MBRIF Innovation Accelerator Programme Welcomes 11th Cohort Of Innovators

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund, an initiative of the Ministry of Finance, has chosen 21 innovative businesses for the 11th cohort of the MBRIF Innovation Accelerator Programme. The new group spans multiple sectors and is intended to strengthen the UAE economy and support national plans for a diversified, knowledge-based growth model.

The MBRIF Innovation Accelerator Programme began in 2018 to support innovative, high-potential companies with strong growth prospects. Across ten completed cohorts, the programme has assisted almost 200 businesses. These participants have obtained more than AED1 billion in external investment and created over 1,000 jobs in the UAE, in line with economic diversification and competitiveness goals.

Members of the 11th cohort in the MBRIF Innovation Accelerator Programme receive a wide package of support. This includes access to public and private sector networks, tailored mentoring, and training sessions led by industry experts. Participants also gain opportunities to meet investors and strategic partners, helping accelerate scale-up, commercial readiness, and regional and global expansion.

Fatima Yousif Alnaqbi, Acting Assistant Under-Secretary for Support Services Sector at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry’s representative at MBRIF, said, "We are pleased to welcome the 11th cohort to the MBRIF Innovation Accelerator Programme, an initiative that reflects our commitment to empowering high-potential, ambitious companies that are developing real-world solutions to pressing challenges, thereby supporting national development priorities. Through this programme, we provide founders with a supportive ecosystem that helps scaling their businesses locally and internationally, while reinforcing the UAE’s position as a global hub for innovation."

Alnaqbi also highlighted how the MBRIF Innovation Accelerator Programme reflects the progress of the wider ecosystem. Alnaqbi added, "The diversity of innovative businesses selected for the new cohort highlights the maturity of the UAE’s innovation ecosystem and the growing interest from both local and international entrepreneurs seeking to build and scale from the country."

The 11th cohort of the MBRIF Innovation Accelerator Programme covers health technology, financial solutions, construction, hospitality, robotics, agriculture, energy, education, and space systems. Companies originate from the UAE and other markets yet share a focus on using AI, digital platforms, and advanced engineering to address operational challenges and long-term sustainability priorities.

Healthcare innovation forms a major part of the MBRIF Innovation Accelerator Programme cohort. BioTwin offers an AI-driven virtual health twin platform supporting early diagnosis and personalised treatment. Pharmedic uses AI and genomics to improve medication safety and preventive care. Toothpick operates a digital ecosystem that streamlines procurement, financing, and day-to-day operations for healthcare clinics, improving practice efficiency.

Several selected businesses in the MBRIF Innovation Accelerator Programme work on digital infrastructure, compliance, and cybersecurity. Neulink digitises pharmacy processes and compliance workflows. Disrupt-X combines AI and Internet of Things tools to manage smart assets and facilities. Synergy Quantum supplies quantum-secure cybersecurity infrastructure for critical systems. Defy delivers an AI-based compliance and security platform aimed at Web3 businesses and digital asset operators.

The MBRIF Innovation Accelerator Programme cohort also contains platforms focused on operations, recruitment, and automation. Bellboy provides AI-powered communication tools for hospitality operators. SLZ develops digital twin and augmented reality solutions for construction and manufacturing. Qode Limited runs a unified digital platform for managing sports, entertainment, and leisure venues. CapQuest helps startups and SMEs manage equity and ownership structures. AkelTech offers AI-enabled smart vending machines supplying fresh meals.

Customer engagement, robotics, agriculture, and circular economy solutions further expand the MBRIF Innovation Accelerator Programme profile. Actualise uses AI to automate customer conversations across many channels. Professional.me converts traditional resumes into interactive profiles for recruitment. Digitech Oasis designs AI and autonomous robotic systems for enterprise automation. ROBOX supplies intelligent robotics for immersive brand and event activations. Terra Grow deploys AI-based hydroponic technology for sustainable food production, while ReflowX runs a circular procurement marketplace for surplus energy-sector equipment.

Education, agriculture technology, and space systems round out the MBRIF Innovation Accelerator Programme intake. Palmear applies AI-driven bioacoustic analysis for early pest detection in palm trees. Smartail uses AI to automate student assessments and grading processes. Third Body Dynamics, a UAE-based startup, develops modular satellite systems powered by AI for rapid space missions and responsive deployment.

The latest cohort under the MBRIF Innovation Accelerator Programme builds on ten previous rounds that have already supported almost 200 businesses. By combining funding enablement, expert guidance, and ecosystem access, the programme continues to back high-impact companies that contribute to the UAE’s innovation landscape, employment creation, and long-term sustainable economic development.

With inputs from WAM