Dubai: IFZA, in partnership with Plug and Play, unveils Scale360, a startup accelerator designed to connect international startups with leading corporations, supporting growth across AI, sustainability, robotics, and smart city tech while strengthening the UAE’s role as a major innovation hub.
IFZA, one of the most dynamic Free Zone communities globally, has unveiled Scale360, a pioneering startup accelerator launched in partnership with the innovation platform Plug and Play. This strategic initiative is designed to serve as a bridge between internationally scaling startups and leading global corporations, particularly fostering a gateway for startups eager to enter the UAE’s burgeoning market. Scale360 aims to unite visionary entrepreneurs, problem-solvers, and growth drivers to fuel innovation and transformation through collaborative partnerships.
Positioned in Dubai, Scale360 leverages the UAE’s strategic location and its reputation as a global business hub, linking markets across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe. The accelerator specifically targets sectors driving the future economy, including sustainability, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, smart cities, mobility solutions, and enterprise technologies. Its structured programme offers startups access to comprehensive benefits such as free office space, legal and compliance support, banking setup assistance, and market entry facilitation. Participants also receive mentorship from UAE-based founders and industry experts, plus opportunities to engage with key corporate players and participate in networking events tailored to regional business culture and procurement practices.
Julia Timms, Chief Commercial Officer at IFZA, highlighted during the launch that Scale360 goes beyond a typical innovation programme. Speaking to The Filipino American Post, she underlined that the initiative is designed to empower businesses to expand from Dubai and beyond. Timms emphasised the role of business as a “superpower” for bridging innovation, fostering collaboration, and supporting sustainable economic growth that contributes to social transformation. This perspective encapsulates IFZA’s broader commitment to supporting not only business establishment but also deep-seated business transformation in the region.
Benjamin Kloss, Vice President Corporate Partnerships and UAE Director at Plug and Play Tech Center, remarked on Scale360 as a symbol of the UAE’s progressive vision. He highlighted the accelerator’s role in creating an interconnected ecosystem where startups and corporates can collaborate seamlessly across high-impact sectors such as sustainability, AI, robotics, and smart mobility. Kloss pointed out that the programme underscores the UAE’s positioning as a central hub for nurturing and deploying disruptive technologies and innovation on a global scale.
Dubai’s status as a leading smart city, recognised 4th globally in the 2025 IMD Smart Cities Index, complements Scale360’s ambitions. Dubai offers unmatched infrastructure, digital public services, and an enabling policy environment, acting as a launchpad for transformative regional projects such as Saudi Arabia’s NEOM and Egypt’s New Cairo development. This environment provides startups and innovators immediate access to high-growth opportunities extending across the Middle East.
Scale360 also supports startups through tailored accelerator programmes that include education on regional business practices, peer-to-peer networks, workshops, and one-to-one mentoring. The UAE continues to lead the Middle East and North Africa in venture capital funding, illustrated by recent landmark investments like the $30 billion AI fund launched with BlackRock and Microsoft. Scale360 thus sits at the nexus of a vibrant innovation ecosystem backed by substantial financial and infrastructural support.
Plug and Play, a renowned global innovation platform with experience working with major partners including Microsoft, plays a crucial role in implementing Scale360. This collaboration enriches the programme, offering startups not only mentorship but also pilot projects and co-development opportunities that accelerate market entry and expansion. Startups in the programme gain access to cutting-edge technology resources and corporate partnerships, integrating agility and disruptive solutions to tackle contemporary market challenges.
In summary, Scale360 exemplifies IFZA’s strategic initiative to harness global entrepreneurship and innovation, positioning Dubai as a focal point for the development and deployment of future-forward technologies. By fostering meaningful connections between corporates and startups and providing robust support infrastructure, Scale360 aims to drive economic growth, business transformation, and sustainable development in the UAE and beyond.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
