Lab’s Fintech Accelerator

Location: Cairo, Egypt | 

AUC Venture Lab (V-Lab)’s Fintech Accelerator, located in Cairo, Egypt, is a four-month, award-winning program designed specifically for financial technology startups. This program offers founders intensive business and technology support, mentorship, and networking opportunities to refine their solutions and prepare for investment. The program covers various sectors, including payments, insurtech, wealth management, lending, savings, and infrastructure.

Participants in the Fintech Accelerator can expect comprehensive support in business building and growth hacking, business model design, mentor matchmaking, one-on-one coaching, and networking opportunities. They also gain access to the AUC community, networks, and facilities, along with business perks even after graduation. The program offers fundraising and investment support, access to an investment clinic, connections with Egypt’s top investors and venture capital (VC) firms, pitching training, pitch deck design support, and a Demo Day.

V-Lab is Egypt’s first university-based incubator and accelerator, located at The American University in Cairo.

SANDBOX

Location: Dubai, UAE |  

SANDBOX is the landmark startup accelerator program from Oraseya Capital, designed for ambitious pre-Seed to Seed stage technology entrepreneurs. This five-month intensive program focuses on exposure, investor-readiness, and growth, offering founders unparalleled access to VCs, guidance from experienced entrepreneurs, and extensive hands-on support from some of the region’s top mentors.

Participants in the SANDBOX program receive a US$150,000 investment from Oraseya Capital through a SAFE Note Agreement, which includes US$110,000 in cash and a US$40,000 program fee. The program provides tens of hours of workshops covering nine key areas, one-on-one mentoring with expert practitioners, co-working space for the team, over US$1 million in in-kind credits from partners, financial diagnostics for optimal funding positioning, tailored legal diagnostics and support, and a community of like-minded founders and guests. Regular pitch deck reviews, workshops, exposure to VCs and angels across the MENA region, local exposure at startup events, and the opportunity to avail of a business license if required are also part of the package.

Techstars Tel Aviv

Location: Tel Aviv, Israel |

Techstars Tel Aviv is dedicated to empowering visionary and resilient founders utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. This program partners with startups leveraging these advancements to disrupt and redefine major industries, including finance, enterprise software, climate, agriculture, and healthcare. The focus is on ventures addressing significant challenges while creating substantial market impact.

For 14 intensive weeks, participating startups engage with over 100 mentors and collaborate with entrepreneurs in residence, mentors in residence, the global network, and Techstars’ global partners and alumni. Participants get access to capital, one-on-one mentorship, and customized programming.

TEC+ Incubator

Location: Libya |

Tatweer Entrepreneurship Campus Plus (tec+) is a new version of the tec program, which was a three-year program that focused on building the foundations of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and creating startups in Libya. Building on the success and lessons learnt from tec, Tatweer launched tec+ in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through funding from the European Union.

tec+ aims to address Libya’s economic challenges by enhancing the potential of startups and accelerating their growth and job creation. The four-month tec+ accelerator program offers startups and companies access to mentorship, consulting, investors, funds, and other essential support to expand their businesses. During the first eight weeks, selected startups undergo intensive training, culminating in an opportunity to apply for funding. To be eligible for funding, businesses must be fully registered and have a complete business plan.

To participate in the tec+ accelerator, businesses must meet specific selection criteria. They must be headquartered in Libya and have between 2 to 25 employees at the time of application. Additionally, they must have a trading history of at least 12 months and demonstrate competitive opportunities in domestic or international markets. The businesses should also show clear potential for growth and job creation over the next 12 months.

GeeXelerator

Location: Gaza, Palestine |

The GeeXelerator is a 16-week pre-seed acceleration program run by the Gaza Sky Geeks. It is focused on enabling startups to build and validate a minimum viable product, go to market via online channels, and grow their customer base.

Eligible startups include those that are prepared to scale in large markets, both in the MENA region and globally, or tech-driven startups focused on the local market with rapid revenue generation potential.

Startups gain access to a curated mentorship program, and access to a number of support initiatives, such as launching products from companies like Amazon or Hubspot, and co-working facilities.

Participating startups reaching phases two and three of the accelerator will gain access to up to US$2,000 in grants.

Yalla XTech

Location: Egypt, Jordan |

Yalla Xtech is an accelerator program aimed at Arab tech startups. Focused specifically on Egyptian and Jordanian tech startups for its pilot batch, the programme aims to prepare participants for cross-border expansion. The programme was launched just this year.

