Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Monday, May 12th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

in5, the innovation hub launched by Dubai Internet City last year aimed at supporting the development of the ICT start-up ecosystem in Dubai, has marked its first anniversary since opening its doors to tech start-ups and entrepreneurs.

Since its official launch last year, in5 has received over 500 applications from tech start-ups and entrepreneurs; 77 of these start-ups have been shortlisted and 48 have become members.

Over the past year, in5 has seen a number of success stories amongst its members, including Melltoo who received over 10,000 downloads within its first six weeks; Marhababy, who closed long-term agreements with leading brands Huggies and Johnson & Johnson; FishFish Me who secured $200,000 funding and expanded into the UAE, Oman and Spain; Promomz, who won an award for the best app at the Global Mobile App Summit; Votek who won the Arab Mobile App Challenge in Doha in 2014 and Crowd Analyzer, who over the past year have won three regional competitions and been featured in The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg Businessweek.

Since its launch, in5 has collaborated and partnered with leading tech and ICT bodies to integrate its members into Dubai’s technology ecosystem as well as the Emirate’s Smart City initiative. In a demonstration of synergy between DIC’s larger business partners and start-ups, in5 has partnered with business partners including Microsoft, who signed an MoU with in5 at GITEX to provide Microsoft BizSparks software to start-ups.

in5’s steering committee have played an instrumental role in selecting in5 members, and includes Omar Almahmoud, Acting CEO, ICT Fund; Khalid Khawaja, Vice-President of Academic Affairs, Rochester Institute of Technology; Ronaldo Mouchawar, Co-Founder, Souq.com; Roland Daher, Head of Business Development, Wamda; Ziad Matar, Senior Director and Head of the MENA region, Qualcomm as well as Majed Al Suwaidi, Managing Director, Dubai Internet City & Dubai Outsource Zone.

Speaking at an event to mark in5’s first anniversary, Majed Al Suwaidi, Managing Director of Dubai Internet City and Dubai Outsource Zone said;

“Since its inception, in5 has grown to become a thriving and dynamic community, home to some of the region’s leading start-ups and talent. The success stories seen within its first year are testament to the support in5 provides to its members, and I am optimistic about the continued success and growth of this innovation hub.

The volume of entrepreneurs and start-ups setting up businesses in the region continues to grow year on year, and the availability of investors, access to thousands of international businesses and a thriving ICT industry all contribute to making the UAE a compelling destination for entrepreneurs and new start-ups.”

in5 provides its members with logistical and set-up support, mentoring, training, access to funding and a dynamic and engaging environment from which to launch a product or service.

Further information about In5’s application and selection process can be found at www.in5.ae.

About in5

in5, an innovation hub launched by Dubai Internet City (DIC), part of TECOM Investments, aims to foster and promote entrepreneurship and innovation in order to further develop the technology start-up ecosystem in Dubai and the region.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the mission of in5 is to drive the development of ICT Start-ups and Innovations by providing an Entrepreneurial Environment which supports entrepreneurs in launching their ideas and business.

In5 provides infrastructure, support and a dynamic and engaging working environment to entrepreneurs from the early stages of idea creation through to idea implementation and the commercial launch of a product or service.

Further information about in5 and its selection process can be found at www.in5.ae

Contacts

Alexa Hooft Graafland

AHooftGraafland@bell-pottinger.com

+971555597404

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