Innovate For Tomorrow Impact Accelerator 2025
Reimagining circular systems for a resilient future
Dubai Holding’s flagship scale-up programme.
Together, transforming ideas into sustainable impact.
After a rigorous global search, 15 visionary scale-ups have joined the 2025 cohort of the Innovate For Tomorrow Impact Accelerator to rethink resource efficiency and the circular economy in the UAE.
Register your interest for the next edition today.
About the Programme
The Innovate For Tomorrow Impact Accelerator is Dubai Holding’s flagship scale-up programme, empowering innovators to unlock a better future. Now in its second edition, the 2025 accelerator champions circular economy innovation, empowering 15 shortlisted scale-ups to rethink how we produce, consume and regenerate resources across the UAE’s most vital sectors.
In line with the UAE Vision 2071, the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative and the UAE Circular Economy Policy 2031, this year’s programme supports innovators to drive the critical transition to a more sustainable tomorrow.
The 2025 cohort has been selected from over 1,400 submissions across 93 countries. We are partnering with these scale-ups to move from solution development to implementation, reimagining the lifecycle of critical resources and driving real-world transformation through inclusive, tech-enabled and regenerative solutions.
Step one: The challenge
Over 1,400 applicants rose to the challenge, submitting some of the boldest, most innovative solutions from around the globe and the UAE.
Step two: The accelerator
15 scale-ups have been selected to fast-track their solutions through our intensive 12-week hybrid training programme. During this phase, they gain access to:
- Dedicated mentorship: a direct line to key industry figures and Dubai Holding experts.
- Expert training: masterclasses to perfect your model and accelerate market entry.
- Investor networks: exposure to investors actively seeking ground-breaking ideas.
Step three: The pitch
The top five scale-ups will secure their spot in the final stage. During our high-profile Demo Day in May 2026, they will showcase their strategic solutions 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, securing the chance for real-world validation and transforming their vision into a proven success story.
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
For the 2025 programme, we selected scale-ups whose solutions reimagine consumption, ownership and production across Dubai Holding’s key business areas, from food and packaging to construction and electronic waste, with a focus on reuse, redistribution and inclusive models that reduce environmental pressure.
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 closed
1400+ submissions received from 93 countries
Cohort selected
15 visionary scale-ups chosen as part of the 2025 cohort
Accelerator programme
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
Meet the cohort
As part of the 2025 edition of the Innovate For Tomorrow Accelerator Programme, 15 shortlisted scale-ups are joining us on a journey of growth and transformation.
Discover their vision for a circular economy below:
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. 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.
Selection criteria and process
We employed a rigorous assessment framework, evaluating applicants based on problem relevance, impact potential, innovation, differentiation, scalability and market fit across the UAE. This enabled us to identify the most promising circular economy scale-ups ready to grow within Dubai Holding's ecosystem.
The 2025 cohort of the Innovate For Tomorrow Impact Accelerator is now live. Register your interest for the next edition today.
Our Partners