The two-month programme is meant for tech startups that are especially focused on expansion. It requires that startups be at a mature stage, with an operational product or service, an existent customer base, growing revenue, and an operations and management team. Business set-up fees under the programme amount to AED 9,500.

The Yalla Xtech accelerator is run by German development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in partnership with Fintech Galaxy.

Ahli Fintech Seed Programme

Location: Amman, Jordan |

Jordanian financial institution Ahli Bank runs a seed program for fintech startups. The program aims to help fintech founders in Jordan develop their business models within the Ahli Sandbox environment, and with access to Ahli Bank’s global network of advisors, mentors, and partners.

Joining the Ahli Fintech Seed Programme offers numerous benefits. The program invests up to US$200,000 in startups, charging US$30,000 for participation, providing the initial funding needed to launch a business.
Participants gain access to Ahli Bank’s global network, allowing for introductions to seasoned professionals and opportunities to pitch to investors worldwide. The program also offers valuable advice and mentorship from over 1,000 Ahli Bank mentors, partners, and vendors, who provide guidance and technical support to build, validate, and measure fintech business models.

The Ahli Sandbox environment facilitates the creation of customer-facing applications, offering access to over 200 APIs in a virtual testing environment that simulates live production. Participants also receive a dedicated workspace within Ahli Bank offices for six months, with hands-on support for business collaboration, product development, strategy, and growth.

One unique feature of the program is the opportunity to pilot fintech applications with real Ahli Bank customers, leveraging the bank’s status as the first fully-owned fintech company by a licensed bank in Jordan. This provides direct access to bank customers and all jurisdictions where the bank operates.

Upon passing the Central Bank of Jordan’s compliance review and Ahli Sandbox verification, participants are transitioned to a live environment where their applications run with real customers, officially becoming part of the Ahli Family.

Flat6Labs Seed Programme

Location: Multiple |

Flat6Labs runs a four-month seed program twice a year, aimed at helping entrepreneurs enhance their business skills and providing a supportive environment for product development, market testing, business model improvement, and investor pitching. The program operates in multiple locations, offering tailored support to startups in different regions.

Selected participants in the Flat6Labs Seed Program receive cash funding specific to the Flat6Labs Accelerator or Seed Program they join, along with strategic mentorship, office space, business training focused on entrepreneurship, one-on-one sessions with subject matter experts, and a variety of perks and services from partners.

In the Middle East, the Flat6Labs Amman Seed Program is supported by the Jordan Seed Fund (JSF), aimed at nurturing the next generation of innovative startups in Jordan. The Flat6Labs Riyadh Seed Program focuses on startups with high growth potential, providing seed funding to more than 20 Saudi startups annually over the next three years.

Oasis500

Location: Amman, Jordan |

Oasis500 is a Jordanian pre-seed and seed fund and accelerator. The six month-long programme is focused on enabling startups to reduce their time to market.

Participating startups can expect to secure funding of around US$30,000 to US$100,000 against equity.

Additionally, the programme also provides technical support on product development, networking opportunities with industry stakeholders, and specialised consultations for areas beyond the founder’s expertise. Other amenities include office space, accounting, auditing and legal support and other value-added services.

Applicants with successful pitches are invited to attend the programme’s Business and Entrepreneurship workshop, while those with more mature pitches go directly to the investment stage.

Flat6Labs Ignite

Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE |

Flat6Labs launched the ‘Flat6Labs Ignite’ Programme in partnership with Abu Dhabi-based holding company ADQ. The programme works as a seed and early stage funding initiative, with participating startups receiving funding of US$100,000 to US$150,000 on being accepted.

Follow-on funding of between US$200,000 to US$500,000 is also available. Investments will be made in IP residing entities, and not their branches or subsidiaries.

Other facilities include strategic mentorship, office space, business training, and one-on-one subject matter sessions.

The programme is open to startups registered as a private company, with at least a minimum viable product that has been pilot tested (and preferably revenue generating). The company must have an inclination to set up a long term presence in Abu Dhabi.

MINT Incubator

Location: Egypt |

MINT Incubator is an incubator run by Egyptian Gulf (EG) Bank, in partnership with Cairo Angels. The incubation programme does not take any equity from enrolled startups. The three-month programme focuses on start-ups that have a ready product.

