UAE Startups Can Now Apply for Microsoft’s GrowthX Accelerator

Microsoft’s GrowthX Accelerator Programme is now accepting applications in the UAE, a programme initially announced in January 2021 as part of a larger strategic framework set by the newly-forged partnership between Microsoft and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO).

The GrowthX Accelerator will facilitate the growth of business-to-business (B2B) startups across the region by offering direct access to Microsoft’s customers and partners, and by harnessing the benefits offered by Abu Dhabi for tech companies.

The programme will bring together innovators and facilitate connections through vigorous community engagement with the end goal of preparing startups to be investor-ready and well-connected within the regional ecosystem. Microsoft will welcome a total of 15 startups offering viable solutions to its partners’ corporate challenges to participate in the accelerator’s initial 12-week phase. The accelerator will feature virtual and physical workshops and training sessions, as well as a series of demo days and networking events in which startups can present their ideas to Microsoft’s regional customers and venture capitalists.

The UAE’s efforts to diversify its economy--buttressed by unfettered access to public and private funds for tech enterprise--has solidified its position as an increasingly attractive destination for investors, startups, accelerators, and incubators. Abu Dhabi has cultivated a tech-forward, nurturing environment for startups that continues to attract foreign investment. In the World Bank’s ‘Doing Business 2020’ index, the UAE ranked 16th out of 190 countries in its ‘Ease of Doing Business Subnational Report’, and the partnership between Microsoft and ADIO aims to further cultivate new opportunities for startups in the UAE.