Dubai Future Accelerators (DFA), an initiative of Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) and the Government of Dubai, is once again scouting new talent from among the world’s most innovative start-ups and scale-ups to join its flagship programme.

DFA is set up as a business development and market-entry accelerator based on specific demands identified by its partners. Start-ups and scale-ups offering software or product-solutions that meet partners’ requirements are invited to submit their applications until November 30, said a statement.

Cohort 7 will invite startups to experiment with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) to brainstorm innovative solutions to the likely challenges facing cities of the future in key industries, such as healthcare, transportation, and safety and security, it said.

With DFA facilitating collaborations, the companies will work hand in hand with government entities to address their industry-specific issues. Participating government partners will include Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Dubai Police and Etisalat Digital.

The launch of this year’s edition follows the success of six earlier cohorts that synergized 13 government entities and 219 startups on 97 challenges. Furthermore, 71 percent of these startups have signed agreements with their partner entities to test their solutions through pilot projects or implement them within their organisations.

Dubai Future Accelerators is an intensive nine-week program that forges partnerships government entities and private sector organisations from Dubai and with start-ups, scale-ups and innovative SMEs from around the world to co-create transformational solutions. It offers a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to use the city as a test bed for their avant-garde prototypes.

Companies selected to join our 7th cohort get invited to an in-residence program where participants will benefit from direct access to senior decision makers, access to a coworking space, paid roundtrip airfare to Dubai and paid accommodation for the duration of their participation in the mentorship program. Furthermore, DFA does not take any equity in the participating start-ups, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service