1 April 2024

Hello everyone,

Last month we hosted our?2024 Annual General Meeting ?at the Museum of the Future. We'd like to say thank you to everyone who attended, including our partners who joined us on stage and the team at DFDF for all their hard work in helping the fund achieve all that it has over the last year. This newsletter recaps the main highlights of the event to bring you up to speed on what to expect moving forward into 2024.

Until next month's newsletter, we wish you all a Ramadan Kareem for the rest of the holy period, as well as a restful upcoming Eid break.

Regards, DFDF Team

FROM THE BLOG

Dubai Future District Fund Sets New Course for Sustainability and Innovation at Annual General Meeting 2024

Summary

• Our 2023 performance
• Uniting efforts between public and private sectors
• Amplifying the UAE’s innovation ecosystem through strategic venture investments
• Unlocking high-quality economic opportunities, driving the creation of a diverse and sustainable economy

Read more

Creating a Sustainable Ecosystem for Tech Startups in Dubai: Key Insights from our AGM

Summary

• Government's role in tech startup growth
• Adapting to change and cultivating resilience
• Embracing #technology and #digitaltransformation
• Cultivating a #cultureofinnovation
• The importance of regional integration
• Building a sustainable future

Read more

Navigating the New Norms of Venture Capital: Insights from our CEO at our 2024 AGM

Summary

• MENA vs. global #VC deal flow
• UAE investment rounds and exits
• Sustaining momentum: The need for continued investment
• Top 5 tech trends shaping the future

Read more

FUNDING NEWS

MoneyHash

• Direct Investment Seed
• Future of Finance

IN THE MEDIA

• You can listen to our CEO Sharif El-Badawi on The Perfect Pitch podcast where he shares his take on venture capital in the region, as well some advice for founders on approaching venture capital for funding. Tune in

PORTFOLIO NEWS

• Our portfolio company Wellx is in the news for introducing a Ramadan recharge program for businesses across the UAE. Read more

PORTFOLIO JOB OPPORTUNITIES

• Senior AI Lead at DXwand
• Investment Principal at BECO Capital
• Investment Associate at BECO Capital

Apply now

UPCOMING EVENTS

Join us on April 24, 2024, online with MAGNiTT to hear our CEO Sharif El-Badawi discuss how the VC ecosystem performed across emerging markets in the first quarter of 2024 alongside Philip Bahoshy .

Register

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Annual Report 2023

Summary

• Portfolio overview: Direct investments & fund investments
• Value creation & ecosystem development
• 2023 initiatives
• Sustainability & governance
• Introduction to our anchor investors
• Commentary on UAE’s #VC ecosystem 2023
• Management’s outlook for 2024

Download report

FUTURE 100 REPORT

8 of our portfolio companies make it to the inaugural list

Summary

• Overview of the initiative between Ministry Of Economy, UAE and the Future Office
• Full list of 100 companies deemed as top emerging companies contributing to enhancing the competitiveness of the future economy’s sectors
• Our direct investment companies that made it to the list — Camb.ai , FinFlx (YC W22) , Lune? , Valeo Health ME , VUZ , Wellx , Zest Equity , Zywa (YC W22)

Download report

If you would like to get in touch with us, please email us at [email protected] Copyright (C) 2024 Dubai Future District Fund. All rights reserved.