IFZA Announces Launch of Innovative Startup Accelerator: Scale360
IFZA, one of the world’s most dynamic Free Zone communities, has announced the launch of Scale360 — a new accelerator programme developed in partnership with Plug and Play.
Designed to foster stronger ties between international startups and major corporates, Scale360 seeks to connect high-growth ventures eyeing expansion into the UAE with companies looking to adopt the latest technological innovations.
Positioned as a bridge between entrepreneurs, problem-solvers and enterprise leaders, the accelerator will help large organisations tap into agile startup thinking, enabling faster access to breakthrough technologies, new revenue channels, and competitive advantages in fast-evolving markets.
Commenting on the launch, Julia Timms, Chief Commercial Officer at IFZA, said:
“Our mission at IFZA is to empower businesses to grow from Dubai and beyond. We believe business has a superpower to build bridges that enable innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth supporting social transformation through economic innovation. Scale360 is more than just an innovation programme connecting companies with high-growth startups to drive business transformation, it also helps to foster collaboration, unlock business opportunities, and drive economic growth.”
Benjamin Kloss, Vice President Corporate Partnerships & UAE Director at Plug and Play, added:
“Scale360 is a testament to the region’s forward-thinking vision. From Plug and Play’s vantage point, we see immense potential in creating a truly interconnected ecosystem where global startups and established corporates can collaborate seamlessly in crucial sectors including sustainability, AI, robotics, smart mobility, and future-forward enterprise solutions. This program showcases the UAE as a key player and a central hub for fostering and deploying these innovative and disruptive technologies.”
Operating out of Dubai, Scale360 will leverage the UAE’s growing status as a strategic business hub linking the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe. While the programme is open to startups across sectors, it places a particular emphasis on technology-driven ventures in fields such as sustainability, artificial intelligence, robotics, mobility, and smart cities.
Participants will benefit from a comprehensive support framework, including complimentary office space, legal and banking setup assistance, compliance training, and facilitated access to major players within the UAE’s corporate landscape. Startups will also be invited to exclusive networking events and receive mentorship from regional business leaders.
Further support includes educational sessions on regional business culture, one-to-one mentoring, and a collaborative peer network designed to guide entrepreneurs through their market entry journey.
With Dubai’s innovation ecosystem rapidly expanding, and the UAE leading the MENA region in venture capital activity – bolstered by a US$30 billion AI investment fund in partnership with BlackRock and Microsoft – the timing for such a programme is apt.
Scale360 aims to give international startups a launchpad to scale their innovations from Dubai to the world, while deepening the UAE’s position as a global centre for emerging technologies.
