Programs
I've worked on programs for founders, corporate teams, government employees and investors. The entries below explain the work and my involvement. Where I include program figures, they describe the wider program rather than results I achieved alone.
No programs match this filter.
My role: July 2025–present
MBZUAI · 2025 onward
I work on demo-day design and delivery at the IEC, including showcases of AI products and applications.
Build It gives students, researchers and founders a place to demonstrate working AI products, agents and workflows. MBZUAI's launch announcement described more than $200,000 in partner technology credits, including contributions from NVIDIA, AWS and ElevenLabs.
MBZUAI · 2025 onward
I designed and delivered the internal technology adoption initiative, then worked with The Academy to develop it for government and corporate clients.
The initiative introduced six AI tools and trained 100 staff across university departments. Participants developed 12 solutions for their work.
My roles: December 2020–August 2024
Aldar Properties · 2021–2023
At startAD, I worked on the delivery of Scale Up across its first three editions. My work included technology innovation for guest and tenant experience and green asset management.
Scale Up connects property technology startups with corporate teams to explore and test applications in real estate. The first edition received more than 200 applications from 31 countries, with three startups awarded pilot projects with Aldar. In the second edition, more than 300 applications came from 69 countries, and five startups were awarded pilot projects with Aldar and strategic partner Majid Al Futtaim Communities.
startAD · 2020–2022
I worked on Corporate Sprint Accelerator programs at startAD as part of my corporate innovation and capacity-building responsibilities.
The series brought startups together with corporate partners to explore commercial applications. CSA 8 and 9 focused on fintech and blockchain. CSA 9 partnered with Ripple's University Blockchain Research Initiative and included ADGM and VentureSouq among its partners; its announced offer included a showcase at GITEX 2022.
Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and startAD · 2024
HealthX was part of my work with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi at startAD.
Launched during Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week, HealthX supports life-science startups entering the UAE healthcare market. The first cohort focused on generative AI in healthcare. The program offered support to develop a pilot proposal and opportunities for successful applicants to access the DoH regulatory sandbox and de-identified data.
Aldar Properties and startAD · 2021–2022
I worked on Manassah's retail innovation programs, with a focus on customer experience and the practical needs of retail businesses.
Manassah supports entrepreneurs developing retail, food and beverage concepts and technologies. The second edition was a six-month incubator that received 260 entries. Aldar selected 12 finalists and announced incentives worth up to AED 1 million for the winners.
startAD, VentureSouq and KAUST · Program history: 2020–2022
At startAD, I helped deliver the fellowship for GCC investors, focused on social impact and ESG.
The fellowship introduces investors to impact investing, startup diligence and portfolio considerations. Its first edition was announced in 2020 as a six-week program for 25 investors. The second edition focused on FoodTech.
startAD and VentureSouq · Program history: 2020–2023
I worked on investor education events at startAD, including Angel Rising.
The symposium brings investors together to examine emerging technologies and investment themes. The sixth edition focused on conscious investing and Tech for Good; the seventh on FoodTech. The eighth explored ClimateTech and took place in the Climate Innovation Zone alongside COP28 in 2023.
startAD
I delivered hands-on prototyping workshops through Al Warsha.
The workshops introduced participants to making and testing physical prototypes, using tools such as 3D printing, laser cutting, microcontrollers and circuitry.
Co-founder · July 2023–present
Corporate and university clients
I designed and delivered five incubation and acceleration programs for corporate and university clients, helping them explore new technologies through collaboration with startups.
European clients
I led the creation of five ventures with European clients. Three are operating in the market.
5 ventures created 3 operating in the market
A Dubai Government department and a bank in Jordan
I trained more than 1,000 employees of a Dubai Government department on the foundations of AI and on using Microsoft 365 Copilot in their day-to-day work. I then delivered the same program for 21 employees of a bank in Jordan.
Upstart Bar is an accredited CPD provider with The CPD Standards Office (provider 51209). It also holds the CPDSO3023 AI in Training Standard and Provider of Training Excellence (PTE), valid 2026–2027.
A European client and Upstart Bar
I worked with a European client to develop and deploy AI agents across the company. At Upstart Bar, I have deployed several agents in our own operations.
startAD and Upstart Bar clients
I designed intrapreneurship programs in which employees of client organizations developed and worked on new ventures and ideas.
Corporate and government clients
I have developed innovation strategies and helped organizations establish innovation departments, including technology sandbox initiatives. I also work on Upstart Bar's own strategy, as I did at startAD.
Eight sectors
Through Upstart Bar, I have carried out market feasibility and financial analysis across oil and gas, retail, AI, Web3, e-commerce, fashion, real estate and healthtech.
If you're shaping a program or evaluating a new venture, I'd be glad to discuss the problem you're trying to solve.