Startup Weekend Emirati version launched

The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development succeeded in having lots of valuable achievements in inspiring the Emirati entrepreneurs and to encourage various groups of the society for innovation and creation and that was through the different programmes launched or sponsored by Khalifa Fund since its establishment in 2007, Chief Executive Officer of Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development Abdullah Saeed Al Darmaki  said. “Khalifa Fund organised more than 350 training sessions which were introduced for more than 3350 male and female Emiratis, and still the Fund will continue its efforts to spread the culture of entrepreneurship though different functions and activities which aims to encourage the emirates for innovation. Startup Weekend is one of the most popular activities which showed great success in discovering the youth skills and to empower their energy”, explained Al Darmaki in his opening speech for the Startup Weekend in its Emirati version on Thursday. “The information technology sector is one of promising investment sectors despite the high competition, but KF will provide all sources of support to guarantee the success of any IT project meet the requirement and regulations of Khalifa Fund”, added Al Darmaki. Kamal Hassan, Director of Innovation Machine Organization, organisers of the 1st Startup Weekend in Abu Dhabi in cooperation with Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and other local organisations such as towfour54 and Maklum Technology, said the Organisation had received more than 470 registration requests. “This function aims to encourage for innovation and creativity among the youth especially in the Technology and tele-communication fields, as the programme will be for three days for 54 hours. The participants will present various ideas related to technology and communication fields, which will make this the best place for their innovative ideas and to move the ideas to implantation phase”, Hassan added. “The participants will communicate with many experts and consultants who will give them advices in different technical fields, and there will be businessmen besides experts in marketing, business administration and law. The participant will be asked to present his/ her idea within limit time which should not exceed 60 seconds. The jury will be putting special criteria to choice the best three outstanding projects to receive Khalifa Fund’s financial award”, Hassan explained.