Fikra Ventures has announced a partnership with Hub71, Abu Dhabi's global tech ecosystem, to build and scale AI-native companies from Abu Dhabi. Under the partnership, Fikra Ventures joins Hub71's ecosystem as a partner venture studio and will operate as a venture builder for Hub71's Initiate Programme, building AI-native ventures in-house and forming joint ventures with selected global AI companies to pursue the regional market from Abu Dhabi. The agreement was signed at Hub71 by Wael Aburida, CEO Managing Partner, Fikra Ventures, and Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO, Hub71.
As AI adoption accelerates globally, long-term success is increasingly shaped by factors beyond model performance. Distribution, access to regulated markets, and speed to commercialisation are also becoming decisive advantages. This partnership brings together Hub71's founder-focused ecosystem with Fikra Ventures' venture studio platform to support the creation and scaling of AI companies designed to succeed in real markets, starting in Abu Dhabi and expanding globally.
As a founding member of the Initiate Programme, Fikra Ventures will support the development of an AI startup cluster through two clearly defined pathways:
