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This article is part of an ongoing series covering startups that have become part of the project Mohammed bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF) Accelerator Program.
In January 2019, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Fifty-Year Charter, outlining nine initiatives that could reshape the emirate different terms for the future. When Emirati entrepreneurs Mohammed Mukhtar and Reem Al Mosabbah saw Article 6 of this Charter, which relates to the creation of free economic and creative zones in universities, they were inspired to contribute to this specific goal. It was this spark that eventually led to the launch of Unipreneur in 2021, a Dubai-based youth entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship and innovation development platform.
Mokhtar said: “The problem we are solving is the lack of a youth-focused innovation incubator in the region that can provide young people in the UAE with the right skills, tools and support to become successful global entrepreneurs. , intrapreneurs and innovators.” said. “The main source of inspiration is the UAE leadership’s vision and support for youth empowerment. But, of course, our own challenges in future preparation, industry connections and innovative development while at university also served as additional motivation to build such a community. A dedicated platform for youth and students.”
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Unipreneur is therefore built using the Triple Helix Model of Innovation, a business concept involving collaboration between universities, government and business. “Unipreneur’s unique selling point is its focus on developing future leaders,” Mukhtar added. “We believe that we are the only platform in the region based on the innovation triple helix model, focusing on youth entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship and innovation development. In addition, innovation in strategy, engagement and impact are also important to us. Technology is an important tools that will help us further streamline innovation, enable inclusion, and improve the overall youth development experience.”
Unipreneur has generated over AED 2 million in revenue for clients and AED 800,000 itself since 2021, and Al Mosabbah believes the platform will only grow further. “Our current business model is to generate revenue by organizing youth-focused events, programs and events for prominent government entities, corporate organizations and academia,” Al Mosaba said. “As such, we believe the current business profile is healthy and in line with our original vision to build Unipreneur into a reputable youth empowerment brand within the first two to three years prior to digital transformation. In the near future, our business Models will expand to focus primarily on digital or in-app interactions.”
Mokhtar and Al Mosabbah are also currently gearing up to launch Unipreneur’s Young Innovators Attraction Programme, which aims to attract the attention of young people across the country with the support of the MBRIF Innovation Accelerator programme. When asked why the MBRIF program would be central to their new startup’s vision, the co-founders mentioned the name of the Emirati leader who gave the program his name. “One name: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,” the two said. “Since the core of our youth program is centered around learning and implementing entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership lessons from the lives of Dubai’s rulers, we chose the MBRIF project so that we can develop such projects and achieve the goals we build Dubai on. The best youth innovation incubator in the world.”
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