Investment readiness acceleration program
Hybrid
3 months
English
About the program

EWA Accelerator emerges as a prominent global hub for early-stage startups, cultivating excellence and innovation in its approach. With a keen focus on empowering women entrepreneurs, it stands as a center of best practices in the startup ecosystem. EWA Accelerator’s commitment to providing unparalleled support and resources underscores its dedication to fostering sustainable success in the competitive landscape of startup funding and growth.

Aligned with the Ministry of Economy of the UAE, the Investment Readiness Acceleration Program aims to equip participants with essential skills in investment packaging for fundraising, building robust investment networks, and attracting crucial investment rounds. With a dual focus on fostering gender equality and nurturing tech-driven startups, the program seeks to secure funding and enhance investment attractiveness for early-stage ventures.
The Spring cohort involves a two-month intensive program designed to equip participants with essential skills in data rooms, financial modelling, and pitch deck creation. Through immersive experiences, personalized feedback, and live pitch rehearsals, startups emerge prepared to navigate the complexities of fundraising and secure future funding opportunities.
Founded by
Added value
Convenient Tools and Templates
Live Experience and Feedback
Communication with Mentors and Investors
Rapid Solutions: ‘Two Years in Two Months
Successful Case Studies and Project Examples Analysis
Media awareness
Key “Hard” Skills
New Connections, Networking, and Partnerships
READY INVESTMENT KIT INVESTMENT COMMITMENT
Added value
Convenient Tools and Templates
Live Experience and Feedback
Communication with Mentors and Investors
Rapid Solutions: ‘Two Years in Two Months
Media awareness
Successful Case Studies and Project Examples Analysis
Key “Hard” Skills
New Connections, Networking, and Partnerships
READY INVESTMENT KIT INVESTMENT COMMITMENT
Partners
STRATEGIC PARTNER
STRATEGIC PARTNER
Become an ecosystem partner
Collaborate with EWA Accelerator, engage in media campaigns and participate in Demo Day, amplifying your organization’s impact while fostering gender-inclusive innovation and economic growth.
Mentors
Yulia Stark
Dr. Dariia Vasylieva
Dr. Miray Zaki
Dagmar Turkova
Walaa Hamdan
Sarah Abuagela
Maryna Hradovich
Andrey Gavrilenko
Anton Sychov
Shaker Ismail
Lama Yammine-Hocks
Yana Moldovan
Join Mentor network
Take on a pivotal role in guiding and supporting startup founders to navigate the complexities of fundraising and secure future funding opportunities.
Application Criteria
Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for the program:
Frequently asked questions

Applicants must apply with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), indicating they should have a basic version of their product or idea ready for evaluation. MVT refers to the smallest team necessary to deliver that product or service effectively. Additionally, they are expected to have an understanding of Financial Modelling Essentials.

Investment readiness for fundraising requires startups to demonstrate key elements:

Clear business overview: Startups must outline their vision, market opportunity, competitive edge, and financial projections.
Market validation: Evidence like customer feedback, pilot programs, or initial sales confirms demand for the product or service.
Tangible progress: Startups should show momentum in achieving milestones such as user growth, revenue generation, partnerships, or product development.
Capable team: The team must possess the skills, experience, and expertise to execute the business plan effectively.
Understanding of fundraising: Startups need to grasp the fundraising process, including valuation, terms, and investor expectations.

Thoughtful preparation of initial investment documents is demonstrated through clear, complete, and professionally presented materials. These documents should be accurate, transparent, and aligned with legal requirements and investor expectations. While the type of company (LLC or INC) is not crucial, it’s essential for the startup to be registered in the UAE to ensure compliance with local regulations and enhance investor confidence.

Yulia Stark
Co-Founder of EWA Accelerator

President of the European Women’s Association. The strategic governmental advisor in gender equality, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Sectors: HealthTech, EduTech, Media, CleanTech, Hospitality.

Dr. Dariia Vasylieva
Co-Founder of EWA Accelerator

Founder of multi-family office AM GETVISION, Founding Partner at FD CAPITAL, tech community Founders to Founders (2500+ members).

Sectors: FinTech, MarTech, B2B Software, Blockchain, Web3.

Dr. Miray Zaki
Managing Director and Head of Sustainability Investments at Gulf Capital

17+ years of experience managing investments exceeding $18.5 Bn. Top 100 Most Influential Women in Finance and an award-winning Fulbright Scholar.

Sector: Foodtech/FMCG, Renewables, Circular economy.

Dagmar Turkova
Startup mentor

Startup mentor skilled in investment readiness and cultivating strategic industry contacts.

Sectors: HealthTech, EduTech, FinTech and AI

Walaa Hamdan
Startup coach

Startup coach & entrepreneurship consultant who’s worked with +200 startups spanning the MENA region.

Sectors: AgriTech, FinTech, HealthTech, PropTech & AI

Sarah Abuagela
Partner and Head of Investment at Ceras Ventures

Passionate about driving the adoption of blockchain and AI technologies, while actively advocating for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry as mentor and public speaker.

Sectors: Blockchain, Web3, AI

Maryna Hradovich

VP of CUSTOMER SUCCESS AND SALES AT SEMRUSH

Strategic and results-oriented executive, has a proven history of leading startups from inception through to successful IPOs, achieving over $300 million in revenue.

Sectors: Martech/Adtech, SaaS, Data and Analytics, and AI

Andrey Gavrilenko
Head of Data Science at PandaDoc

Seasoned data leader with expertise in designing key business metrics, developing customer-facing data products, and implementing innovative data science solutions, utilizing data to drive impactful business decisions and fostering the growth.

Sectors: Data, Data Science & Analytics, ML & AI, Blockchain

Anton Sychov
CEO of Qnyte and partner at EWA Invest

Seasoned entrepreneur and investor focused on fostering diversity and empowering early-stage startups, particularly those led by female founders, guiding high-performing teams in product management and marketing

Sectors: Martech/Adtech, E-commerce, Construction tech

Shaker Ismail
Senior Corporate Banker

Senior finance professional with over 20 years of experience in corporate relationship management, corporate finance and fundraising.

Sectors: Fintech / Financial Services

Lama Yammine-Hocks
Ex-banker turned company builder

Investment banker, founder and venture builder. Ambassador of One Young World.

Sectors: FinTech, B2B SaaS, Logistics, EdTech, Web3

Yana Moldovan
Partner at NYC Scale

Strategist, Venture Advisor, and Leadership Coach with over two decades of global experience spanning consulting, corporate, and start-up environments.  

Sectors: HealthTech, EduTech, FinTech, B2B Software