Antler, DFF pick 96 AI founders for Dubai residency
Fivefold surge in applications shows Dubai’s global pull for AI entrepreneurs
#UAE #startups – Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) and global venture capital firm Antler have selected 96 founders from 39 nationalities for the second edition of their AI startup residency in Dubai, following a fivefold increase in applications to over 10,000. Hosted at AREA 2071 in Emirates Towers, the programme offers hands-on support, pre-seed funding, and post-residency investment pathways. The surge in demand confirms Dubai’s rising status as a global launchpad for AI ventures and reinforces its leadership in shaping the future of technology in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. The announcement was made during Dubai AI Week.
SO WHAT? – This sharp rise in global startup interest mirrors Dubai rapid ascent as an emerging international hub for AI talent and early-stage AI investment. By combining venture capital with public sector support, the DFF-Antler partnership is helping to create a strong funnel for global AI founders to choose Dubai to launch and scale their ventures.
Some key points about the Antler AI startup programme:
Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) and venture capital firm Antler have selected 96 founders for the second edition of their AI startup residency in Dubai. The announcement was made during Dubai AI Week.
The 96 founders representing 39 countries were selected from over 10,000 applicants for Antler’s second Dubai AI residency.
Applications rose fivefold from the inaugural programme, highlighting Dubai’s growing global appeal among tech founders.
The residency is hosted at AREA 2071, Dubai Future Foundation’s innovation platform located in Emirates Towers.
The programme offers pre-seed funding, hands-on mentorship, and access to global investment pathways.
The DFF-Antler partnership supports AI innovation across the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan (MENAP) region.
The initiative supports the Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence, a national strategy to lead in AI.
DFF contributes through a mix of incubation, acceleration, funding, and startup community infrastructure.
Antler, named the world’s leading AI investor in 2024 by Dealroom.co, has backed 700+ AI startups globally. The firm aims to invest in another 255 AI companies in 2025, adding to its 1,500+ startup portfolio.
ZOOM OUT – AI is now the engine of global venture capital, accounting for one-third of all VC investment, with the market projected to grow 37% annually over the next five years. However, although venture capital funds, sovereign wealth funds and other UAE investors have been targeting global scale-ups for some years, it is only very recently that numbers of early-stage AI startups have started to secure investment from the Emirates and wider region. This may be partly due to the increasing choice that investors have, given the steady stream of AI startups setting-up in the UAE.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]
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