Startups are paired with a mentor for the duration of the program, and also have access to workshops by EG Bank and its partners. The workshops cover various business aspects such as finance, growth hacking, and legal. Other benefits include free tools and applications, a co-working space and networking avenues.

The sector-agnostic programme targets startups with a highly scalable business model, and backed by a team. It is open to founders as young as 16 years of age, up to 35 years.

EFG EV Fintech

Location: Cairo, Egypt|

EFG EV is combining the financial know-how of EFG Hermes and entrepreneurial expertise of Egypt Ventures to provide the country’s most powerful fintech-focused startup accelerator.

EFG EV invests in rising fintech startups with the potential to grow domestically and expand beyond the Egyptian market. It also provides these innovators with the fully integrated services they need to thrive – from funding to mentorship, to training and office space.

EFG EV invests in up to 10 startups per year through two cycles of the EFG EV Accelerator program. Early-stage and seed-level startups are eligible to receive up to EGP 500,000 in funding through our Accelerator program while later-stage startups can apply for up to EGP 2 million in funding through our direct investment track. The program runs for four months.

Startupbootcamp Fintech Cairo

Location: Cairo, Egypt |

The Startupbootcamp Fintech Cairo accelerator program supports innovative early-stage fintech startups in Egypt, with a targeted focus of financial inclusion. The accelerator brings a unique focus in Egypt and helps develop the ecosystem and drives the next generation of technology startups to success.

The intensive six-month program provides up-to ten selected fintech companies with hands-on mentorship from over 100 industry experts, office space in the heart of Cairo, and access to a global network of investors and corporate partners from across the fintech industry. In addition to the acceleration program, Startupbootcamp also supports the startups to scale their businesses in collaboration with established players in Cairo.

Startupbootcamp Fintech Cairo is partnered with Visa, IFC, and GIZ.

Citi Accelerator Tel Aviv

Location: Tel Aviv, Israel |

Citi Ventures accelerates innovation at scale through strategic partnerships and a comprehensive set of programs that combine the best of the external innovation ecosystem with Citi’s internal efforts to embrace new skills and new ways of working.

Citi Ventures pursues a multi-pronged approach to innovation that actively explores startup technologies regardless of formal investment. Citi was one of the first banks to launch a fintech accelerator in 2013.

SigmaLabs Fintech

Location: Tel Aviv, Israel |

SigmaLabs is a “for founders, by founders” three-month accelerator program focusing on reaching product validation, market fit and building the right fundraising strategy.

The SigmaLabs Fintech program supports early-stage fintech and insurtech startups with in-depth mentorship, in collaboration with MAX, Israel’s most innovative financial services company. Selected startups gain access to the financial institution’s network and C-level executives.

Bahrain Fintech Bay’s Venture Acceleration Program

Location: Manama, Bahrain |

Bahrain Fintech Bay’s Venture Acceleration Program (VAP) is designed to catalyze fintech growth, provide a launch pad and bespoke go to market strategies for innovative fintechs looking to maximize opportunities in the MENA region, Singapore and the US.​

The program offers fintechs the opportunity to gain priority access and exposure to BFB’s growing number of influential partners across the financial services industry and corporate sector.​

Qatar Fintech Hub

Location: Doha, Qatar |

Qatar Fintech Hub (QFTH) is a global fintech hub created with the purpose to support fintechs succeed in Qatar and globally. It is chaired by Qatar Development Bank under the aegis of Qatar Central Bank and supported by local and global financial institutions, technology partners, and fintech hubs.

QFTH currently offers two startup programs:

The Incubator, a 12-week program for budding entrepreneurs and early-stage fintechs with a minimum viable product (MVP) who want to transform their prototype into a sellable product, build traction and raise funds; and

The Accelerator, a 12-week program designed for mature fintechs looking for global expansion with a proven product market fit. The program focuses on cultivating business collaborations between fintech and QFTH partners including the Qatar Fintech taskforce via proof-of concepts.

Accelerator StartechEUS FinHub

Location: Beirut, Lebanon |

Accelerator StartechEUS FinHub launched operations in May 2019 to provide fintech startups with mentorship, a fintech office space, as well as access to international markets and to Series A funding of between US$100,000 and US$2 million per company.

The program provides selected startups with funding, state-of-the-art fintech office space, relevant trainings delivered by domain experts through our training academy, market research studies and market access to European Union (EU) and the US, continuous support and guidance.

