Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) announced on Tuesday it has formed a new partnership with Startupbootcamp to support the development of the growing fintech and venture capital ecosystem in the Centre as well as promote entrepreneurship in the region. According to the organization, this partnership will explore setting up multiple programmes for early-stage startups within the fields of fintech, insurtech, and regtech, in collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders from various sectors, beyond the realm of financial services.
DIFC also reported that the program will focus on providing the necessary guidance and mentorship to support the qualifying early stage startups during their incubation period. It will also see the two parties jointly nurture the UAE and regional venture capital ecosystem, building on DIFC’s success in this field. This collaboration will help stimulate the development of complementary products and services and promote the entrepreneurial surge in the UAE, which will attract more venture capital into the region. Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer at the DIFC Authority, stated:
“As MEASA’s leading fintech hub and one of the world’s top 10, Dubai remains at the forefront of driving the future of this important industry and enabling the development of an inclusive financial ecosystem across the MEASA region. We continue to deliver on our promise to lead the development of a world-class fintech ecosystem in the region and provide an integrated platform for entrepreneurs, startups, and venture capital firms, to come together and create innovative solutions for the region through our collaboration with industry leaders like Startupbootcamp. All of the efforts we are delivering are part of the broader innovation-led strategy that Dubai is promoting, guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.”
Carsten Koelbek, Chairman of Startupbootcamp, went onto add:
“Startupbootcamp has been leading the development of the fintech and InsurTech industries in cities like London, New York, Singapore, Amsterdam, Mexico City and Mumbai through our programmes. To date we have invested in and accelerated more than 200 fintech and InsurTech startups. We are now excited about expanding our global fintech and InsurTech foot print to Dubai and look forward to collaborating with DIFC, the leading financial centre in the MEASA region, and industry partners to both help local and regional talent grow their businesses, but also to bring the best international startups to Dubai so they can partner with the established players here in Dubai and together bring new technology and business.”
With more than 1,850 active registered companies and a fintech community of nearly 50 firms as well as numerous fintech-related clients, DIFC considers itself today MEASA’s leading financial center and fintech hub. In addition to fintech Hive at DIFC, the region’s first accelerator programme for growth stage startups, DIFC’s fintech ecosystem notably comprises an innovation-testing license, fintech license, an interactive and collaborative workspace, along with access to the largest financial community in the region.