Dubai opens Founders HQ to back 30 unicorns by 2030
Dubai opened a centralized Founders HQ at the 25hours Hotel in One Central and expanded Hadron Web3 programs as part of a push to develop 30 unicorns by 2030.
The initiatives target startups working on artificial intelligence, payments innovation, and tokenization of physical assets and aim to connect founders with capital, mentors, and regulatory clarity.
Founded under the Dubai Economic Agenda, Dubai Founders HQ offers a single entry point for entrepreneurs seeking funding, licensing, mentorship, and market access. The hub, supported by more than 25 partners across venture capital, corporates and financial services, provides sector-specific acceleration, investor introductions and a digital platform to streamline growth.
In Dubai’s industrial area, the Hadron Founders Club, created by Polygon and AggLayer and backed by a $50 million pledge from P23 Ventures, is shifting from general blockchain development to a November cohort focused on payments and real‑world asset tokenization. The club runs weekly events, including a Founders Breakfast and public open‑house on Thursdays, to build a regional community.
Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation, called Dubai Founders HQ "the next evolution of the Dubai startup ecosystem" in an interview with a Forbes journalist, adding that it links entrepreneurs with investors, corporations, and government entities. Sandeep Narwal of Polygon described payments as "the backbone of every thriving digital economy" and framed Hadron’s role as helping founders build payment and real‑world asset solutions that scale internationally.
Officials and founders point to Dubai’s regulatory framework, financial infrastructure, high digital adoption, and targeted incentives as reasons firms are relocating or expanding there. Dr. Marwan Alzarouni, senior adviser to the Department of Economy and Tourism, described Dubai as "a global connector between markets, technology and capital."
Founders HQ offers advisory services, venture building partners, and business setup and licensing support. Partnerships with private companies extend support to physical businesses; for example, collaboration with the restaurant operator Kitopi aims to help food entrepreneurs scale from home kitchens to retail outlets. Organizers expect the combined programs to help startups move from pilot projects to scalable operations.
As GNcrypto pointed out earlier, Saudi Arabia hosted the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh. During the event, Tether’s CEO Paolo Ardoino reported that about 500 million people use USDT worldwide and announced further expansion plans in AI. Recent events show that tech developments, including crypto, AI, and their convergence, are driving new use cases.
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