AB Xelerate

Location: Amman, Jordan |

AB Xelerate is the fintech-focused corporate accelerator of Arab Bank. The program offers startups the opportunity to test their solutions through a custom proof-of-concept, which could potentially lead to a pilot agreement with Arab Bank. Startups can integrate with Arab Bank through the Open Banking Developer Portal. AB Xelerate invests in startups that have a market-ready product with demonstrated customer traction, providing them with unique collaboration workspaces across Arab Bank PLC.

Established in 1930 and headquartered in Amman, Jordan, Arab Bank boasts one of the largest global Arab banking networks, with over 600 branches spanning five continents. The bank’s extensive network covers key financial markets and centers, including London, Dubai, Singapore, Geneva, Paris, Frankfurt, Sydney, and Bahrain. This extensive reach provides startups with unparalleled opportunities to expand their footprint and connect with diverse markets.

AB Accelerator accepts applications year round.

Jordan Fintech Bay’s Venture Acceleration Program

Location: Amman, Jordan |

Similarly to Bahrain Fintech Bay’s VAP, Jordan Fintech Bay’s VAP is a customized program designed to accelerate fintech companies to the next growth stage of commercialization and expedite partnership opportunities with them.

The program leverages the organization’s strong partnership base to significantly improve startup growth and expansion outcomes. The “outbound VAP” program aims to accelerate companies based in Silicon Valley by introducing their innovative products and services to untapped markets in Asia and the Middle East through influential partners. Similarly, the “inbound VAP” serves as a gateway for startups to setup operations in Silicon Valley.

The program allows selected businesses to connect with industry professionals and users of digital innovations across the value chain. Applications for the VAP Program are received on an on-going rolling basis.

Plug and Play Abu Dhabi Fintech

Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE |

Plug and Play Abu Dhabi, powered by Abu Dhabi Investment Office, is an innovation platform in the Middle East uniting startups across the financial, healthcare and industry 4.0 sectors with the tech expertise of Silicon Valley and major corporations for a changing world. The program’s mission is to attract high quality entrepreneurial talent to Abu Dhabi who can work proactively with both public and private institutions in the Middle East.

The Plug and Play Abu Dhabi Fintech program was launched in 2018 and connects financial institutions across the region with the most disruptive fintech companies sourced from across the globe. Some key focus areas of the program include security, payments, wealth management, data analytics, and customer engagement.

Benefits of joining the Plug and Play Abu Dhabi Fintech program include gaining access to Plug and Play’s corporate network, the ability to collaborate with leading financial institutions on PoCs and pilots, and access to a network of regional investors and mentors.

DIFC Fintech Hive

Location: Dubai, UAE |

DIFC Fintech Hive gives fintechs, insurtechs, regtechs, and Islamic fintechs access to accelerator programs, mentorship from leading financial institutions and insurance partners, a dedicated space to work, and a community of like-minded individuals.

These programs have been developed to help startups create solutions for the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region’s largest financial industry and insurance partners, and are designed to provide selected startups with access to funding, regional business intelligence, and market access, all with a focus on growing their potential.

DIFC Fintech hive collaborates with senior executives of leading banks and insurance companies to deliver industry-driven accelerator programs that addresses the region’s financial sector needs.

Startupbootcamp Fintech Dubai

Location: Dubai, UAE |

In partnership with Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Visa, and Mashreq Bank, Startupbootcamp Fintech accelerates fintech startups from the MENA region as well as from around the world.

The three-month Startup Fintech Dubai program provides all the tools to take a startup from its initial launch to developing a highly scalable business with solid revenue growth. Selected startups get support from Startupbootcamp’s global network of entrepreneurs, investors and industry corporations, free co-working space, EUR 15,000 to cover living expenses and over EUR 450,000 worth of partner deals.

Fintech Accelerator

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |

Fintech Accelerator program is a brand new and unique innovation and entrepreneurship program launched by Fintech Saudi and powered by Flat6Labs. This carefully crafted program is set to help fintechs grow and designed to transfer best practices, tools, and resources available for fintech companies to develop and scale their solution-driven businesses.

The intensive three-month Fintech Accelerator program accelerates up to ten fintech. Selected fintech companies get exposure to investors, their teams are mentored and coached by renowned professionals and the companies have the chance to perfect their pitches and showcase their innovative solutions at regional events.

