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An event curated by Sheraa

Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival 2023

More Details Coming Soon
Timing:

A Community of Entrepreneurs, Creators & Changemakers from Around the World.

SEF brings together a community of entrepreneurs, creators and changemakers from around the world for two days of inspiring conversations, authentic connections and engaging workshops. Our annual celebration is designed to fuel your entrepreneurial success and maximize your impact in the world.

Our Theme for SEF 2022

Through the power of belonging, we can inspire real change.

Our theme for 2022 is #WhereWeBelong, connecting a community of like-minded entrepreneurs, investors and changemakers from around the world to drive collaboration and spark innovative ideas that create an impact.

get inspired

Key Speakers

Our speakers this year are revolutionary leaders and industry experts who will take the stage with one goal in mind: to show you how to maximize your potential and inspire a lasting impact on the world

  • Steven Bartlett
    Host, The Diary of a CEO Podcast
    Host
    The Diary of a CEO Podcast
  • Mo Gawdat
    Author, Solve For Happy
    Author
    Solve For Happy

    Mo Gawdat is the Founder of One Billion Happy, former Chief Business Officer of Google X, and author of the international bestselling books Solve for Happy and Scary Smart.

    Following the tragic loss of his son Ali, Mo began pouring his findings into his international bestselling book, Solve for Happy: Engineer Your Path to Joy. Following his success, Mo launched his chart-topping podcast, Slo Mo: A Podcast with Mo Gawdat, a weekly series of exploring the profound questions and obstacles we face in the pursuit of purpose in our lives.

    In 2020, He published Scary Smart: The Future of Artificial Intelligence and How You Can Save Our World. He latest book, That Little Voice in Your Head: Adjust the Code That Runs Your Brain is a comprehensive user manual for optimally using the human brain optimally to thrive and avoid suffering.

  • Nelly Attar
    Founder, Move
    Founder
    Move

    Nelly Attar is a Fitness Ambassador, Sports Leader, and an Health Advocate who is contributing significantly to the transformation of the sports landscape in the Middle East. Nelly earned the title of “One of Top Influential Muslim Women in Sports” in 2020 by The Muslim Women Network, and the “Female Fitness Influencer of the Year across the GCC” in 2019 by Sports 360. She is currently nominated for the “”Sporting Event of the Year”” Award by Laureus World Sports Awards.

    Nelly scaled the World’s second highest mountain peak, making headlines globally, and becoming the First Arab women to climb to such a height. Within four weeks after her climb, Nelly scaled the most treacherous peak in the world “”The King of Mountains.””

    Nelly completed her academic studies in Psychology and was awarded a BSc from the American University of Beirut and an MRes from Kingston University.

  • Adwa Al Dakheel
    Entrepreneur, Investor, Pilot, Musician, Diver, Writer, Founder, Falak Investment Hub
    Entrepreneur, Investor, Pilot, Musician, Diver, Writer, Founder
    Falak Investment Hub
  • Raja Al Mazrouei
    Fintech & Digital Transformation Leader
    Fintech & Digital Transformation Leader
  • Alia Al Shamsi
    Cultural Programming Manager, Louvre Abu Dhabi
    Cultural Programming Manager
    Louvre Abu Dhabi
  • April Rinne
    Founder and Chief Change Navigator, April Worldwide
    Founder and Chief Change Navigator
    April Worldwide

    April Rinne is an acclaimed speaker, thinker, and advisor that is radically shaping our relationship to uncertainty and sustaining a healthy productive outlook for organizations across the globe.

    From keynote speeches to advisor sessions, April focuses on inclusive business innovation, policy reform, sustainable development, and emerging markets. In 2021, she successfully wrote and published Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change.

    April holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School, an M.A. in International Business and Finance from The Fletcher School at Tufts University, and a B.A. in International Studies and Italian summa cum laude from Emory University. In 2011 the World Economic Forum named her a Young Global Leader. She is one of the 50 leading female futurists in the world, a Fulbright Scholar, and a trusted advisor to well-known startups, companies, financial institutions, and governments worldwide.

  • Ahmed Al Ghandour
    Content Creator and Founder – Da7ee7
    Content Creator and Founder – Da7ee7
  • Ali Abdaal
    YouTuber & Podcaster
    YouTuber & Podcaster
  • Azeem Khan
    Fundraising & Partnerships Lead, Gitcoin
    Fundraising & Partnerships Lead
    Gitcoin

    Azeem Khan is a New York based entrepreneur and a Web3 native who’s worked in tech, blockchain, biotech, esports/gaming, and entertainment. Azeem is currently the Fundraising & Partnerships Lead at Bitcoin, a decentralized autonomous organization that has given out approximately $70million in grants to open-source software developers since inception in 2017, and helped spawn many multi-billion dollar companies in the web3 space that were originally grantees of the enterprise.

    Simultaneously, Azeem was writing with the Huffington Post interviewing hip hop artists including Big Sean, T.I, Casanova, Kid Ink, Bun B, Jadakiss, Memphis Bleek, Rapsody, DJ Drama, and even Mark Cuban.

