Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 Selects 27 International Startups for Cohort 18

Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, has selected 27 startups from 112 countries to join the Cohort 18 of its Access Program after receiving a record 2,453 applications, resulting in an acceptance rate of 1.1%.

The selected startups have collectively raised nearly AED844.7 million in funding, with an average of AED31.2 million per company. All 27 startups are headquartered outside the UAE and are in the process of obtaining licenses and establishing operations in Abu Dhabi.

The cohort includes startups from 12 countries spanning pre-seed to Series A stages. All 27 startups will enter Hub71’s sector-agnostic Access programme or specialist ecosystems, including seven startups will join Hub71+ Life Sciences, six will enter Hub71+ Digital Assets, and five will join Hub71+ ClimateTech. According to Hub71, 31% of applications were referred through its partner and founder networks. 

Among the selected companies is EchoTwin AI,a US-based startup that transforms municipal fleets into mobile sensing networks, creating real-time digital twins to help municipalities detect, predict and resolve infrastructure and compliance issues. The company has raised AED29.4 million in funding.

Kenyan startup Duck, which provides a platform that combines retail sales and inventory data, has raised AED1.1 million and is also joining the program.

UK-based Amilis, which has raised AED5.9 million and is developing an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered clinical decision support platform focused on reproductive health, will join Hub71+ Life Sciences.

Joining Hub71+ Digital Assets is Sweden’s Wingbits, which operates a network of flight-tracking stations that provide real-time air traffic data. The company has raised AED34.5 million.

Meanwhile, UK-based Persium, selected for Hub71+ ClimateTech, has secured AED6.2 million to develop air quality sensors and digital twin technology for monitoring pollution.

The cohort also includes Indian startups Uravu Labs, which focuses on water technology solutions, and Endimension Technology, an AI-based radiology platform.

Three Hong Kong startups —Pubrio, Craftt and KPay— were selected after participating in Hub71’s Hong Kong Immersion Program. KPay, a financial technology company, has raised AED238.7 million and is expanding its operations from Abu Dhabi.

The startups will participate in Hub71’s 12-month Access Program, which provides up to AED250,000 in in-kind support and AED250,000 in cash through a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) note, as well as mentorship, investor introductions, regulatory support, and access to corporate and government partners. Following the addition of Cohort 18, Hub71’s ecosystem now includes 525 companies.