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Dubai Holding Opens Applications for Innovate For Tomorrow Impact Accelerator 2025

Dubai Holding is excited to announce the launch of its second edition of the Innovate For Tomorrow Impact Accelerator for 2025, inviting bold innovators from around the globe to apply. This initiative aims to empower entrepreneurs focused on circular economy solutions to create a sustainable future.

The programme, in partnership with TECOM Group's incubator, in5, provides a unique opportunity to redefine how resources are consumed, produced, and regenerated. Participating entrepreneurs can compete for a grand prize pool of AED 850,000 and the chance to secure pilot funding to bring their innovations to life within Dubai Holding’s expansive ecosystem.

Addressing Urgent Issues

The 2025 accelerator specifically challenges scale-ups to address critical issues regarding the circular economy, focusing on three key sub-themes: food loss and waste, resource recovery and regeneration, and digital innovation for sustainability. The call for submissions is open until November 25, 2025, and innovators are encouraged to submit inclusive, tech-backed solutions that can reduce environmental stress and create new economic value.

Out of all applications, 15 exceptional scale-ups will be selected to participate in a comprehensive 12-week hybrid accelerator programme. This will grant them access to tailored mentorship from industry veterans, masterclasses, and workshops aimed at refining their business strategies and speeding up market entry. Additionally, participants will benefit from extensive network opportunities with investors and access to Dubai Holding’s world-class infrastructures and ecosystems.

Culmination in Demo Day

The highlight of the accelerator journey will be the Demo Day in 2026, where the most promising scale-ups will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas to a panel of prominent investors, partners, and industry leaders. The victorious participant will receive significant funding to implement their innovative solutions in real-world scenarios with Dubai Holding’s support.

The first edition of the Innovate For Tomorrow Impact Accelerator, held in 2024, attracted a remarkable 150 applications from 31 countries. Notable winners included Othalo from Norway, whose project transforms plastic waste into housing materials, The Surpluss from the UAE, which facilitates the redistribution of excess industrial materials, and UAE’s Midori Network, known for turning plastic waste into construction resources. Each of these initiatives has successfully formed partnerships with Dubai Holding, demonstrating the accelerator’s ability to foster impactful growth.

Huda Buhumaid, Group Chief Impact Officer at Dubai Holding, articulated the mission best: “By supporting future-oriented solutions capable of transforming industries, Dubai Holding is driving lasting change that bolsters community resilience and environmental health. Our initiative aligns with the UAE’s vision to transition towards a more circular and sustainable economy.”

Continued Commitment to Sustainability

This programme reflects Dubai Holding’s dedication to empowering local and global communities while advancing the UAE Circular Economy Policy 2031 and the strategic initiative of UAE Net Zero by 2050. Additionally, the accelerator aligns with the broader UAE Centennial 2071 vision of fostering innovation and sustainable development.

With in5’s entrepreneurship ecosystem fueling the program and BOLT as the execution partner, the initiative combines industry expertise, structured training, and unparalleled market access opportunities to facilitate the growth of visionary founders and their cutting-edge solutions.

In5, established by the TECOM Group in 2013, has supported over 1,000 start-ups, who collectively have raised more than AED 7.8 billion in funding across various sectors, including technology and media.

According to Majed Al Suwaidi, Senior Vice President at TECOM Group PJSC, the support for the Innovate For Tomorrow Impact Accelerator signifies a commitment to providing innovative entrepreneurs with the tools and guidance necessary for sustainable success. “We will continue to assist start-ups in transforming aspiring concepts into scalable and impactful enterprises, that prioritize future sustainability.”

Application Details

The accelerator is open to scale-ups that possess a functional prototype or a minimum viable product and exhibit initial customer validation or funding between pre-seed and pre-Series A stages. Notably, at least one full-time founder must commit to the full 12-week programme in order to demonstrate their seriousness in scaling their solutions within the UAE.

Interested parties are encouraged to apply and learn more before the application deadline of November 25, 2025.

For further details and application instructions, visit the official Dubai Holding website.