United Arab Emirates News

SEF 2025 awards AED 200,000 to leading startups

Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival’s SEF x 1Tank rewards top startups with cash, investments, and awards

SEF 2025 grants AED 200,000 to leading startups

Sharjah: The exciting SEF x 1Tank Startup Pitch Competition, which kicked off the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) 2025, offered Dh200,000 in cash prizes and access to Dh500,000 in potential investments. The competition, which took place on the first day of the festival, honored creative startups that are making an impact on the entrepreneurial scene in the region.

The winners are Gam3s.GG (Creative Industries, sponsored by Emaar), Solumer (Sustainability Track, sponsored by Emaar), Hulexo (Tech & Industry 4.0, sponsored by du), and Squirrel Education (EdTech, sponsored by Crescent Enterprises). The judges were impressed by these startups’ ground-breaking solutions.

Another highlight of the festival was the SEFY Awards, which recognised noteworthy contributions to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The BEAH Group received the Ecosystem Enabler Award, Waste Lab received the Social Impact Award, Pulse IoT Technologies received the Excellence in Technology Award, Remel received the Rising Star designation, and Dr. Mohammed Al Hemayri was honoured for his exceptional mentoring skills.

With more than 400 submissions, the awards showcased the United Arab Emirates’ burgeoning innovation-driven startup scene. The head of du’s SME section, Greg Pearce, emphasised that the UAE is a great destination for entrepreneurs and advised company executives to help startups in order to ensure their long-term success.

The organisation has helped 450+ businesses, created 1,900+ jobs, generated $248 million in sales, and secured $271 million in finance since its founding in 2016, according to Abeer Al Amiri, Head of Partnerships and Programs at Sheraa.

With over 300 speakers from 45 countries, five active stages, and 250 events, the festival’s biggest edition confirmed the SEF 2025 startup pitch as a key driver of innovation and business success in the region.

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