Unleash Innovation at the Abu Dhabi Youth Challenge+ Techstars Startup Weekend!

Abu Dhabi, 5 September 2024 – Shape the future of children in Abu Dhabi!

Join us at the Abu Dhabi Youth Challenge+ (ADYC+) Techstars Startup Weekend, powered by the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) with Techstars and Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence – an exciting weekend-long bootcamp scheduled on 25-27 October 2024. ADYC+ collaborates with Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), which will provide its expertise and access to its extensive network during the event and post program.

This year, ADYC+ joins the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week, a WED Movement initiative led by the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA), to galvanize the emirate and the wider world’s focus on early childhood development through a program of groundbreaking research, innovative solutions, and advocacy. Designed around three themes, Intentional Parenting, Culture, and Identity and Sustainable and Family-friendly Cities, the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week also aims to inspire community involvement and collaboration in advancing Early Childhood Development (ECD) – including through the exciting innovations launched at ADYC+.

Organized by passionate community leaders and innovators, this 54-hour journey is an opportunity to ignite innovation, forge collaborations and unleash their entrepreneurial spirit in the early childhood development sector. The ADYC+ Techstars Startup Weekend is designed for anyone over the age of 18 – students, recent graduates, professionals, academicians, aspiring entrepreneurs or anyone with the passion and commitment to develop and work on an idea.

The top eight teams will be invited to join the ADYC+ Post Program, a month-long incubation program that will support them to further develop their startup ideas. The teams will work with a dedicated program manager and best-in-class mentors, industry experts and ecosystem leaders to refine their idea, work on their implementation strategy and build an MVP.

This edition focuses on four challenge areas with a particular interest in leveraging AI:

Intentional Parenting
Culture and Identity
Sustainable and Family-Friendly Cities
Out of School Activities

Prizes:

ADYC+ Techstars Startup Weekend (25 October – 27 October)

Eight winners will be announced and invited to join the ADYC+ Post Program.
The top eight teams will attend WED Innovation Day on 29 October 2024 and participate in an exciting day filled with knowledge sharing sessions featuring global ecosystem leaders.

ADYC+ Post Program (November 2024)

At the end of the ADYC+ Post Program, three winning teams among the eight will be eligible to access equity-free grants of up to USD 10,000 per team.

Additional Opportunity (November 2024 – January 2025)

Participants aged between 18 and 26 years that complete the ADYC+ Techstars Startup Weekend can also apply to a three-month long internship program to work with leading, global ECD startups.

Why Attend ADYC+:

Connect with other creators: ADYC+ Techstars Startup Weekend is a great place to connect with passionate people driven to build something new. There is no better place to meet new potential founders, friends, colleagues, mentors and more
Start something great: Knowing you are not alone can make all the difference. ADYC+ provides many opportunities to engage and connect with like-minded individuals — and truly start something amazing.
Learn from the best: Experience what it really takes to innovate, disrupt and start a company from people who have been there. ADYC+ Techstars Startup Weekend features deep experiential learning guided by an experienced hand.

From immersive hands-on learning to exceptional networking opportunities, ADYC+ is the ultimate catalyst for transforming your ideas into reality. Whether you are an experienced professional or a budding entrepreneur with a vision, this event will propel your entrepreneurial journey forward. Discover more and secure your spot by registering here: https://adycstartupweekend.org. Join us and become part of a movement that is shaping the future!

For questions or more information, contact: adycstartupweekend@network.techstars.com.

About Abu Dhabi Youth Challenge+ Techstars Startup Weekend:

The Abu Dhabi Youth Challenge+ (ADYC+) Techstars Startup Weekend is an immersive and experiential bootcamp designed for anyone interested in entrepreneurship and its potential to solve modern-day challenges. During ADYC+, you will learn how to think, work, and build like a startup in 54 thrilling hours. This immersive experience will connect you with top founders, mentors, and partners. Over three action-packed days, participants will form teams, nurture ideas, develop prototypes and present them to judges.

About WED Movement

WED Movement, led by HE Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of International Cooperation, is redefining the global perspective on early childhood development. It starts with the child and extends to their community and the entire ecosystem to create a world where every child can flourish.

Early childhood development is vital for shaping a child’s entire life trajectory. The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority seeks to ensure that the crucial first few years of a child’s life—a period of rapid brain growth—lay the foundations for future learning, behaviour, and overall health for children everywhere.