Gamechangers: AI | VentureOne's Reda Nidhakou On The Power Of Coordinated Collaboration To Accelerate Progress
Nidhakou was one of the innovators celebrated in the 2026 edition of Gamechangers: AI, an annual Inc. Arabia showcase of the business leaders driving the AI revolution in the MENA.
VentureOne is the Abu Dhabi-based Advanced Technology Research Council’s venture builder and commercialization arm that is focused on what CEO Reda Nidhakou calls “the last mile of innovation,” i.e., transforming advanced research into deployable, scalable solutions that address real operational problems.
With VentureOne thus tasked to bridge this gap, the enterprise has, with Nidhakou at its helm, launched four artificial intelligence (AI)-powered and deep tech ventures in under two years. These include ai71, an enterprise AI solution built for government, healthcare, and construction; QuantumGate, a sovereign post-quantum cybersecurity platform; SteerAI, an AI-powered autonomous systems solutions company for the defense industry; and Nabat, a climate resilience and biodiversity company utilizing AI, robotics, and ecological modeling to restore degraded ecosystems at scale, which, by the way, Nidhakou also leads as CEO.
While VentureOne and its ventures have already collectively generated hundreds of millions of dirhams in contracts, grown to more than 200 professionals as a workforce, and realized a dozen partnerships, it is getting set to launch additional enterprises in the market before the end of 2026 and in 2027, including businesses focused on autonomous robotics and climate tech. “In less than two years, VentureOne has launched four deep tech ventures that help address human capacity, mobility, and operational challenges, cybersecurity, and ecosystem decline,” Nidhakou points out. “Together, they demonstrate the power of coordinated collaboration to accelerate progress and deliver results.”
Pictured in the lead image is VentureOne CEO Reda Nidhakou. Image courtesy VentureOne.
Nidhakou was one of the innovators celebrated in the 2026 edition of Gamechangers: AI, an annual Inc. Arabia showcase of the business leaders driving the AI revolution in the MENA. Check out the full list by clicking here.
