UAE
IFZA Scale360 Accelerator Graduates 14 Global AI and Sustainability Startups at Dubai Demo Day: IFZA, one of the world’s most dynamic Free Zone communities, has announced the successful completion of its inaugural Scale360 accelerator program, marking a major milestone in Dubai’s innovation ecosystem. The program culminated in a high-impact Demo Day in Dubai, where 14 international AI and sustainability startups graduated, many with live pilots, active market entry plans, and relocation to the UAE already underway.
Global startups choose Dubai as a scale-up hub
From 136 applications worldwide, IFZA’s Scale360 selected a diverse cohort representing 11 countries: Singapore, India, Egypt, Canada, the UK, the US, France, Germany, Slovakia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. During Demo Day, 11 startups pitched live to investors, corporates, and government stakeholders, showcasing cutting-edge solutions across enterprise automation, industrial AI, retail analytics, identity verification, climate platforms, energy transition, and sustainability technologies.
Importantly, the program delivered immediate commercial results. Eight startups are advancing UAE licensing and company setup, two are relocating their global headquarters to Dubai, and IFZA has already launched three AI and sustainability pilots with partners, underscoring strong execution and market readiness.
IFZA strengthens Dubai’s innovation agenda
“At IFZA, we’re not just a host; we’re the Free Zone community founders rely on,” said Jochen Knecht, CEO of IFZA. “From licensing and pilot facilitation to curated corporate and investor introductions, Scale360 removes barriers so companies can grow from Dubai into the region. That practical support is central to the UAE’s innovation agenda, and we will continue investing in the infrastructure founders need to succeed.”
Strong deal flow and structured support
Throughout the program, Scale360 delivered measurable outcomes through focused engagement and mentorship. Participating startups completed 33 commercial introductions with UAE corporates and government entities, held 49 investor meetings with 11 participating investors, and received 50+ hours of structured mentorship covering sales, business development, technical strategy, legal frameworks, and fundraising.
Global recognition and rapid UAE expansion
Several cohort companies achieved significant international and regional breakthroughs during the accelerator:
- Synteza AI gained global visibility after selection for Dubai Police’s Innovation Sprint 2.0 at GITEX, where it showcased its synthetic data platform for advanced computer vision applications.
- Interloom was named one of 10 global winners of the Zurich Insurance Innovation Challenge, selected from over 1,000 applicants. Building on Scale360 momentum, one cofounder will relocate to Dubai in January to expand regional operations.
- Tayar, an Egypt-based startup electrifying last-mile delivery fleets, signed a partnership with Talabat and entered advanced discussions with Keeta and Amazon. The company is also nearing the close of its fundraising round, supported by Scale360 investor introductions.
- Nettle AI, based in Slovakia, was selected for the Microsoft GrowthX Accelerator Program, delivered in partnership with ADIO in Abu Dhabi.
- Power Dime, operating across Canada and India, was accepted into Dubai’s C3 Companies Creating Change Program, strengthening its presence in renewable energy and climate tech.
“Our startups proved that Dubai is where global AI and sustainability companies can build, partner, and scale quickly,” said Sinéad O’Keeffe, Head of Scale360. “With pilots launched, investors engaged, and teams relocating, the impact has been immediate. This momentum aligns with the UAE National AI Strategy 2031 and the Net Zero by 2050 commitment, setting a strong foundation for future cohorts.”
High-level participation and global partnerships
The Demo Day attracted representatives from ENOC, Dubai Municipality, Abu Dhabi Ports Group, and Abu Dhabi Customs, alongside leading investors including BECO Capital, AngelSpark, and 100VP. Developed in partnership with Plug and Play, the world’s largest innovation platform, Scale360 combines global best practices with deep UAE market access, offering tailored mentorship, business setup support, corporate partnerships, and curated investor introductions.
Scale360 cohort companies
The inaugural Scale360 cohort includes:
- 913 AI – AI-powered digital workers automating legal, finance, HR, and administrative operations
- BrandContext – AI-driven in-store analytics to optimize shopper behavior and retail performance
- GlassHUB – AI automation for compliance reporting and supply-chain verification
- Groundup AI – Industrial AI detecting machine anomalies to prevent downtime and improve safety
- Interloom – AI workflow automation for enterprise teams
- ISTINA AI – Autonomous AI agents managing customer service and core business operations
- Nettle AI – Multilingual conversational AI for customer support and automation
- Power Dime – AI platform connecting businesses with renewable energy projects end to end
- Organized Matter AI – Geospatial AI transforming satellite, drone, and IoT data into insights
- RELAYTO AI – Interactive, AI-enhanced content experiences from static documents
- Sensgreen – AI-powered sensors optimizing indoor air quality and energy use
- ShareID – AI-based identity verification using computer vision and fraud detection
- Synteza AI – Synthetic data generation for advanced computer vision training
With Scale360’s inaugural success, IFZA has reinforced Dubai’s position as a global launchpad for AI and sustainability startups, offering founders a clear pathway to build, partner, and scale across the Middle East and beyond in 2025 and the years ahead.
