Hub71 announces support for UAE–India Start-Up Series 2.0 to expand the India–Abu Dhabi startup corridor

Hub71 has pledged support for the second edition of the UAE–India Start-Up Series, a cross-border initiative run by the UAE‑India CEPA Council designed to funnel high‑potential Indian startups into Abu Dhabi’s technology ecosystem. Announced at the Hub71 Impact Event 2026, Start‑Up Series 2.0 will identify ten Indian startups for tailored engagement with Hub71’s Access and Immersion programmes and offers a package of mentorship, regulatory support and financial incentives to help founders assess Abu Dhabi as a base for regional and global expansion.

"Through the UAE–India CEPA Council Startup Series, Hub71 is welcoming a cohort of ambitious founders building innovative companies with strong market validation and global potential," said Ahmad Ali Alwan, Chief Executive Officer of Hub71. "The programme provides entrepreneurs with access to the expertise, networks, and opportunities needed to support their next stage of growth and international expansion."

Programme mechanics and incentives

Start‑Up Series 2.0 narrows its focus to sectors aligned with Abu Dhabi’s stated innovation priorities, including HealthTech, FinTech, ClimateTech and Advanced Manufacturing, plus other emerging technologies. The partnership will select ten Indian startups to participate across Hub71’s two engagement tracks:

• Access Programme: Three startups will be shortlisted, with one formally onboarded. The onboarded company will receive tailored mentorship, investor introductions, regulatory support, and access to Hub71’s corporate and government partners, alongside AED 250,000 in in‑kind incentives and AED 250,000 in cash via a SAFE note.
• Immersion Programme: Seven startups will join a two‑week immersion — one week of virtual preparation on the Abu Dhabi and UAE ecosystem followed by one week of in‑person, curated sessions at Hub71 focused on market entry, regulator briefings and introductions to investors and partners.

The Start‑Up Series partnership between Hub71 and the UAE‑India CEPA Council was first announced in November 2025 and has already produced tangible outcomes. The inaugural edition drew more than 10,000 applications and led to several founders entering Hub71 programmes: AI‑first radiology platform Endimension was accepted into Hub71’s Access Programme as part of Cohort 18. Backed by Inflection Point Ventures, SucSEED Indovation and SINE IIT Bombay, Endimension serves more than 800 hospitals and diagnostic centres and has analysed over 1.5 million scans across X‑ray, CT and MRI modalities.

Four additional startups from the first edition — BioReform, Docket Run, Data Sutram and SBNRI — entered Hub71’s Immersion Programme, participating in 1:1 needs assessments, market‑entry sessions, investor and corporate engagement, regulatory briefings and a showcase at the Hub71 Impact Event.

Diplomatic backing and strategic intent

"The UAE‑India relationship is one of the most consequential bilateral partnerships of our time," said H.E. Abdulnasser Alshaali, PhD, Ambassador of the UAE to India. "What matters now is translating that framework into tangible opportunity, and the UAE is firmly committed to building a genuine innovation corridor with India. The UAE‑India Start‑Up Series, delivered with the strong support of Hub71, is how we turn that ambition into reality: connecting Indian founders with Abu Dhabi’s capital, customers, and ecosystem, and giving them a clear route to scale across borders."

Hub71 said Start‑Up Series 2.0 will adopt a more rigorous selection process and deeper engagement with Abu Dhabi’s investment and corporate community. Applications for the second edition are scheduled to open in July, as the ecosystem seeks to formalise a durable corridor that connects Indian entrepreneurial talent with Abu Dhabi’s capital, customers and infrastructure for scaling into global markets.