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twofour54, the commercial arm of the Media Zone Authority – Abu Dhabi, today signed a deal with Flat6Labs and United Markets International Holding to bring the a specialized startup accelerator to Abu Dhabi and create a new hub for local and international entrepreneurs by launching the new startup accelerator: Flat6Labs Abu Dhabi.

Flat6Labs is a regional startup accelerator that fosters and invests in bright and passionate entrepreneurs. The accelerator provides seed funding, strategic mentorship, a creative workspace, a multitude of perks, entrepreneurship-focused business training, and direct support for startups through an expansive network of partners and entrepreneurial activities. Fulfilling its mission of creating more entrepreneurial hubs in vibrant ecosystems, Flat6Labs also has hubs in Cairo and Jeddah, and soon in Abu Dhabi with immediate efforts to expand to more areas in the Middle East and North Africa.

“twofour54 and Flat6Labs share the goal of developing talent in the UAE and across the entire Middle East,” said Noura Al Kaabi, the Chief Executive Officer of twofour54. “Working together through this partnership will help us to achieve this goal. twofour54 has become the region’s driving force behind media and entertainment entrepreneurs in Abu Dhabi and we look forward to giving more young talent the opportunity to grow and thrive with the support of Flat6Labs.”

Flat6Labs Abu Dhabi is planning to help launch more than 80 companies over the next four years. Its main focus will be on digital content and e-commerce, social media and citizen journalism, media and video production, and mobile applications. The application process for the accelerator program will be initiated towards the end of the year.

“This partnership is an essential step in establishing a startup accelerator that can serve and benefit different local partners in the UAE,” said Mr. Hany Al-Sonbaty, Founder of Flat6Labs. “Our mission is to create more entrepreneurial hubs in vibrant media ecosystems like twofour54; Flat6Labs Abu Dhabi is designed to act as an entrepreneurial hub that will attract local Emirati and global talent who are starting companies. Through this agreement, we hope to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs in the UAE’s business community.”

twofour54’s initiatives to develop talent and build a media and entertainment hub include twofour54 creative lab, which nurtures and supports creative talent, and twofour54 tadreeb, which offers media and training solution in a variety of disciplines, such as social media, digital content, TV presenting, video, radio, journalism or more general television production, and venture funding, which invests directly in the equity of early stage and growth companies in the media sector. The newly established accelerator program with Flat6Labs will use the twoFour54 local expertise combined with insights from Emirati business leaders, global technology experts, local and regional investment experts and United Arab Emirates Governmental leaders and figures as part of the program to help entrepreneurs.

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