Misk Accelerator

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |

The Misk Accelerator is a dynamic three-month program designed exclusively for seed-stage tech startups aiming to scale their ventures without giving up equity. Founded in 2019, its mission is to empower and support early-stage tech startups, both domestically and internationally, with a strategic focus on leveraging Saudi Arabia’s position as the MENA region’s largest market for growth and operational expansion.

Central to the Misk Accelerator experience are personalized 1-to-1 coaching sessions, meticulously designed focus weeks for intensive skill-building, and masterclasses and workshops facilitated by industry leaders and entrepreneurship experts. These sessions are tailored to address specific challenges faced by startups, offering valuable insights and practical guidance to enhance their entrepreneurial journey.

A pivotal event within the program is the Misk Accelerator Investor Night, where founders showcase their innovative business ideas to a select group of VCs and angel investors.

The culmination of the Misk Accelerator program is the Demo Day, a prestigious event in the Saudi innovation ecosystem. At Demo Day, senior stakeholders converge to learn about the groundbreaking solutions developed by the startups, further amplifying their visibility and potential impact.

The Misk Accelerator is particularly interested in tech startups at the early stages of development, showing initial traction and with ambitions to either establish or expand their presence within the Saudi Arabian market. Importantly, the program does not require equity in exchange for its comprehensive suite of support services, refraining from offering direct funding while instead focusing on equipping startups with the necessary tools and networks to thrive in their respective industries.

Misk Growth Accelerator

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |

The Misk Growth Accelerator is a three-month, post-acceleration program for MENA startups with product market fit that are seeking for a scalable growth model.

With a three on-site bootcamps and a demo-day in Riyadh, the hybrid (virtual/on-site) program permits startups to stay close to their customers all the time, while benefiting from constant coaching from in-house growth and external growth experts.

Companies get a US$100,000 total investment from two renowned investors Seedstars and Vision Ventures, and a chance to get follow-on of up to US$1 million.

The program is open to tech startups from any sector.

Misk Startup Bootcamps Powered by Flat6Labs

Location: Saudi Arabia |

The Misk Startup Bootcamps Powered by Flat6Labs is an unique and exciting innovation and entrepreneurship program focused on fostering the local Saudi talent.

Selected entrepreneurs and teams get to build up their experience in topics like product management, marketing, accounting and finance, human resources, communications and more, in an exciting number of bootcamps happening across different cities within Saudi Arabia.

The program is open to ideas and startups in the following sectors: fintech, social/online media platforms, education tools and platforms, healthcare, renewable energy, big data and analytics, retail and commerce, and sustainable innovation.

SPARK

Location: Saudi Arabia |

SPARK is a flagship entrepreneur program hosted by Misk. This intensive six-week initiative is designed to guide aspiring entrepreneurs from the idea stage to a viable business plan, leveraging expertise from world-leading entrepreneurial experts.

SPARK also functions as a competitive platform where the top 10 entrepreneur finalists pitch their ideas to a panel of judges, with the top 5 receiving SAR 50,000 in support.

The program is indispensable for entrepreneurs in the early stages of their journey, aiming not only to enhance their entrepreneurial skills but also to clarify the critical factors necessary for their ideas to succeed.
Participants undergo a structured process to assess their idea’s strengths and weaknesses, develop strategic thinking around problem-solving and solution, formulate viable business models to generate revenue, validate their ideas in the market, and create a realistic roadmap for implementation.

They receive a pitch deck template on the first day to structure their brand’s narrative effectively. Weekly video pitch sessions allow participants to refine their presentations, culminating in a polished 10-minute pitch at the program’s conclusion.

The program schedule includes twice-weekly sessions, each lasting two hours. One session deep dives into critical entrepreneurial aspects, while the other features interactive panel-style sessions with world-leading entrepreneurs sharing best practices. Additionally, participants have access to entrepreneur coaches throughout the program to refine every aspect of their pitch.

Misk Launchpad 6.0

Location: Saudi Arabia |

Misk Launchpad 6.0 is a 10-week virtual program, tailored for aspiring entrepreneurs to transform innovative ideas into MVPs. It offers comprehensive support through seminars, workshops, 1:1 mentorship, and networking events covering ideation validation, business modeling, financial management, marketing, legal aspects, and investor readiness.

Participants benefit from hands-on development opportunities, guidance in navigating regulatory environments, and access to a network of investors and industry leaders, aimed at preparing them for market entry and growth in Saudi Arabia.

