The Zola Collective selected as winners in Majid Al Futtaim's Launchpad Accelerator Programme

Published on https://www.majidalfuttaim.com

‍

• In partnership with Microsoft and AstroLabs, Majid Al Futtaim’s Launchpad programme enters an exciting new phase, having successfully identified ambitious brands for a unique strategic partnership opportunity
• The Launchpad accelerator programme targets start-ups and SMEs in the MENAP region and globally, in strategic sectors to turbo-charge growth plans and support economic development
• As part of the programme, 14 winners were announced, 50% included female entrepreneurs

‍Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 22 September 2022: Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, has revealed 14 start-ups and SME winners to join its Launchpad accelerator programme across three categories, Homegrown, Health and Beauty, and Proptech. The successful companies will now receive unrivalled access to business growth incentives, mentorship programmes and the vast Majid Al Futtaim innovation ecosystem to strengthen their commercial viability across the region.Following the initial announcement of the programme and an open call for submissions in partnership with AstroLabs and Microsoft, Majid Al Futtaim received 196 applications from across the MENAP region and globally. From 23 shortlisted applicants demonstrating ingenuity, originality and vast commercial potential, the winning start-ups include The Bath Land, The Hair Addict, The Zola Collective, Wallace & Co, Sigma-Fit, Opio, Reform Studio, Little Sol+, Kiliim, Thaely, Boksha, Stake, enVerid Systems and Disrupt-X. […]

”Roland Daher, Chief Executive Officer at AstroLabs, said: The Launchpad Program is a milestone in our journey of accelerating innovation for industry leaders in MENA and growth through strategic expansion into new markets, customer segments, and channels by plugging future-forward companies into Majid Al Futtaim’s value chain. A key factor to the success of this initiative was the involvement and commitment of Majid Al Futtaim's senior leadership and business unit heads, working closely with the AstroLabs team to identify market opportunities these emerging businesses will be solving for. We engaged our extensive local & global innovation network to source the top offerings in their respective verticals and drive potential synergies that will be at the forefront of Majid Al Futtaim’s long-term business and economic growth.’’ […]

”Anusha Mahtani, Co-Founder, The Zola Collective, said: “The major impact for our business as a Launchpad winner comes through the integration with Maid Al Futtaim’s diverse ecosystem. Having tried and tested all our products, we are now ready to take our brand into the mainstream. Today’s achievement represents a major step towards accomplishing that goal. By tapping into the Majid Al Futtaim network, we aim to continue building our community and making the right connections to facilitate the growth and expansion of The Zola Collective. Looking at the big picture, just reaching the finals will change the whole course of our business. Every start-up dreams of going international - working with Majid Al Futtaim and its regional footprint makes this dream a reality.”The first round of Majid Al Futtaim’s Launchpad programme focused efforts on supporting core growth areas, including Homegrown Brands to attract start-ups with a unique and fascinating story, focusing on culture and heritage, sustainability, and innovation; Health and Beauty to identify and elevate start-ups with innovative products and tech solutions designed to elevate the customer experience; and Proptech to target start-ups that offer innovative and sustainable solutions to help optimise the efficiency of construction, digitise property development, residential communities and hotels spaces, and enhance the experiences in the shopping mall.

Providing best-in-class mentoring and supporting companies to grow their business quickly while attracting, nurturing, and supporting world-class talent, the Launchpad initiative reaffirms the company’s role in the private sector as a driver of local economies and its long-term ambition to be a partner of choice for pioneering initiatives and investments in the region.