DIFC Innovation Hub Connects Investors with Trailblazing Start-ups to Drive the Future of Finance

DIFC Innovation Hub, home to the first and largest financial technology accelerator in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, is hosting its annual flagship Investor Day, where the investor community will have the opportunity to meet the finalists of the ninth edition of the FinTech Accelerator Programme and the seventh edition of AccelerateHer.

Investor Day is the culmination of DIFC Innovation Hub’s programmes with an opportunity for the wider investor community to meet start-up finalists. Taking place on 13 December 2023 at the DIFC Atrium, the event will serve as a ‘graduation day’ for 19 start-ups from the FinTech Accelerator Programme and 10 women financial services professionals from AccelerateHer who will showcase their business plans and enhanced skillset, having been mentored by some of the region’s leading banks and insurance companies.

This year, AccelerateHer participants received endorsement and mentorship from Dubai Islamic Bank, whereas the FinTech Accelerator Programme was supported by Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC), Emirates NBD, Emirates Post Group (EPG), HSBC, Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB), Visa and Zurich.

At the event, finalists from both programmes will have the opportunity to present their innovative technologies, business plans and elevated skills that will help them with their future prospects to potential investors, industry leaders and senior stakeholders of financial partners.

The 2023 programmes focused on open banking, artificial intelligence, automation, innovative payment solutions, hyper-personalisation and customer experience, designed to further enhance financial literacy. Activities included mentorship sessions, professional and soft-skill workshops, and networking opportunities along with access to the DIFC Innovation Hub’s co-working spaces.

Mohammad AlBlooshi, Chief Executive Officer of the DIFC Innovation Hub, said: “We are thrilled to host our upcoming Investor Day, an event filled with excitement and promise. DIFC Innovation Hub’s accelerator programmes are appealing platforms for the world’s most innovative start-ups in the financial services industry. Investor Day is an opportunity for global investors and partners to access an exclusive cohort of talented start-ups that have successfully graduated from our accelerator programmes.”

The FinTech Accelerator Programme has a phenomenal track record of empowering start-ups by helping them to transform their ideas into products and offerings unique to the financial market. Over 3,000 entrepreneurs have entered the FinTech Accelerator Programme combined to date, with more than 150 FinTechs, RegTechs, InsurTechs and Islamic Finance start-ups having successfully graduated from the programme, delivering over 100 proof-of-concepts (POCs) with leading financial institutions in the region.

The AccelerateHER programme was launched in 2019 by the DIFC Innovation Hub to equip the next generation of women financial services professionals with substantial advisory, as they embark on their career journey, supported by Dubai’s top talent and industry leaders. The AccelerateHER network has successfully mentored over 100 women through more than 200 mentorship pairings and 120 workshops.