emirates7 - The United Arab Emirates hosted the inaugural Founders' Retreat from December 6th to 8th, 2024, bringing together over 60 of India's leading start-up founders, key UAE business leaders, investors, and policymakers to explore new directions for bilateral investment.
Co-organized by the UAE Embassy in Delhi, Offline, and the UAE-India CEPA Council, the event marked a major milestone in the UAE-India partnership, underscoring both countries' shared commitment to innovation and economic growth.
The participating ventures, valued at an average of US$3.5 billion, included founders from 13 Indian unicorn start-ups and five publicly listed companies. This unique platform facilitated transformative collaborations and emphasized the mutual benefits of stronger investment ties between the two nations.
The Retreat highlighted how the UAE complements India's thriving start-up ecosystem. UAE investors have reportedly invested nearly $20 billion into India's economy since 2000, greatly benefiting the Indian start-up sector. Programs like the UAE-India Start-up Bridge, established under the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), have further strengthened this collaboration.
Dr. Abdulnasser Alshaali, UAE Ambassador to India, remarked, "The Founders' Retreat is not just a celebration of entrepreneurial excellence but a commitment to deeper collaboration. It reflects our shared vision of fostering innovation, investment, and growth that transcends borders."
Utsav Somani, Founder of Offline, emphasized that the event serves as a catalyst for UAE-India start-up collaboration. By combining India's entrepreneurial talent with the UAE's visionary support, it creates a launchpad for global success, demonstrating how public-private partnerships can drive cross-border innovation and investment.
The Founders' Retreat reinforced the UAE's ongoing commitment to investing in India’s economy and offering Indian start-ups international expansion opportunities, solidifying the UAE-India relationship as a model for global entrepreneurship and innovation.
Co-organized by the UAE Embassy in Delhi, Offline, and the UAE-India CEPA Council, the event marked a major milestone in the UAE-India partnership, underscoring both countries' shared commitment to innovation and economic growth.
The participating ventures, valued at an average of US$3.5 billion, included founders from 13 Indian unicorn start-ups and five publicly listed companies. This unique platform facilitated transformative collaborations and emphasized the mutual benefits of stronger investment ties between the two nations.
The Retreat highlighted how the UAE complements India's thriving start-up ecosystem. UAE investors have reportedly invested nearly $20 billion into India's economy since 2000, greatly benefiting the Indian start-up sector. Programs like the UAE-India Start-up Bridge, established under the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), have further strengthened this collaboration.
Dr. Abdulnasser Alshaali, UAE Ambassador to India, remarked, "The Founders' Retreat is not just a celebration of entrepreneurial excellence but a commitment to deeper collaboration. It reflects our shared vision of fostering innovation, investment, and growth that transcends borders."
Utsav Somani, Founder of Offline, emphasized that the event serves as a catalyst for UAE-India start-up collaboration. By combining India's entrepreneurial talent with the UAE's visionary support, it creates a launchpad for global success, demonstrating how public-private partnerships can drive cross-border innovation and investment.
The Founders' Retreat reinforced the UAE's ongoing commitment to investing in India’s economy and offering Indian start-ups international expansion opportunities, solidifying the UAE-India relationship as a model for global entrepreneurship and innovation.