SHARJAH: The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) 2025 kicked off with an exciting SEF x 1Tank Startup Pitch Competition, awarding AED 200,000 in cash prizes and access to AED 500,000 in potential investments. The competition, held on the first day of the festival, recognised innovative startups shaping the region’s entrepreneurial landscape.
The winners included Solumar (Sustainability Track, sponsored by Emaar), Gam3s.GG (Creative Industries, powered by Emarat), Hulexo (Tech & Industry 4.0, powered by du), and Squirrel Education (EdTech, sponsored by Crescent Enterprises). These startups impressed judges with their groundbreaking solutions.
The SEFFY Awards, another festival highlight, celebrated key contributions to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Waste Lab won the Social Impact award, Pulse IoT Technologies excelled in Tech, BEEAH Group received the Ecosystem Enabler award, Remal was named Rising Star, and Dr. Mohamed Al Hemairy was recognised as Outstanding Mentor.
With over 400 nominations, the awards reflected the UAE’s growing innovation-driven startup ecosystem. Gregg Pearce, Head of SME Segment at du, highlighted the UAE as the ideal place for entrepreneurs, urging business leaders to support startups for sustained growth.
Abeer Al Amiri, Head of Partnerships & Programs at Sheraa, shared Sheraa’s impact since its founding in 2016: supporting 450+ startups, creating 1,900+ jobs, generating $248 million in revenue, and securing $271 million in investments.
The festival’s largest edition yet featured 300+ speakers from 45 countries, 250 activations, and five dynamic stages, reinforcing SEF 2025 startup pitch as a key driver of innovation and business success in the region.
