Abu Dhabi’s leading holding company ADQ has developed ‘DisruptAD’ to combine the entity’s venture capital (VC) activities under a unified platform.
DisruptAD will invest in start-ups and venture capital funds, as well as create new incubators and accelerators to help Abu Dhabi’s evolution as a global start-up destination and hasten the development of its innovation ecosystem.
Mansour AlMulla CIO – Alternative Investments and M&A ADQ
“DisruptAD represents our long-term commitment to accelerate Abu Dhabi’s innovation ecosystem. There is a clear demand for pioneering ideas and entrepreneurs who can respond to some of society’s most pressing challenges with impactful future-focused solutions. As part of ADQ’s Alternative Investments efforts, our venture capital platform aims to deliver long-term financial returns for our shareholders while fostering innovation and driving growth in clusters that create a knowledge-based, sustainable economy. As such, we are actively deploying capital into innovative businesses locally and globally, providing the strategic and technical expertise needed to transform ideas into fully-fledged sustainable businesses that will make a valuable contribution to the UAE.”
DisruptAD intends to support and nurture over 1,000 start-ups over the next five years to create a vibrant local ecosystem of entrepreneurs, fund managers, incubators, and accelerators. This will solidify Abu Dhabi’s status as a global technology center where creative ideas and revolutionary companies are born, enhancing value creation and bringing long-term economic benefits to the UAE.
Beyond the UAE, DisruptAD will target innovators within the Middle East and North Africa region, India, China, South East Asia, and the US. The platform will collaborate with firms and funds that can benefit from ADQ’s commitment to the development of sectors including Healthcare and Pharma, Food and Agriculture, Mobility and Logistics, and Energy and Utilities.
Mayank Singhal, Head of Venture Capital and Technology at ADQ said, “DisruptAD is built on the foundation of collaboration and provides a unique opportunity for investors and entrepreneurs to tap into Abu Dhabi’s thriving ecosystem and benefit from ADQ’s portfolio of companies.”
“Not only are we deepening the pool of capital for start-ups, but we are also bridging the talent gap by inviting top-tier founders and young innovators to Abu Dhabi. Fostering Abu Dhabi’s start-up community and building new partnerships across global markets will further enhance the UAE’s reputation for championing innovation and entrepreneurship,” Mr. Singhal added.
