Hub71 16th cohort announced: Here’s who made the list

Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, has welcomed 27 startups as part of its latest Cohort 16, further enhancing the emirate’s position as a regional technology hub. The new cohort spans Hub71’s three programs: Access, Hub71+ ClimateTech, and Hub71+ Digital Assets, bringing the total number of ventures supported by the ecosystem to 357.

Startups in Cohort 16 have collectively raised over $145m (Dhs532m) in funding, averaging $4.9m (Dhs18m) per startup. Notably, 63 per cent of the selected startups are headquartered outside the UAE, reinforcing Hub71’s success in attracting high-growth international ventures from key technology markets, including the US, UK and Germany.

“Cohort 16 reinforces the global confidence in Hub71 as a launchpad for transformative ideas from Abu Dhabi,” said Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71. “The selection process is highly competitive, reflecting the exceptional calibre of startups in our ecosystem. These companies are advancing innovation across key tech sectors while strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a global tech hub.”

Diverse global startups join Hub71

Among the selected startups is Vivan Therapeutics, a UK-based precision medicine company leveraging AI and fruit fly models for personalized cancer treatments, which has secured $10m (Dhs36m) in funding.

From Germany, Theion is developing sustainable sulfur-based batteries, capable of storing up to three times more energy than traditional batteries, and has joined the Hub71+ ClimateTech programme.

Meanwhile, Redbrick, a South Korean cloud-based 3D creation engine utilising AI and blockchain, has raised $16.3m (Dhs59.8m) and is now part of the Hub71+ Digital Assets programme.

UAE-based startups

One in three startups in Cohort 16 is based in the UAE, demonstrating the country’s emergence as a global entrepreneurship hub. Notable among them are:

Qashio, an award-winning spend management platform, which has raised $10m (Dhs36m).

Switch Foods, a food tech company producing affordable plant-based meats, has raised $12.5m (Dhs45.9m) and launched Abu Dhabi’s first plant-based meat production facility.

Selected startups in Cohort 16

More than 50 per cent of the startups in Cohort 16 are Seed and Series A ventures, operating across nine industries, including fintech, climatetech, healthtech, edtech, and mobility and logistics.

By joining Hub71, these companies gain access to a network of investors, partners, and mentors, as well as market opportunities and capital resources to scale their businesses.

Access Programme

Aurem – A central operating system for workplace saving and wealth providers

Cambio ML – AI-powered data science agent for enterprises

Desert Farms – Science-backed baby formula using camel milk proteins

Esports XO – A platform connecting gamers with tournaments and publishers

Fundbot Technologies – B2B supply chain financing solution

Hotdesk – A workspace optimisation and hybrid work management platform

Mithryl – AI-driven automation for industrial companies

Nodeshift – Decentralised, no-code AI cloud platform

Onloop – AI-powered productivity enhancement for teams

Qashio – B2B financial management and spend tracking

Raintech – AI-driven voice assistant for operating rooms

Simpleem – Behaviour-analysis AI for business insights

Skipr – AI-driven VPN enhancing privacy and security

Taxo – AI-powered medical billing and coding automation

Vivan Therapeutics – AI-driven personalised cancer treatment platform

Watermelon Ecosystem – Digital marketplace for F&B suppliers

xMap – AI-powered geospatial intelligence platform

Hub71+ ClimateTech

Airmo – Real-time methane insights for the energy sector

New Path Bio – Precision fermentation for health-promoting proteins

Orbillion Bio – B2B cultivated beef company

Switch Foods – Locally produced plant-based meat alternatives

Theion – Sustainable sulfur-based battery technology

Hub71+ Digital Assets

InvoiceMate – Blockchain and AI-powered invoicing platform

Redbrick – AI-driven game and metaverse engine

Rilla Network – Decentralised infrastructure for live streaming

Sustainable Bitcoin Protocol – Clean energy verification for Bitcoin

1Money – Stablecoin-exclusive global payment network