Tala Khlat, Associate Director of Philanthropy at Dubai Holding, has helped evolve Innovate For Tomorrow from a simple entrepreneurial challenge into a structured accelerator that turns ideas into measurable impact. Focused on the circular economy, the program targets food waste, resource efficiency, and digital sustainability—pushing the UAE closer to its Net Zero 2050 vision.
From Demo Day to Delivery
Khlat explained that the first edition of the initiative ended with a demo day and a pilot for the winning startup, but the team soon realized founders needed more than exposure—they needed ongoing support. The 2025 program now runs as a 12-week hybrid Impact Accelerator, offering training, workshops, mentorship, market access, and investor introductions, culminating in a funded pilot.
“When we designed last year’s program, the startups needed more training and guidance… They wanted support from start to end. This is why we designed the Innovate For Tomorrow Impact Accelerator, a 12-week hybrid training programme… We are now giving them access to market, access to investors and much more.”
What the Accelerator Backs
The accelerator supports innovations in three priority areas—food waste, resource efficiency, and digital sustainability. Khlat noted that the focus aligns with both Dubai Holding’s sustainability strategy and the UAE’s broader environmental goals.
“A circular economy is one of the biggest opportunities today… Our philanthropic and sustainability commitments are guiding scale-ups to solve pressing circularity challenges.”
What Winners Actually Get
Winning startups receive a fully funded pilot within Dubai Holding’s portfolio—covering real estate, hospitality, retail, and leisure. They gain a contract, execution support, mentorship, investor access, and operational guidance to move from concept to implementation.
“We’ll sign a contract… execute the winning solution in our diverse ecosystem… and support the winner with funding, mentorship, training, access to investors, but most importantly, guidance from start to finish.”
National Alignment: Net Zero 2050
By attracting global startups to test and scale their ideas in Dubai, Innovate For Tomorrow Impact Accelerator contributes directly to the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 targets. Khlat emphasized the program’s broader vision—to create a model that delivers measurable, replicable impact across sectors.
“We want to bring the top solutions to the forefront… and scale them in the UAE… This means we’re one step closer to a greener economy… and to impacting millions of lives.”
Standout Startups from the First Round
Khlat highlighted two standout participants from the inaugural program:
- Othalo — a Norwegian company tackling plastic waste by converting it into construction materials.
- The Surpluss — a UAE-based startup founded by Rana Hajirasouli that tracks and redistributes corporate surplus to reduce waste.
Building a Greener Future, One Pilot at a Time
For Tala Khlat, Innovate for Tomorrow is more than a startup accelerator—it’s a way to turn Dubai Holding’s sustainability vision into measurable, lasting outcomes. Each cycle is designed to discover practical solutions, test them in real environments, and scale what works.
Khlat said the program is not about ideas in isolation, but about impact that can ripple across industries.
“Our goal is to move beyond talk. We want to prove that circular innovation can work, scale, and create real value for communities and the environment.”
By giving startups the platform, funding, and ecosystem to grow, Dubai Holding is helping shape a new generation of circular solutions that align business performance with environmental progress.