The business of startups in Dubai

New infrastructure, the abundance of affordable co-working spaces, government support, relaxed regulations and innovative thinking are key factors that have helped in nurturing a strong entrepreneurial spirit in Dubai. Now, more than ever, it has become important to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills necessary to build and run a sound startup.

Highly experiential in nature, the four-day New Venture Creation (NVC) programme, offered as part of the Executive MBA curriculum, seeks to do just that. Responding to the need to develop a greater awareness of how to launch feasible business projects, this course is now also open to external participants.

While entrepreneurs do not necessarily have to be experts in all business fields, Aurore Hochard, Head of Entrepreneurship Programmes, emphasises the importance of being knowledgeable about core business areas. This is where the New Venture Creation course comes into play.

From learning how to pitch and market your brand to raising funds and being aware of the legalities surrounding start-ups, this programme gives budding entrepreneurs a 360-degree view of what it takes to run a scalable business.

Aurore Hochard, Head of Entrepreneurship Programmes

“We also have the support of prominent local entrepreneurs who deliver talks to the students illustrating real-life examples of how things could go wrong during the initial stages of launching a start-up. As an aspiring entrepreneur, you would not only get valuable insight but also save time and resources by avoiding some common mistakes. The New Venture Creation course can also help you discover people with similar interests and it may even be where you meet your co-founder,” explains Hochard.

The benefits of taking the course are not only limited to those with a passion and desire to develop and manage a business venture. In fact, it may also appeal to professionals working in established corporations. Aurore explains that the course empowers employees, managers and senior executives with an entrepreneurial and innovative mindset to build on their ideas.

She said: “Corporates tend to be rigid and sometimes lose sight of what they are working towards to. What the NVC does is encourage professionals from these companies to think about the bigger picture and how to produce better results. The only way to foster team spirit within an organisation is by applying the same principles used in startup environments. It’s a challenge but we’ve seen the positive effects of doing this.”

The New Venture Creation programme will be held in Dubai between 19^th - 22^nd April.

Find out more: www.cass.city.ac.uk/study/executive-education/our-programmes/new-venture-creation