Innovate For Tomorrow Impact Accelerator 2025
Reimagining circular systems for a resilient future
Join Dubai Holding’s flagship scale-up programme.
Together, transforming ideas into sustainable impact.
Applications close on 25 November 2025
days
hours
minutes
seconds
About the Programme
The Innovate For Tomorrow Impact Accelerator is Dubai Holding’s flagship scale-up programme designed to empower innovators to unlock a better future. Now in its second edition, the 2025 accelerator champions circular economy innovation with a call to fundamentally rethink how we produce, consume and regenerate resources across the UAE’s most vital sectors.
In line with the strategic commitments of the UAE Vision 2071, UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative and UAE Circular Economy Policy 2031, this year’s programme challenges innovators to drive the critical transition to a more sustainable tomorrow.
We’re inviting visionary scale-ups to reimagine the lifecycle of critical resources, unlock new value and drive real-world transformation through inclusive, tech-enabled and regenerative solutions. We partner with you throughout the journey from your solution to implementation.
If this sounds like you, your journey to growth starts here:
Step one: The challenge
We’re seeking the boldest, most innovative solutions globally and in the UAE. Rise to the challenge and complete the application form to demonstrate your potential to disrupt and transform industries and secure your place among our official cohort.
Step two: The accelerator
Once shortlisted, your scale-up will be fast-tracked into our intensive 12-week hybrid training programme, where you'll gain access to:
- Dedicated mentorship – a direct line to key industry figures and Dubai Holding advisors.
- Expert training – masterclasses to perfect your model and accelerate market entry.
- Investor networks – exposure to investors actively seeking groundbreaking ideas.
Step three: The pitch
Excel within the accelerator to secure your spot in the final stage, where top scale-ups will have the opportunity to pitch at our high-profile Demo Day. Showcase your strategic solution to a curated audience of investors, partners and industry leaders, opening doors to potential funding and strategic collaborations.
One outstanding innovation will be selected to receive pilot funding for proof of concept within Dubai Holding’s vast ecosystem. This is your chance for real-world validation, transforming your vision into a proven success story.
Are you ready to make your mark?
About Dubai Holding
Dubai Holding is a diversified global investment company with investments in more than 30 countries and a combined workforce of more than 45,000 people. Established in 2004, Dubai Holding touches the lives of millions of Dubai residents and visitors through its extensive portfolio of over AED 280 billion worth of assets that support the diversification and sustainable growth of Dubai’s economy across 10 key sectors: real estate, hospitality, leisure & entertainment, media, ICT, design, education, retail, manufacturing & logistics and science.
Learn more about our impact here.
The Challenge
We’re looking for scale-ups that can reimagine consumption, ownership and production within our key Dubai Holding sectors. This includes everything from food and packaging to construction and electronic waste, with a focus on reuse, redistribution and inclusive models that create economic opportunity while reducing environmental pressure.
Ignite change across one or more of our three sub-thematic areas to tackle the most pressing circular economy challenges head-on.
Food loss and waste
Food Loss and Waste
Solutions that reduce food waste through smarter use, sharing or upcycling, from surplus redistribution to community-driven composting and expiry-based pricing.
Examples:
- Surplus food redistribution platforms
- Technology to extend shelf-life or price items based on expiry date
- Systems that support hotel and restaurant waste upcycling
Resource recovery and regeneration
Resource Recovery & Regeneration
Innovative reuse of materials across various applications, such as construction, packaging and electronics, aiming to reduce dependency on virgin resources and extend product lifecycles.
Examples:
- Conversion of electronic waste into raw material
- Construction material reuse
- Spare parts and component recovery
- Textile recovery solutions for uniforms and workwear
Digital innovation for sustainability
Digital Innovation for Sustainability
Digital innovations and smart technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) that transform how we design, track, manage and recover resources throughout their lifecycles – from intelligent systems that prevent waste before it happens to automated networks that capture and redirect materials back into productive use.
