High-potential UAE startups to receive mentorship from prominent business leaders
Following the success of Dubai Chamber’s Global Business Forum on Africa held in Kigali, Rwanda earlier this year, the Global Business Forum (GBF) Mentorship Programme initiated by Dubai Chambers has now been joined by eight prominent business leaders: Aboyeji Iyinoluwa, Managing Partner at Street Capital; Chris Folayan, Founder and CEO of Mall for Africa; Eghosa Omoigui, Founder and managing Partner of EchoVC; Jonathan Berman, CEO of J.E. Berman Associates; Nassib Boueri, CEO of Wunderman MENA; Chris Thomas, CO-CEO and Co-founder of Eureeca; Cynthia Corby, the Middle East Construction Industry Leader for Deloitte and Nader Amiri, Founder and CEO of el Grocer.
These business leaders would put on a collaborative effort to mentor the selected startups from both UAE and Africa, with UAE-based mentors teaming up with African startups and Africa-based mentors teaming up with UAE Startups. The combined expertise and knowledge of these business leaders spans across many different fields such as Technology, Construction, Education and Finance etc. These 8 mentors from both Africa and UAE have also been credited with the success and growth of many other startups which are great signs for the upcoming Mentorship Programme.
Moreover, these mentors would help prepare the startups to exhibit at the 5th Global Business Forum on Africa in Dubai on November 18th-19th 2019. The 8 startups will get a massive boost to their exposure within the UAE and African markets and business communities. This mutually beneficial cooperation between mentors and startups from both Africa and UAE can reap significant benefits for all parties involved. Earlier this year, His Highness Hamad Buamin stated, ‘Building bridges of communication between UAE and Africa is important to boost cross-border cooperation as startups from both sides specialize in advanced technologies, artificial intelligence, fintech and smart solutions. In this way both sides will experience mutual growth and abundant benefits for their businesses.’
This pairing of mentors and entrepreneurs will significantly help build a prominent global presence as well as fostering cross-border cooperation between Africa and UAE. Valuable partnerships and the access to new opportunities for startups of both region would pave the way for a mutually beneficial and growing relationship between UAE and Africa.