Abu Dhabi’s position as a global technology centre was reinforced at the Hub71 Impact Event 2025, held under the theme of “Impactful Momentum.” The flagship event, which brought together founders, investors, and government officials, served as a platform for the launch of a new programme, expansion of its specialist AI ecosystem, and the announcement of strategic partnerships, driving the Emirate’s next phase of innovation-driven growth.
The event demonstrated how Abu Dhabi is focused on building an end-to-end pathway for entrepreneurs, mirroring the core message of community and collaboration that defined the summit.
Expanding the Founder Journey and AI Ecosystem
Hub71 announced the launch of Initiate, a programme designed to empower early-stage founders to transform bold ideas into viable products and scalable ventures. The initiative, operated in partnership with global venture builders SC Ventures and VentureOne, provides hands-on expertise to validate ideas, structure business models, and prepare founders for seed investment. The programme transforms Abu Dhabi into one of the few global hubs offering a full pathway from initial idea to a market-ready startup.
Further cementing the Emirate’s technological ambitions, Hub71 also expanded its specialist Hub71+ AI ecosystem. Fifteen new strategic partners joined the network of investors, corporates, and government entities, including Anchor Partners Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) and BECO Capital. This growth is directly supporting Abu Dhabi’s objective of becoming the world’s first AI-native government by 2027 and reinforces the city’s role as a global testbed for responsible and applied AI innovation.
Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, commented that the launches reflect how the ecosystem is expanding opportunities for founders and entrepreneurs, strengthening Abu Dhabi’s role as a platform for technology growth. “We are building an ecosystem that fosters innovation and ensures its long-term growth,” he added.
Strategic Partnerships and Global Connections
The event showcased Hub71’s role as a catalyst for collaboration with new strategic partnerships. The procurement financing initiative with Numou, a subsidiary of ADGM, will help startups gain easier access to working capital to strengthen liquidity and accelerate SME growth. The ecosystem is also furthering its international outlook, welcoming eight leading Web3 startups from Hong Kong to Abu Dhabi as part of its Immersion Programmes.
This cross-border initiative reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as a gateway for international startups expanding into the Middle East. Joseph Chan, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), had previously spoken on this kind of collaboration, noting the close dialogue between the central banks and regulators in the UAE and Hong Kong.
Ahmad Ali Alwan previously explained how the ecosystem has grown from an “MVP” in 2019 to a thriving community with more than 390 startups from over 60 countries. “What makes Hub71 special isn’t the numbers. It’s the founders who typically the partners who believe early, and the team will never stop pushing forward, and we continue to deepen these partnerships with investors, universities, corporates,” he said.
The Power of Human Capital
The Impact Event featured keynote addresses and panels with over 40 global thought leaders, including entrepreneur and Shark Tank star Daymond John. In his address, John spoke about the importance of human capital over technology, noting that while AI can provide information, it cannot instil the dream needed to fly.
Daymond John shared his entrepreneurial journey, emphasising the fundamentals of business: don’t take in capital too soon, don’t scale too quick, and don’t spray yourself too thin. He stressed that success is built over time, not overnight, and that entrepreneurs need to focus on solving a problem and making the customer feel special.
“As every single entrepreneur realize, when you solve a problem and you make sure that you are doing a social cause, people today don’t want to know necessarily, what you’re doing for them. They want to know what you’re doing for somebody else,” Daymond John explained. This call for founders to “chase momentum, not money” echoed the event’s core message that collaboration and community are the true drivers of innovation.
