The Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) 2017 officially launches AIM Startup

An initiative of the Ministry of Economy, the inaugural edition of AIM Startup will be launched alongside the 7th Edition of the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) to be held April 2-4, 2017, at the Dubai World Trade Center.

The platform aims to attract entrepreneurs from across the world to present their innovative businesses, products and services, gaining unique exposure and opportunities across the participants of the Annual Investment Meeting. Conscious of the important role that successful startup companies play as engines of growth and employment, one of the major goals of AIM Startup is to serve as a strategic platform to connect promising Startups globally and support them in meeting potential partners and financiers from other parts of the world.

“AIM 2017 will bring together government officials, local, regional and international investors and industry leaders; hence we are optimistic on the significance of opening this elite meeting to youth and entrepreneurs with vibrant profile at the sidelines of AIM,” said HE Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy. “The UAE includes some of the leading incubators for innovative projects and for startups, worldwide. Our government, with its visionary initiatives has always supported new ideas, which has enabled a competitive and progressive UAE economy,” added HE  Al Mansouri.

Participants and attendees of AIM Startup 2017 will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and knowledge, gain access to tailor-made networking solutions with industry leaders and investors, and benefit from a lineup of engaging and informative talks.  

"Underscoring innovation and competitiveness, AIM Startup is a newly established forum to be held in conjunction with AIM 2017.  The innovators of today are paving the way for tomorrow’s future addressing global challenges through the creation of technological applications, and so it is important to provide a valuable platform to showcase those solutions to the right audience. That audience being the thought leaders of our time as well as investors and potential partners that can help to make such solutions available to the masses.” said Dawood Al Shezawi, CEO, AIM Organizing Committee. 

AIM Startup will include an Innovation Showcase Exhibition where startups will be afforded the opportunity to display their innovations to attendees, including investors and industry leaders.  Furthermore, the forum features a Startup Pitch Competition which seeks to identify the most disruptive businesses, awarding founders with prizes in recognition of their impressive accomplishments. Prizes include an amount totaling 30,000 USD and other valuable prizes granted by AIM Startup event partners. 

“For these startup companies, we are playing the role of facilitators and connectors that will help to push them into wider horizons and markets, encouraging cross-border and cross-country trade, capital investment and valuable partnerships.” concluded Al Shezawi. 

Dubai’s Annual Investment Meeting is expecting the attendance of more than 15,000 participants from over 140 countries, whose profiles vary from officials to private investors, international corporate leaders, policy makers, world-renowned experts and key business executives.  AIM Startup will feature companies across various sectors including Healthcare, Education, Fintech, Retail, IT & ICT, Virtual Reality & Gaming, Robotics & Drones, Wearable Technologies, Renewable Energy, Transportation, Logistics, F&B and Tourism and Hospitality. To learn more, visit www.aimstartup.com