AED 250,000 grant offered to UAE’s most promising startup
Aramex and Mastercard have announced a partnership to launch the inaugural edition of a new platform called ScaleUp, designed to support the UAE’s startup and small and medium enterprise (SME) community.
Launched in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Economy’s The Entrepreneurial Nation, ScaleUp presents an exciting opportunity for startups and SMEs in the UAE to pitch innovative ideas and stand a chance to win AED 250,000 (US$ 68,000), the opportunity to meet with angel investors and several additional benefits including marketing exposure. Furthermore, the finalists, as well as a select number of participants, will be invited to attend an exclusive ScaleUp networking event in November 2023.
The initiative builds on the companies’ efforts to empower SMEs and entrepreneurs. Mastercard has committed to bringing 50mn SMEs into the digital economy by 2025. Most recently, the technology company partnered with ‘Women Choice’ to support for women entrepreneurs and help create 1mn jobs for women in the Arab world.
” It is our privilege at Aramex to offer the incredible growth opportunity and competitive advantage that the ScaleUp platform brings to the vast and talented pool of SMEs in the UAE, building on our illustrious history of nurturing the region’s startup scene,” remarked Tarek Abu Yaghi, General Manager, Aramex, UAE.
“At Mastercard, we believe that empowering small businesses is key for an economy to survive and thrive,” commented Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, Market Development, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (EEMEA), Mastercard.
