UAE startup race moves beyond ‘raise quicker, grow faster’, Sheraa says
Sharjah: In the UAE, startup founders are being pushed to look beyond fast fundraising and rapid growth, with more attention now on whether customers return, whether the numbers add up and whether the business can last. “Startups used to be all about speed. Raise quicker, grow faster. That was the measure of success. Now it’s deeper than that. We’ve matured as an ecosystem,” said Tayeb Hassan,…
In the UAE, startup founders are being encouraged to focus on aspects beyond just rapid fundraising and fast growth, according to Tayeb Hassan, Community Growth Manager at Sheraa. The attention is now shifting towards customer retention, financial viability, and the underlying values of the business. This maturation of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Sharjah and across the UAE has led to a more demanding set of questions from founders.
Sheraa, a startup ecosystem in Sharjah, is adapting to this change by offering deeper support to entrepreneurs. Founders are no longer just seeking quick answers to their business queries but need help determining the most critical tasks for their startups at any given stage. Hassan emphasized that Sheraa’s role is increasingly centered around guiding founders to prioritize the most relevant, high-leverage tasks for their businesses.
One of the advantages Sharjah offers to entrepreneurs is its proximity to universities, investors, corporates, and other founders, providing a unique opportunity for networking and collaboration. Sheraa addresses this by providing a year-round membership program that offers tailored support based on where a founder is in their journey.
This includes investor and commercial introductions, networking opportunities, and customized assistance for founders at different stages of their businesses. Sheraa also runs initiatives like the Access Sharjah Challenge, which connects startups with procurement opportunities at larger organizations, giving young businesses a pathway to potential customers and commercial contracts.
During recent regional disruptions, Sheraa stepped in to support affected businesses through the Entrepreneurship Resilience Fund, providing monetary grants, marketing support, and exposure opportunities. The fund involved over 22 partners and aimed to help businesses regain stability in the face of supply chain issues and other challenges.
Looking ahead, Hassan highlighted manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, and sustainability as sectors where Sharjah sees potential for growth. He also emphasized the importance of integrating technology and AI across industries rather than treating them as standalone areas. For Hassan, the ultimate proposition of Sharjah for founders revolves around access and community.
Entrepreneurs often choose a location based on cost and practical considerations, but the longer-term question is where a company can continue to build and scale. He stressed that community equals continuity, feedback, and growth, underscoring the importance of a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs to thrive.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
