IFZA has announced the launch of Scale360, a new startup accelerator developed in association with Plug and Play. Scale360 is designed to connect international startups seeking entry into the UAE market with leading international corporations actively looking to engage with emerging innovations.

Scale360 serves as a platform that unites visionaries, problem-solvers, and scale-makers. It aims to harness the agility, disruptive technology, and fresh thinking of startups to accelerate corporate innovation, providing large corporations with swift access to cutting-edge solutions, new revenue streams, and a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market.

Commenting on the launch, Julia Timms, Chief Commercial Officer at IFZA, stated, “Our mission at IFZA is to empower businesses to grow from Dubai and beyond. We believe business has a superpower to build bridges that enable innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth supporting social transformation through economic innovation. Scale360 is more than just an innovation programme connecting companies with high-growth startups to drive business transformation, it also helps to foster collaboration, unlock business opportunities, and drive economic growth.”

Benjamin Kloss, Vice President Corporate Partnerships & UAE Director at Plug and Play Tech Center, added, “Scale360 is a testament to the region’s forward-thinking vision. From Plug and Play’s vantage point, we see immense potential in creating a truly interconnected ecosystem where global startups and established corporates can collaborate seamlessly in crucial sectors including sustainability, AI, robotics, smart mobility, and future-forward enterprise solutions. This program showcases the UAE as a key player and a central hub for fostering and deploying these innovative and disruptive technologies.”

Based in Dubai with an international outlook, Scale360 leverages the UAE’s established reputation as a leading global business hub, connecting markets across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe. While open to a broad spectrum of industries, Scale360 specifically targets technology-driven startups in fields such as sustainability, AI, robotics, smart cities, mobility, and enterprise solutions. The program offers a structured approach to scaling businesses, ensuring entrepreneurs and business leaders receive the necessary partnerships, strategies, and market entry support to thrive.

Startups participating in the Scale360 program can anticipate a range of benefits and support from IFZA, including free office space, comprehensive infrastructure support (such as legal and banking setup, and compliance training), access to the thriving UAE market, invitations to dedicated networking events, and direct access to key corporations within the region.

Additionally, participants will gain invaluable learning experiences, including education on business culture and Middle Eastern sales and procurement practices, workshops, one-on-one mentoring from UAE-based founders, leaders, and experts, and a peer-to-peer support system throughout their journey.