UAE Hosts Inaugural Founders' Retreat To Enhance India Start-up Collaboration

The United Arab Emirates hosted the first Founders' Retreat from 6th to 8th December 2024. This event gathered over 60 prominent Indian start-up founders, UAE business leaders, investors, and policymakers. They discussed new opportunities in the bilateral investment partnership. The UAE Embassy in Delhi, Offline, and the UAE-India CEPA Council co-organised this significant milestone in the UAE-India partnership.

The Retreat showcased how the UAE complements India's start-up success story. Since 2000, UAE investors have injected nearly $20 billion into India's economy. This investment has significantly benefited the Indian start-up sector. Initiatives like the UAE-India Start-up Bridge under CEPA have further strengthened this collaboration.

Participating ventures at the Retreat averaged a valuation of US$3.5 billion. Founders from 13 Indian unicorns and five publicly listed companies attended. This unique platform facilitated transformative collaborations and highlighted mutual benefits of closer investment ties between both nations.

Dr. Abdulnasser Alshaali, UAE Ambassador to India, stated, "The Founders' Retreat is not just a celebration of entrepreneurial excellence but a commitment to deeper collaboration. It reflects our shared vision of fostering innovation, investment, and growth that transcends borders."

Utsav Somani, Founder of Offline, remarked on the Retreat's impact: "The Founders Retreat is a catalyst for UAE-India start-up collaboration. By integrating India's entrepreneurial talent with the UAE's visionary support, we're creating a launchpad for global start-up success."

The event underscored the UAE's ongoing commitment to investing in India's economy. It also provided Indian start-ups opportunities for international expansion. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority's fund in India's GIFT City exemplifies this focus on innovative ventures.

This gathering reinforced the UAE-India relationship as a model for global entrepreneurship and innovation. The collaboration between these two nations continues to foster economic growth and development across borders.

The Founders' Retreat demonstrated how public-private partnerships can drive cross-border innovation and investment. By uniting leaders from both countries under one roof, it created a blueprint for global entrepreneurial success.

With inputs from WAM