GEMS Education has unveiled the ‘Next Billion Innovation’ startup fund, an ambitious USD 1 million initiative to support student-led business ideas and innovative solutions with the potential for global impact.
The fund will initially launch at the GEMS School of Research and Innovation (SRI) in Dubai, set to open in August this year. Students will receive funding, mentorship and direct pathways to global startup ecosystems through a partnership with Plug and Play Tech Center, a leading innovation platform.
Following its launch at SRI, the fund will expand to include the GEMS Global Innovation Challenge, which encourages students from all GEMS schools to develop solutions addressing global challenges.
Participants will benefit from:
- Financial support to develop and scale their startups
- Mentorship from industry leaders and entrepreneurs
- Access to research labs, innovation rooms, and design hubs
- Opportunities to present on global platforms
Shaping Future Entrepreneurs
GEMS Education Chairman and Founder Sunny Varkey emphasised that financial constraints and age barriers should not be a barrier to entrepreneurship, stating: "The Next Billion Innovation Startup fund represents our long term commitment to fostering the next generation of global leaders and entrepreneurs. We are investing USD 1 million to ensure our students need not look elsewhere for funding, because the best ideas should be driven by ideas, not financial constraints".
The initiative builds on GEMS’ history of fostering young entrepreneurs, including Aadit Palicha, a former GEMS student who co-founded Zepto, a USD 5 billion-valued grocery delivery startup in India.
Pioneering A Culture Of Innovation
GEMS schools have long encouraged entrepreneurial thinking, and SRI will house a dedicated creator and entrepreneurship academy with cutting-edge facilities, including:
- ‘Disruption Hub’ for startup incubation
- Innovation rooms and design labs
- Year-round mentorship from industry experts
Through the ‘Next Billion Innovation’ startup fund, GEMS aims to equip students with the resources, skills, and opportunities needed to turn their ideas into world-changing ventures.