Dubai Founders HQ has teamed up with global venture capital firm Antler to launch the Entrepreneur Academy, a six-week programme aimed at guiding aspiring entrepreneurs through their first steps into business ownership.
The initiative targets individuals who have the drive to start a company but lack the experience or confidence to begin. Through a mix of online and in-person sessions, participants will learn to spot opportunities, validate ideas, build products and understand what it takes to launch and scale a venture. Mentors and operators from firms including AWS and Nvidia will offer hands-on guidance, alongside exposure to AI tools reshaping how startups are built today.
Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation, said the Academy reflects efforts to make entrepreneurship more accessible while strengthening Dubai's pipeline of future startups in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33.
Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, added that the programme gives emerging talent practical exposure to the commercial thinking needed for technology-driven ventures.
Antler Founder and CEO Magnus Grimeland said the barrier for many aspiring founders is not talent but knowing where to start, and the Academy is designed to close that gap by connecting participants directly with Dubai's startup ecosystem.
Graduates who wish to continue building their ventures will be fast-tracked into the Dubai Founders HQ and Antler Residency programme, creating a structured path from early exploration through pre-seed funding and long-term growth.
The Academy builds on the existing collaboration between the two organisations, which began with Antler's Dubai Residency welcoming founders from around the world. Together, the two programmes support D33's ambition to scale 30 unicorns from Dubai and cement its status as a global innovation hub.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