Finance Forward MENA

Location: MENA |

Finance Forward MENA is an accelerator program for MENA and Turkey-based startups that are using tech to help low-income individuals and families manage their day-to-day finances, build short- and long-term savings and wealth.

The accelerator is a collaboration between Village Capital, MetLife Foundation, and PayPal. It is looking for entrepreneurs building high-growth, scalable solutions focused on the following regional challenges: gender inequality, youth unemployment, access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and digital identity.

Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF) Accelerator

Location: UAE |

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF) Accelerator, launched by the UAE Ministry of Finance, is a pivotal initiative aimed at fostering innovation within the UAE and beyond. Established in alignment with the UAE’s National Strategy for Advanced Innovation, the accelerator seeks to empower high-potential innovators by providing tailored support to amplify their impact on industry and the UAE economy.

Participants in the program receive comprehensive resources, expert coaching, and mentorship to enhance their capabilities, scale their businesses, and accelerate growth. Beyond support, the accelerator offers access to potential investment opportunities and valuable connections across the region, facilitating networking and strategic alliances.

The initiative has garnered significant global interest, receiving applications from diverse innovators worldwide. Successful participants join a prestigious cohort that has included over 150 businesses from 28 countries. Notable successes from past cohorts include Fortyguard in cleantech and Verofax in asset tracking management, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness in advancing pioneering technologies.

DIFC Fintech Hive Scale Up Program

Location: UAE |

The DIFC Fintech Hive Scale Up Program is a funding accelerator for Series A+ and fundraising startups that is powered by venture capital (VC) firms, family offices, corporate and government funds, private equity firms, and investment banks.

This program is designed to scale these startups in the MENA region through strategic partnerships and investment resources of the DIFC Fintech Hive ecosystem. Throughout the program, startups get exposed to interviews with a VC panel and direct introductions to investment committees of interested VCs.

Benefits of joining the DIFC Fintech Hive Scale Up Program include the ability to accelerate funding rounds, gain access to the region’s leading investor network and tap into partners’ resources.

Eligibility criteria include having raised a Series A funding round and looking to raise Series B onwards, being able to demonstrate that the fintech solution is highly scalable, and targeting the MENA market in the next stage of growth.

Metaverse Accelerator Programme

Location: UAE |

The Metaverse Accelerator Programme is a pioneering initiative poised at the intersection of blockchain technology and the metaverse. Aimed at global startups, this program serves as a platform for innovators shaping the future of virtual environments. It aligns with the UAE’s strategic vision to lead in Metaverse innovation, particularly within the finance sector.

Participants in the program collaborate closely with leading private and public institutions to address challenges and pioneer groundbreaking solutions. This initiative not only fosters innovation but also facilitates strategic partnerships crucial for advancing Metaverse technologies.

Key benefits of the Metaverse Accelerator Programme include workshops and support services from over 55 ecosystem partners, marketing and public relation exposure within the fintech community, and access to co-working spaces at DIFC. Participants also gain opportunities to build proof-of-concepts for government and non-government entities, demonstrate MVPs, and engage directly with executives to enhance growth prospects.

AccelerateHer

Location: UAE |

AccelerateHer, by the DIFC Fintech Hive, is a female-focused career mentorship accelerator that aims to equip young aspiring executives with the necessary tools and experience to broaden their knowledge and reach in the industry and play a more active role in shaping the future of the financial landscape.

The program is open to young women from different organizations within the financial services sector who are at an early stage of their career and are seeking mentorship and advice from seasoned professionals in the industry.

Selected women get exposed to a diverse range of experiences and are able to build their network, skills and knowledge through gaining access to the different activities at the DIFC Fintech Hive such as mentorship, workshops, networking opportunities and more.

Benefits of joining the AccelerateHer program include gaining access to one-on-one mentorship from industry executives, exposure to DIFC Fintech Hive events and activities, networking opportunities, and access to fintech ecosystem and leading financial institutions.

Eligibility criteria include having between six months to three years of career experience, being ambitious, and having a career within the field of financial services.

FasterCapital Grow Your Startup

Location: Online |

FasterCapital is an online incubator, accelerator, and service provider that helps startups and small businesses worldwide and invest in them in a work-per-equity model. It provides either technical development per equity or business development per equity. It also helps startups and SMEs that are raising capital from angel investors, VCs, micro VCs and other funding sources.

FasterCapital invests in startups from different industries, including fintech, edutech, healthtech, entertainment, media, software, e-commerce, blockchain and more, and from different stages. Though FasterCapital is based in Dubai, it is country agnostic.