Examples:
- Digital "passports" that track materials from creation to end-of-life for easy recovery
- Smart sensors that identify when equipment needs maintenance
- IoT-enabled collection bins that optimise pickup routes and sorting processes
Timeline
Applications open
Submission window opens
6 October 2025
Applications close
Final day to apply
25 November 2025
Selection of cohort
Interviews and final cohort selection of 15 successful applications
December 2025
Accelerator launch
12-week hybrid training programme with the selected cohort
January 2026 to April 2026
Demo Day
Top five scale-ups, showcase to investors and partners. One winner and two runners up announced
May 2026
Pilot implementation
Pilot funding and execution begins with the winning solution
Starting May 2026
Year 1 challenge recap
In its first edition, Innovate For Tomorrow drew 150 submissions from 31 countries, showcasing bold ideas tackling critical sustainability challenges in the UAE. The aim: to promote responsible consumption and production under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12, aligned with Dubai Holding’s Sustainability Strategy.
Five finalists – including innovators from the UAE, USA and Norway – presented their solutions at the Museum of the Future in Dubai, UAE, with their solutions evaluated on business viability, scalability, innovation and impact potential.
The winning solution, Upcycling Plastic into Homes by Frank Cato Lahti of Othalo (Norway), transforms plastic waste into affordable building materials. As the winner, Othalo is running a pilot project with Dubai Holding, building a pioneering multipurpose education hub made entirely from recycled plastic at The Green Planet Dubai. Runner-up Rana Hajirasouli of The Surpluss (UAE), with her solution Transforming Excess into Equal Access, is now a Dubai Holding partner. Her platform enables companies to trade excess materials and resources, reducing waste and optimising efficiency. Finalist Fedor Smirnov of Midori Network (UAE) is set to integrate his Urban Recycling Labs solution within Dubai Holding. Midori tackles plastic pollution through a distributed recycling network that converts waste into construction materials.
With every finalist benefiting from in5 and Dubai Holding’s diverse support network, the inaugural edition of Innovate For Tomorrow successfully showcased Dubai Holding’s commitment to scaling circular economy solutions and supporting the UAE’s sustainable future.
.avif)
.avif)
Prizes and perks
The first-place winner will receive a fully funded opportunity to pilot their scale-up solution across Dubai Holding’s extensive ecosystem, unlocking access to resources, expertise and growth potential. In addition, the winner and runners-up will receive the following cash prizes:
3rd Place
AED 100,000
1st Place
AED 500,000
2nd Place
AED 250,000
The programme also offers exclusive perks to the shortlisted accelerator cohort. These include:
- An exclusive opportunity to enrol in a 12-week training programme, with a mentorship track
- Ecosystem exposure and networking opportunities with key investors
- One-year access to the in5 incubator programme for selected applicants
- Pitching opportunity to partners and investors at Demo Day for the top scale-ups
- Access to 250+ discounted technology platforms and apps.
Eligibility criteria
The founder’s mindset is critical. We invite purpose-driven, coachable, collaborative and adaptable founders with a scalable vision to join us.
If your solution is ready for rapid deployment and significant impact, apply now to unlock your potential.
Criteria
To qualify for the Innovate For Tomorrow Impact Accelerator, scale-ups should have at least one full-time founder actively committed throughout the 12-week hybrid programme.
Scale-ups must be willing and committed to scale their solutions within the UAE and must have at least one of the following:
- A functional prototype or Minimum Viable Product
- Early customer validation completed
- Pre-seed to Pre-Series A funding (bootstrapped, angel or early institutional)
Selection criteria and process
We employ a rigorous assessment framework, evaluating applicants based on problem relevance, impact potential, innovation, differentiation, scalability and market fit across the UAE. This enables us to identify the most promising circular economy scale-ups ready to grow within Dubai Holding's ecosystem.
We carefully evaluate applicants across all criteria. Successful candidates must demonstrate strong, well-rounded performance in multiple areas, extending beyond a single dimension of excellence.
Our Partners