    Prior to joining Gitcoin, Azeem built an esports company alongside major music executives from Roc Nation. Some of his clients include Kanye West, Bryson Tiller, Teyana Taylor, Rae Sremmurd, and Dreamville Records.

  • Robert Wolcott
    Co-Founder & Chair, TWIN Global & Adjunct Professor of Innovation, University of Chicago
    Co-Founder & Chair
    TWIN Global & Adjunct Professor of Innovation, University of Chicago

    Robert C. Wolcott is Co-founder and chair of The World Innovation Network (TWIN Global), a global community that is built up of over 4,000 innovators and leaders from 30 countries. TWIN gathers 400 delegates for TWIN Global, a yearly event exploring the future of industries and the objective to build a network across multiple sectors.

    Robert is Adjunct Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the Booth School of business, as well as Adjunct professor at Kellogg School of Management, where he won Teacher of the year four times.

    He also Co-founded Clareo in 2003, a growth strategy firm that helps complex organizations tackle big challenges. Robert helps organizations clarify vision, articulate strategy and sustain an innovative action plan that enables companies to approach challenges confidently.

  • Sheikha Al Mheiri
    Chairwoman, Fortitude Holding
    Chairwoman, Fortitude Holding
  • Abdulrahman Abumalih
    Founder and CEO, Thmanyah
    Founder and CEO
    Thmanyah
  • Omar Chihane
    Founder & CEO, Englease
    Founder & CEO
    Englease

    Omar Chihane is the Founder and CEO of englease, an EdTech company delivering scalable accredited English classes synchronously (live) online, taught by an in-house team of expert teachers. englease* partners with governments, schools and organizations to help them roll-out English proficiency programs at scale by offering a turnkey solution from program design, to tech integration and delivery.

    Prior to founding englease, Omar has had a very successful corporate-level career in learning and development and sales management with multinational companies, such as Siemens, Nokia, and Microsoft, where he led both regional and global business units, achieving sales targets that exceeded US$100 million dollars and leading functions responsible for upskilling over 15,000 people.Omar holds an MBA from London Business School.

  • Silfath Pinto
    Holistic Therapist
    Holistic Therapist
  • Khawla Bin Thani
    Holistic Wellness Expert
    Holistic Wellness Expert
    View All Speakers
    5 KEY STAGES

    The five inspirational stages are all designed to streamline every part of your entrepreneurship journey in a world of rapid digital transformation and innovation. We are proud to say we’ve raised the bar even higher for 2022!

    • Hear from legendary changemakers as they share their stories of grit, resilience and impact to foster personal growth and transformation.

    • Dive into the creative economy and build authentic connections with leading industry players through inspirational talks and activations about art and culture.

    • Hear from early stage VC’s, startups, and industry experts discuss emerging technologies and cutting-edge innovations with inspiring keynotes, panels, and fireside chats covering all the tech trends shaping tomorrow.

    • Join our community space and connect with fellow entrepreneurs and startups in an open atmosphere that encourages sharing knowledge and growth opportunities.

    • Learn how to maximize your entrepreneurial skills, achieve peak performance, and foster personal and business growth.

    The 2022 SEF Experience: Something for Everyone

    Experience a spectacular two day celebration of innovation with impactful conversations, engaging workshops and uplifting performances.


    • Startup Town
      Startup Town

      Connect with founders, investors and mentors to take your business to the next level

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    • The Souq
      The Souq

      Explore and support a community of homegrown brands and thriving local startups

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    • Performances
      Performances

      Enjoy uplifting performances and celebrations from local artists to embrace the festivities and create lasting memories

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    • SEFFY Awards Nominations
      SEFFY Awards Nominations

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    • Competitions
      Competitions

      Join our hackathons and put your skills to the test. Tackle real-world challenges and compete in our coding championship & startup pitch to win incredible prizes! Watch the SEFFY awards & celebrate the merit of UAE’s startup industry.

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    • World Cup Streaming
      World Cup Streaming

      Watch the World Cup third place play-off and finals live! Enjoy the winter vibes with our outdoor screen and a variety of the best food trucks.

    • Creative Economy and Community Zone
      Creative Economy and Community Zone

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    • Sustainability and Innovation Zone
      Sustainability and Innovation Zone

      Experience the world’s first solar car exclusively at SEF 2022, along with some of the most advanced innovations in the sustainability zone, sponsored by Sharjah Sustainable City.

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    • World Arabic Language Day
      World Arabic Language Day

      Join us on December 18th as we proudly celebrate the World Arabic Language Day with art activations, phenomenal performances and inspiring talks from prominent leaders in the Arab world.

  • With our deepest gratitude to:

    Our Partners

    IMPACT PARTNER
    VENUE PARTNER
    ENABLE PARTNER
    EMPOWER PARTNERS
    HYDRATION PARTNER
    MEDIA PARTNER
    COMMUNITY PARTNERS