Seven technology startups stand on the brink of expanded funding access through a new partnership between the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and Oraseya Capital, the investment arm of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority.
The September 20, 2026 gathering brought founders from seven ventures across multiple digital economy sectors face to face with Oraseya Capital’s investment team and its Sandbox Investment Programme. Dubai has aggressively positioned itself as a launchpad for tech innovation, and this collaboration underscores that ambition.
Founders presented their business models, growth strategies, and solutions during pitch sessions. The Oraseya team delivered immediate feedback on what would be required in subsequent evaluation rounds. Several companies moved forward to the next phase, where they could tap into the Sandbox Investment Programme to accelerate expansion.
Among the participants: Arakan, a UAE compliance and corporate operations platform. Duno, an operational intelligence tool built to help lenders evaluate small and medium enterprises. YOUNEA, which lets businesses deploy branded AI agents across voice, chat, and WhatsApp.
The cohort also included Riayatech, a HealthTech venture improving patient journeys and healthcare operations. Avelin, a sovereign AI platform offering cloud, on-premises, and air-gapped deployments. SENSI, a fragrance-tech startup pioneering digital scent technology under its Internet of Fragrances concept. Cogniver, an AI-native enterprise platform using autonomous agents to automate business workflows.
Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, framed the initiative as a direct pipeline connecting tech founders with capital and expertise. He emphasized the Chamber’s focus on expanding Dubai’s digital economy ecosystem and cementing its status as a global hub for entrepreneurship and investment.
Julien Plouzeau, Senior Partner at Oraseya Capital, noted that funding delivers the strongest impact when paired with mentorship and ecosystem access. The partnership, he said, identifies promising firms and helps them refine models, scale from Dubai, and boost the emirate’s competitive standing.
Oraseya Capital manages an AED500 million fund, roughly $136.15 million, targeting startups from pre-seed through Series B. Through the Sandbox Investment Programme, founders can access investments ranging from AED550,000 to approximately AED11 million, alongside mentorship and investment-readiness support.