FasterCapital’s Grow Your Startup program helps startups by opening new markets for them, get their product internationalized, find the right pricing in each market, and provide them with marketing strategy consulting.

This program targets startups that have a product and are looking to expand their reach to new markets and users, increase their sales and revenues, find new sales funnels, find a marketing/sales team, find a business development manager. The program offers other business development services, outsourcing content creation, market strategy consulting, and outsourcing sales management.

In addition to the Grow Your Startup program, FasterCapital also offers the Raise Capital program, which focuses on helping startup raise the money they need to grow and expand their venture; the Idea to Product program, which helps entrepreneurs move their idea to the “investable idea” stage; and the Technical Co-founder program, which provides selected startups with the technical skills needed to build their tech product.

Corporate Sprint Accelerator

Location: UAE |

The Corporate Sprint Accelerator (CSA) is a flagship program by startAD aimed at fostering collaborations between corporates and startups. Over its nine editions, CSA has successfully partnered with prominent organizations such as Etihad, HSBC, Ripple, Alec, Oracle, and CCC.

This program presents a significant opportunity for early-stage startups looking to harness their solutions to address specific business challenges, create new opportunities, and establish valuable partnerships with leading entities in the UAE.

CSA equips startups to showcase their potential in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, leveraging the UAE’s position as the Middle East’s economic hub. Participants benefit from access to investment opportunities, avenues for business deals and partnerships, and an expanded network within the global and regional ecosystem.

Sanabil 500 MENA Seed Accelerator

Location: Saudi Arabia |

The Sanabil 500 MENA Seed Accelerator, organized by 500 Global and Sanabil Investments, targets tech startups in the MENA region. The program seeks early-stage startups with a minimum viable product (MVP) and some initial traction, aiming to help them scale. Its goal is to provide startups with the foundation to validate and scale their businesses regionally and globally.

The 12-week program is divided into three phases. The first two weeks focus on foundational growth, including growth marketing hacks, customer profiling, and developing effective one-liners. The next seven weeks, called Growth Weeks, involve growth experiments, customer interviews, and weekly one-on-one meetings with mentors from 500 Global’s extensive network. The final three weeks are dedicated to pitch preparation, culminating in a Demo Day where startups present to partners and industry stakeholders.

Participants in the accelerator benefit from dedicated mentorship and programming throughout the 12 weeks, an equity investment of US$100,000 or more, and access to 500 Global’s extensive network of founders, community events, and partners.

Since its inception, the Sanabil 500 MENA Seed Accelerator has graduated 77 companies. The latest batch, Batch 7, included 12 startups selected from around 400 applicants, focusing on diverse sectors such as fintech, foodtech, SaaS, machine learning, e-commerce, agritech, adtech, and proptech.

Fintech for a Future Accelerator

Location: Egypt |

The Fintech for a Future Accelerator, brought to Egypt for the first time in 2024 by Changelabs, aims to support 12 innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the fintech sector. The program focuses on helping these startups develop their products, raise funding, and build strategic partnerships to increase access to finance and create high-tech jobs in Egypt. It targets SMEs from Africa and the MENA region that are looking to expand their solutions into Egypt.

In partnership with SANAD Entrepreneurship Academy, FMO, Disruptech Ventures, and InDrive New Ventures, the Fintech for a Future Accelerator offers a platform for early-stage ventures to scale their financial solutions, empowering individuals and businesses across Egypt.

The accelerator offers several key benefits to participating startups, including funding opportunities to support the development and launch of fintech solutions, connections with potential investors, partners, and customers, and coaching and mentorship from experienced industry leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs. The program is delivered in a hybrid format, combining online and in-person elements, and covers topics such as value proposition, customer acquisition, commercialization, market positioning, and milestone planning.

Participants will receive US$25,000 in AWS funding, tech support, design services, and more. Upon completing the program, startups will have the opportunity to pitch to investors during Demo Day and will be connected with a vast network of international investors, industry experts, and partners.

AIM-X

Location: Saudi Arabia |

Artificial Intelligence Mission (AI.M) is a national initiative by Saudi Arabia, aiming to foster a comprehensive innovation ecosystem in artificial intelligence (AI) and solidify the country’s regional and global leadership in AI over the next five years. This initiative is a collaboration between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology’s National Technology Development Program (NTDP), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA).

