Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
Access to funding, mentorship and ecosystem support are three critical requirements for startups to scale successfully, according to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF).
Speaking to Aletihad during the Abu Dhabi Entrepreneurship Festival, Shaker Zainal, Head of MBRIF, said the fund's core mission is to help innovative companies grow in a way that is commercially viable and sustainable, providing both financial and non-financial support to founders building the next generation of businesses in the UAE.
He explained that the fund delivers this support through two complementary programmes designed to address the different challenges entrepreneurs face when building and expanding their ventures.
The Guarantee Scheme, he said, enables high-potential companies to secure financing through government-backed guarantees, allowing them to access funding without giving up equity.
At the same time, the Innovation Accelerator programme provides the broader support founders need as they grow, including mentorship, strategic guidance and connections across both the public and private sectors.
"We have consistently seen that growth requires more than capital alone, businesses also need the right ecosystem around them, and our role is to help bring those elements together in a practical way," Zainal explained.
He indicated that MBRIF prioritises businesses that combine strong innovation with clear market potential, particularly in sectors aligned with the UAE's long-term economic strategy, especially ventures operating in areas such as healthcare, clean energy, space, advanced technologies, fintech, sustainability and logistics.
"What matters most is not only the sector itself, but the strength of the innovation, its market readiness, its scalability, and its ability to create meaningful economic and social value," Zainal added.
Beyond financing, a major part of MBRIF's work involves helping entrepreneurs build capabilities and networks and the strategic positioning needed to scale their businesses, he said.
Through the Innovation Accelerator, founders receive mentorship from industry experts, strategic coaching, specialised workshops and access to a wide network of investors, corporates, regulators and partners.
"Many of the barriers founders face are not only financial, but they are also about market access, visibility, positioning and knowing how to navigate the next stage of growth," he noted. Therefore, the fund acts as a bridge connecting innovative businesses to the wider ecosystem.
Zainal also highlighted how the fund contributes to strengthening the UAE's position as a regional hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.
He said the UAE already provides a strong foundation for startups through forward-looking leadership, progressive regulation, advanced infrastructure and a clear national commitment to building a diversified, knowledge-based economy.
"Our role is to complement that broader national vision by helping innovative businesses access financing, mentorship, strategic partnerships and growth opportunities that allow them to build, scale and compete from the UAE," Zainal added.
He stressed that MBRIF not only supports individual businesses but also reinforces the wider ecosystem that continues to strengthen the UAE's position as a regional launchpad for entrepreneurship and globally relevant innovation.
