First batch of DIFC Metaverse Accelerator Programme graduates
Programme received 160+ entries from UAE, UK, US, India, France
The first batch of 10 Middle Eastern and global startups has graduated from the DIFC Metaverse Accelerator Programme of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) after undergoing a three-month-long series of boot camp workshops that began on June 5, 2023.
The programme received 160+ entries from the UAE, UK, US, India, and France, representing the metaverse, AI, Web3, AR/VR, and blockchain sectors and saw startup entrepreneurs pitch their innovative projects to some of the Middle East region’s top venture capitalists, angel investors and industry leaders.
Demo Day
The graduation ceremony of the first batch of graduates was held on September 6, 2023, as part of the programme’s Demo Day at the DIFC Innovation Hub in Dubai City.
The inaugural DIFC Metaverse Accelerator Programme – which aligns with the Dubai Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy Goals aspirations – is the first initiative of the DIFC Metaverse Platform grouping.
The DIFC Metaverse Platform was unveiled earlier this year, in line with the Dubai Metaverse Strategy, which aims to add AED14.72 billion to Dubai’s GDP, support 40,000 virtual jobs by 2030, and attract 1,000 companies specialised in blockchain and metaverse technologies.
Global trendsetter
Mohammad Alblooshi, CEO of the DIFC Innovation Hub, said: “Earlier this year, Dubai’s Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy endorsed the DIFC Metaverse Platform, positioning DIFC as the first government entity globally to champion an integrated metaverse hub.
“To see the DIFC Metaverse Accelerator Programme come to fruition as part of that initiative with over 160 international applicants, a network of over 60 ecosystem partners, and 10 talented start-ups graduating already is encouraging and will no doubt inspire others to join us as we together embark on our next phase of growth,” Alblooshi added.
Graduated startups’ batch of the DIFC Metaverse Accelerator Programme:
- Artichoke Labs, a spatial computing company specialising in creating city-scale augmented reality applications.
- Cognitive Technologies, experts in establishing Internet-of-Things networks to enable hardware and software automation.
- Daoversal, an expansive blockchain-based Web3 social ecosystem platform.
- DoDocs, which is building a service to generate legal documents in any language for any country or jurisdiction for both individuals and businesses.
- Duverse, a start-up involved in developing and implementing advanced Artificial Intelligence solutions.
- Evometa, a boutique digital studio providing Metaverse-as-a-service solutions for enterprises in real estate, hospitality, industrial and automotive markets.
- Flan, creates micro-communities for clients and creative workers to meet, network, and discuss ideas.
- Intelligent Assist, a digital healthcare delivery platform.
- ShopDoc, a digital healthcare delivery platform.
- GoPal, a metaverse-based edtech platform.
The DIFC Metaverse Accelerator Programme partnered with Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company, DP World, and Daoverse Capital.
DIFC is one of the world’s most advanced financial centres and the leading financial hub for the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region.
Featured image: Vecstock
