Sharjah: Building on the vision of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), Sheraa hosted an Entrepreneurs Resilience Roundtable. The event was designed to support startups and SMEs in sustaining their operations and strengthening long-term stability through the ‘Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund’. The roundtable provided a platform for 13 startup founders to exchange insights and experiences on building and sustaining businesses amid shifting market conditions.
According to Emirates News Agency, participants emphasized the importance of deliberate actions and enabling factors for sustaining entrepreneurial ventures. These include maintaining close connections with customers, establishing clear decision-making foundations, and accelerating innovation by involving users early on. Investing in emerging talent and leveraging supportive ecosystems were also highlighted as critical elements for empowering companies and enhancing their confidence as they grow.
The roundtable featured notable attendees such as Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi from the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, Khaled Al Huraimel of BEEAH Group, Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer of Shurooq, and Majed Haremel Al Shamsi of SEWA. Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, emphasized Sheraa’s commitment to enabling founders with the right support and creating an environment conducive to business adaptation and growth.
The event hosted founders like Anam Khalid and Wajdan Gul of Squatwolf, Faiza Bouguessa of Bouguessa, and Ruba Al Nashash of Pulse IoT, among others. Discussions revolved around evolving business models, staying connected to customers, and maintaining operational discipline. Faiza Bouguessa shared her experience of adapting operations to maintain business continuity during challenging times.
William White of AiREV highlighted the acceleration of innovation through user engagement, while Ghizlan Guenez of F-Force underscored the importance of a strong ecosystem in navigating uncertainty. Ruba Al Nashash stressed the significance of sector-specific collaboration in responding to market challenges.
Ultimately, the roundtable underscored the need for support models aligned with business operations. In this context, Sheraa announced the Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund, a AED 5 million initiative supporting startups and SMEs in critical sectors like manufacturing, food security, and healthcare. This initiative offers both financial and non-financial support, ensuring businesses remain poised for continuity and growth in Sharjah’s economic landscape.