Dubai Founders HQ, Antler Launch Entrepreneur Academy To Support First-Time Founders
The six-week program has been designed to give aspiring entrepreneurs in the emirate a structured pathway into building their first business.
Dubai Founders HQ, a startup support platform launched by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, has partnered with Singapore-based early-stage venture capital firm Antler to launch the Entrepreneur Academy, a six-week program designed to give aspiring entrepreneurs in the emirate a structured pathway into building their first business.
Aimed at individuals who have the ambition to become founders but limited experience or are unsure how to get started, the Academy combines online and in-person learning to equip participants with the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. The program, the first edition of which will run from September 7 to October 16, 2026, covers identifying opportunities, validating business ideas, developing early products, and understanding what it takes to launch and grow a venture.
In a statement, HE Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), the economic development arm of DET, said, “Dubai Founders HQ was created to make entrepreneurship more accessible by providing founders with the tools, networks, and support they need to succeed. Through the Entrepreneur Academy, we are opening the door to a new generation of entrepreneurs by giving aspiring founders a practical pathway to turn ideas into action. Together with Antler, we are helping more people take their first step into entrepreneurship while strengthening Dubai’s pipeline of future startups, scaleups, and high-growth companies in support of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33.”
Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, added, “The Entrepreneur Academy supports ambitious, emerging talent gain practical exposure to the tools, technologies, and commercial thinking needed to develop successful technology-driven ventures. This initiative reflects Dubai Founders HQ’s continued efforts to expand Dubai’s digital business ecosystem and create new paths for entrepreneurs to contribute to the emirate’s thriving innovation economy.”
Magnus Grimeland, founder and CEO of Antler, said, “We believe exceptional founders can come from anywhere, but too often the barrier isn't talent or ambition, it's simply not knowing where to start. The Entrepreneur Academy is designed to remove that barrier. By giving aspiring founders the practical skills, the latest AI tools, and direct access to Dubai's startup ecosystem, we're helping more people take that critical first step from idea to action. Dubai has rapidly established itself as one of the world's most dynamic places to build, and we're proud to deepen our partnership with Dubai Founders HQ to widen the pipeline of founders who will build the breakout companies of tomorrow from Dubai.”
Participants in the Entrepreneur Academy will learn from entrepreneurs, investors, operators, mentors, and technology leaders from Antler's global network and the wider startup ecosystem, including from noteworthy companies like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Nvidia. In addition to practical guidance from experienced founders and investors, the program will also train participants to use AI-powered tools and workflows that are increasingly shaping how startups are built. The curriculum thus emphasizes hands-on application, enabling participants to test ideas, understand customer needs, develop early products, and strengthen the skills needed to move their ventures forward. Throughout the program, founders will also have opportunities to engage directly with Dubai's startup ecosystem.
The Entrepreneur Academy marks a new phase of the ongoing collaboration between Dubai Founders HQ and Antler, with the latter’s latest Residency program launching recently in Dubai. The Residency brought together founders from around the world to build startups in the emirate, and the addition of the Entrepreneur Academy extends that support to entrepreneurs at an earlier stage of their journey. Participants who choose to continue developing their ventures after completing the Entrepreneur Academy will also be fast-tracked through the application process for the Residency program, thereby creating a pathway that supports founders from their initial exploration of entrepreneurship through venture creation, pre-seed funding, and long-term growth.
Applications for the Entrepreneur Academy are now open via this link. The first cohort starts on September 7, 2026; applications must be submitted before August 24, 2026, to be considered for it.
