Dubai Startup Hub, the entrepreneur initiative by Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, has launched the Smartpreneur 5.0 Online Pitch Bootcamp. This, first-of-its-kind 10 week training program is for the 50 finalists who qualified for the second phase of the fifth Dubai Smartpreneur competition.

The specialized online training program will run from April 19 to June 30, 2020. This program has replaced the traditional two day training to ensure that these promising ventures are supported in the current difficult times, and that they are able to sustain and grow their business in 2020.

Entrepreneurs will benefit from more than 100 individual and group online training workshops, which will be organized throughout the two and a half month program.

On the sidelines of the training program, Dubai Startup Hub also launched the Startup Pitch Guide 2020 on how to deliver an impactful investor pitch..  Dubai Chamber has prepared this guide based on global best practices that are compatible with the business environment in the emirate. Participants in the competition and other entrepreneurs can benefit from the guide to achieve positive, encouraging results when presenting their ideas to investors.

The training program includes a diverse mix of activities, including working on pitches by using the Chamber’s guide,  participating in a series of online training workshops and webinars with winners and previous participants of the Dubai Smartpreneur Competition.

The training program also includes 4 weeks of one-to-one work with startup business coaches to improve business and financial models of the startups and running a simulation of the contest with the finalists as judges.

Natalia Sycheva, Manager of Entrepreneurship at Dubai Chamber pointed out that this training program is the first of its kind, innovative training model that takes into account the exceptional circumstances we are in and how to enhance the capabilities and skills of the entrepreneurs and startups to sustain and grow in such situations. It also demonstrates the pioneering role of Dubai Chamber in providing innovative support for entrepreneurs in uncertain times rather than stopping these services.

She stressed that the Smartpreneur entrepreneurs are different as they are vetted, well-trained, and are guided to build a real business.

Sycheva also remarked on the launch of the Guide which is prepared by experts and is a training and educational tool for entrepreneurs and startups on how to present their ideas.

The Smartpreneur competition aims to assist technologyentrepreneurs to be part of Dubai’s strategic initiatives, in addition to enhancing the role of these entrepreneurs in the evolving business ecosystem of the Emirate and its position as the global hub for innovation.

More than 1,600 participants have gone through the Dubai Smartpreneur Competition over the last four years, which is reflective of its effectiveness and influence in attracting an increasing number of international startups.

Dubai Chamber launched Dubai Startup Hub in 2016 as an online platform for startups, entrepreneurs, developers, venture capitalists and students, enabling them to learn about new opportunities and create new partnerships that stimulate economic growth.

Dubai Startup Hub provides a multi-program platform for entrepreneurs from around the world to explore business opportunities in Dubai, while benefiting from a set of programs and services such as Market Access Program, Emirati Development Program, Dubai Smartpreneur Competition and Co-Founder Dubai Program, among others.