KFED and Hub71 launch first MZN Hub71 startup cohort

Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) and Abu Dhabi-based Hub71 have launched the inaugural MZN Hub71 programme, selecting 17 Emirati founders for a three-month startup cohort at MZN Hub Al Ain. The inaugural cohort was chosen from more than 370 applications and focuses on priority and emerging sectors including HealthTech, ClimateTech, FinTech and AgriTech, alongside ventures integrating artificial intelligence across multiple industries. Program data shows nearly 90 percent of participating founders are under the age of 35, more than 75 percent are launching their first business ventures, female entrepreneurs make up 35 percent of the cohort, and 59 percent of selected founders were referred through partner networks established by Khalifa Fund and Hub71.

“We are pleased to launch the first MZN Hub71 cohort in collaboration with Hub71; it reflects Khalifa Fund’s commitment to empowering Emirati entrepreneurs and nurturing the next generation of national enterprises. Through MZN Al Ain, we are creating a structured pathway that enables founders to transform ideas into viable businesses, strengthen their capabilities, and contribute directly to the UAE’s economic diversification goals,” said HE Khalifa Al Kuwaiti, Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship Sector at Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development.

The MZN Hub71 initiative is led by Khalifa Fund and delivered through MZN Hub Al Ain, designed to provide Emirati founders with a pathway to transform business concepts into scalable ventures while strengthening Abu Dhabi’s innovation ecosystem. The three-month programme guides founders through stages from concept creation to execution, including minimum viable product (MVP) development, market validation and launch preparation. It will culminate in a Demo Day where founders present to investors, government stakeholders and ecosystem partners.

Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, emphasised the strategic focus on early-stage support: “MZN Hub71 reflects the growing momentum among Emirati founders building ventures from Abu Dhabi. This cohort brings together an impressive group of founding teams developing timely solutions well positioned to enter the market. At Hub71, we are proud to support founders from the earliest stages, helping them build strong foundations, validate their ideas, and scale their businesses.”

The cohort’s sector mix aligns with Abu Dhabi’s economic diversification priorities: HealthTech initiatives target improved healthcare delivery and digital health tools; ClimateTech projects address sustainability and clean energy adoption; FinTech ventures aim at financial inclusion and digitised services; while AgriTech teams focus on food security and efficiency. Several startups explicitly incorporate artificial intelligence to enhance product capabilities and market fit across these verticals.

Organisers say the programme’s partner-driven referral model played a central role in identifying talent, with 59 percent of cohort members entering via networks developed by KFED and Hub71. Beyond the three-month curriculum, participating founders will retain access to Abu Dhabi’s wider innovation ecosystem, including capital networks, commercial opportunities and strategic support intended to help scale ventures regionally and internationally.

What comes next

• Completion of the three-month MZN Hub71 programme and a Demo Day presentation to investors and stakeholders.
• Ongoing access to Abu Dhabi capital networks and commercial partnership opportunities for participating founders.
• Continued ecosystem collaboration between Khalifa Fund and Hub71 to identify, refer and support emerging Emirati entrepreneurial talent.