In the presence of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the 2nd Edition Focused on Empowering New Ventures from Universities and early-stage startups based in Sharjah
Sharjah, UAE – [24 October 2025]: The second edition of Seal the Deal — the flagship pitch initiative fostering entrepreneurship and bridging innovative founders with leading investors and business leaders — was successfully held on October 23rd, 2025, during the Sharjah Investment Forum and the WAIPA World Investment Conference 2025.
Organized by the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (now rebranded as SPARK), in collaboration with the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah), the American University of Sharjah (AUS), and the University of Sharjah (UoS), the event reaffirmed Sharjah’s position as a regional epicenter of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Held at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre as part of the Sharjah Investment Forum and the WAIPA World Investment Conference 2025, the event celebrated Sharjah’s thriving innovation ecosystem; a platform where bright minds meet bold investors and where ideas evolve into thriving ventures.
Inspired by the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SPARK, Seal the Deal continues to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs to transform academic innovation into investable ventures.
Building on the success of the inaugural edition, this year’s event has been expanded to include student-led startups, faculty-led ventures, and early-stage Sharjah-based startups. Each category reflects the innovative spirit and entrepreneurial energy which will help in shaping Sharjah’s economic future.
A total of nine startups participated in the event, each delivering a five-minute pitch followed by a short Q&A session. In total, the startups successfully attracted investment commitments exceeding AED 4 million.
The event featured an impressive lineup of investors and business leaders, including Abdallah Abu Sheikh, Founder of Abu Shaikh; Mishal Kanoo, Chairman of Kanoo Group; Mohamed Al Hashemi, CEO of Union Coop; Mohamed Khadiri, CEO of Bank of Sharjah; Sherif Beshara, CEO of Mohamed & Obaid AlMulla Group and American Hospital Dubai.
Through a dynamic “Shark Tank”-style pitching sessions, startups presented their ventures, received direct feedback, and secured real-time investment interest, a testament to the region’s growing culture of collaboration between innovators and the investment community.
The event concluded with a recognition ceremony, which honored investors and startup participants for their continued commitment to empowering innovation and entrepreneurship in Sharjah.
Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of SPARK, said: “Seal the Deal has grown into a unique platform that brings together academia, investors, and the private sector to transform research and innovation into sustainable businesses. Sharjah’s model of collaboration is driving meaningful impact across industries and communities.”
Sara Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, said: “Seal the Deal reflects Sharjah’s evolving vision for entrepreneurship, one where ideas born in classrooms and research labs can grow into scalable, investment-ready businesses. Through our collaboration with SPARK and our partners across the ecosystem, we are building a pipeline that connects ambition with opportunity, ensuring that every founder in Sharjah has access to the mentorship, networks, and capital they need to thrive.”
H.E. Mohamed Juma Al Musharrkh, CEO of Invest in Sharjah, affirmed that the Seal the Deal initiative embodies Sharjah’s vision of transforming innovation into productive investment – one that bridges knowledge with capital and translates genuine partnership between universities, entrepreneurs, and investors into a single, integrated ecosystem.
He added: “This initiative represents an advanced model of synergy between the academic and economic sectors, further strengthening Sharjah’s position as a regional hub for entrepreneurship and a leading destination for high-impact investments. The growing interest we see from investors today reflects the deep confidence in Sharjah’s innovation-driven environment and its ability to transform promising ideas into projects that generate lasting and sustainable economic impact beyond the initiative itself.”
Seal the Deal 2025 reinforces Sharjah’s reputation as a leader in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, offering startups and researchers access to investors, mentorship, and strategic growth opportunities. As the event concluded, attendees were reminded that innovation does not end at the event — it continues through every conversation, mentorship, and investment that will follow.
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