A central component of AI.M is the startup accelerator program, AIM-X, led by SparkLabs Group, an early-stage VC firm with a track record of investing in over 550 startups globally. SparkLabs has been investing in AI since 2016 and was a participant in OpenAI’s recent financing round. They have also invested in AI companies like Vectara, Gideon Bros, Kneron, Anthropic, Aquabyte, and Lucidya.

AIM-X targets early-stage (seed and Series A) AI startups. Selected startups receive a US$200,000 investment for up to 6% of equity.

Africa Fintech Accelerator

Location: Online |

The Africa Fintech Accelerator, by Visa, is designed to foster financial innovation across the continent, providing selected startups with 12 weeks of 1:1 mentorship, personalized training, and extensive networking opportunities.

The Africa Fintech Accelerator targets seed to Series A startups, offering them access to funding, development resources, and opportunities to address key challenges in the African fintech landscape. The virtual program concludes with an in-person Demo Day, where startups can pitch their innovations to key players in the ecosystem, including funding partners, angel investors, and venture capitalists.

Launched in June 2023, the Africa Fintech Accelerator program reflects Visa’s commitment to revolutionizing the payments ecosystem in Africa, part of a broader US$1 billion investment pledge by 2027.

Kickstart Bahrain Accelerator

Location: Bahrain/Online |

Kickstart Bahrain and the Startup Buddy have partnered to offer a free ten-week online accelerator program for startups worldwide. This program combines weekly live sessions, self-learning, and assignments, with the primary focus on sectors such as edtech, fintech, and startup building.

The accelerator is open to startups at any stage within these sectors. Participants must actively engage in live sessions and complete assignments. Graduating startups will have the opportunity to pitch their companies to investors, receive a graduation certificate, and qualify for free company setup, co-working space, and additional support in Manama, Bahrain.

The program covers a range of topics, including ideation to growth, business model development, product/service validation, best practices in edtech/fintech/startup building, company setup, and doing business in Bahrain. Group sessions will also be conducted, where participants evaluate each other and their startups. Additionally, the program includes fundraising and pitching guidance.

National Digital Talent Incubator (NDTI)

Location: UAE |

The National Digital Talent Incubator (NDTI) is a program designed to foster the next generation of Emirati fintech pioneers. The six-week initiative targets visionary Emirati founders and co-founders, aiming to redefine the finance sector. The program, supported by strategic partners such as DIFC Innovation Hub, Visa, Microsoft, and Dell Technologies, offers participants an immersive environment that accelerates fintech growth.

The NDTI program provides a comprehensive support system, including mentorship from senior leaders at Emirates NBD and specialized immersion days with key partners. Participants benefit from extensive networking opportunities, connecting with a vibrant community of innovators, established corporations, and potential investors.

NBO Fintech Accelerator

Location: Oman |

The NBO Fintech Accelerator, by the National Bank of Oman (NBO) and Al Jabr, aims to support startups and promote sustainable business growth within the country, highlighting NBO’s commitment to innovation and economic development.

The program focuses on empowering Oman’s youth by turning innovative fintech ideas into successful businesses. The program offers participants various services, including business incubation, development sessions, mentorship from industry leaders, and access to a vast network of business contacts. These resources aim to cultivate high-growth enterprises that contribute to the diversification of the Omani economy.

JOIN Fincubator

Location: Jordan |

JOIN Fincubator, officially launched in June 2023 under the patronage of HRH Crown Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah II and fully owned by Jordan Payments and Clearing Company (JoPACC), represents a pioneering initiative in Jordan’s fintech landscape. Established with a commitment to modernize Jordan’s economy and spearhead digital transformation across sectors, JOIN Fincubator is integral to efforts led by JoPACC and the Central Bank of Jordan.

JOIN Fincubator stands out as a unique fintech incubator, offering Jordanian entrepreneurs, financial institutions, and students the opportunity to develop their innovative fintech concepts. Participants benefit from a wide range of services, including access to infrastructure, expertise, partnerships, finance, and markets.

The incubator’s distinct value proposition lies in its dedicated infrastructure managed by JoPACC, equipped with tools like Open APIs that facilitate idea testing, validation, and product development. Notably, JOIN Fincubator houses The Jordan Regulatory Sandbox in partnership with the Central Bank of Jordan. This regulatory sandbox ensures that fintech innovations adhere to regulatory standards while fostering an environment conducive to creativity and entrepreneurship.