In conjunction with AstroLabs, DIFC Launchpad, and Microsoft, Majid Al Futtaim, a pioneer in shopping malls, communities, retail, and leisure in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, announced the winners of the second round of its Launchpad Accelerator Program. Majid Al Futtaim has welcomed seven companies from the retail tech, homegrown brands, and climate tech sectors to its ecosystem in support of the UAE’s goal to become the most entrepreneurial country by 2031.
Young businesspeople were asked to present their company proposals to senior leadership and industry experts at a dynamic and competitive three-day pitch event held at Majid Al Futtaim’s global headquarters. The judges then unanimously deliberated to decide on the three category winners.
A new category for the 2023 program was the addition of climate technology, which Majid Al Futtaim highlighted as a focal topic as part of the company’s long-term ESG strategy. In this category, Sea Energy and Partanna were chosen as the winners. The successful enterprises deal with issues like decarbonization and managing food waste. By testing out its waste-to-energy technology throughout the portfolio of malls owned by Majid Al Futtaim, the UK-based Sea Energy will aid in the company’s establishment in the area. Similar to this, Partanna will collaborate with program partners to establish a sustainable business. Partanna invented the first zero-emission polymer that naturally absorbs carbon from the atmosphere.
Four winners were chosen in the Homegrown Brands category, including Co-Chocolat, Majama, Saanté, and SALAD (a FabricAID spin-off brand). The brands will be given access to prime retail space within Majid Al Futtaim’s malls, including THAT Concept store in Mall of the Emirates and the company’s recently launched concept store, Launchpad X located at City Centre Mirdif. The brands were chosen for their inspiring brand stories and the innovative proposition they will bring to Majid Al Futtaim customers.
The Floor, a platform that links customers with fashion stylists and offers outfit recommendations, was also named a winner in the retail tech category. In order to increase their commercial viability throughout the region, the winning entrepreneurs will have access to mentorship and business growth incentives from Majid Al Futtaim and program partners.
Majid Al Futtaim – Holding’s Joe Abi Akl, Chief Corporate Development Officer, stated: “At Majid Al Futtaim, we are committed to finding and nurturing the best entrepreneurial talent and giving them access to the abundance of resources and support available inside our business to grow. Building on the success of Launchpad’s inaugural edition, we have introduced a brand-new climate tech category to our program this year. This category’s addition is consistent with our ESG goals, which are a key component of Majid Al Futtaim’s long-term strategy. We remain committed to bringing about good change and assisting the region in realizing its aspirational sustainability goals in the run-up to COP28 by collaborating with these international startups and bringing their solutions to the market.
We are excited to welcome the newest group of startups to Majid Al Futtaim’s expanding ecosystem and look forward to assisting these companies as they grow and seize new growth prospects.
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