The Anjal Z program instills innovation in early childhood development by empowering growth-stage global startups, to localize solutions that address critical ECD challenges across Abu Dhabi and the UAE.
We achieve this through a partnerships driven, customized and experiential fellowship program.
Anjal Z refers to the generations inspired by the late founder of the UAE, H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and also means “Generation Z” in Arabic.
Video-centric mobile and desktop platform that unleashes early childhood development at scale by fostering quality learning experiences at home and at school.
Mobile application that encourages parents to engage with their children through culturally relevant and interactive Arabic content (stories, games and videos).
Smart mobile application for parents to manage the health and development of their children.
School-in-a-box early education franchise network that utilizes technology to transform educator training and support curriculum delivery, learning processes, learning environments and outcome documentation. FinlandWay packages the best of the Finnish early childhood education system in a cost-competitive way to nurseries worldwide.
An affordable physiotherapy and educational game provider that uses augmented reality to help children of determination improve their motor, cognitive and educational skills. The games also have a reporting feature through which the progress of the child can be monitored by parents, teachers and medical professionals.
Annie by Thinkerbell Labs is the world’s first digital braille literacy device that helps the visually impaired learn to read, write and type in braille through interactive audio-guided content in vernacular languages. Annie allows for easy monitoring and evaluation of student progress via Helios, a proprietary online dashboard.
Through its easy-to-use humanoid robot, QTrobot, improves the effectiveness of autism interventions by increasing the attention and engagement of children with autism. By empowering non-specialized caregivers and parents to deliver tailored and skill-specific autism interventions, LuxAI is making autism education scalable, accessible and affordable.
A subscription program that supports the cognitive and motor development of babies and toddlers with science-backed toys and activities that turn playtime into a learning experience.
A telemedicine platform for diagnostics and rehabilitation in neurology and eyecare, able to correct strabismus (crossed eyes) and amblyopia (lazy eye), among other conditions. The RemmedVR medically certified home vision therapy system consists of dedicated VR goggles, therapeutic exercises and a therapist control panel.
Uses machine learning, gamification and data automation to make self-esteem improvement fun for children while providing an on-site mental health curriculum for schools.
Gives parents an understanding of how to improve their baby’s health based on their actual gut profile with the first direct-to-consumer test kit to solve immune-related diseases and conditions.
Helps early childhood centers, schools and districts meet academic standards while teaching important social emotional learning (SEL) skills for Pre-K to 12th-grade students.
Provides personalized family healthcare, turning children’s games and activities into accurate, evidence-based insights and advice for parents.
Brain app with a personalized model for each kid, no matter their level, culture, location or special condition.
Makes robots affordable, useful and everywhere that support teachers to deliver STEAM learning.
Baby cry translator addressing the challenge of deciphering needs and improving sleep through cry recognition and translation technology.
Pre-term birth diagnostic device pioneering accurate and user-friendly birth risk assessment for expectant mothers.
Marketplace and booking platform simplifying daycare decisions for parents and enabling daycares to connect effortlessly with their clientele.
Parent-led application tackling sleep problems and the emotional well-being of children through bed-time stories, affirmations, meditations and more.
Screen-free audio streaming player fueling imagination and addressing the challenge of excessive screen-time for children.
Screen-free guided meditation device instilling mindfulness in children to counteract excessive screen-time and sensory overstimulation.
Interactive physical books with embedded digital features, enabling parents to foster a love of reading and learning in children from birth without additional screen time.
AI-powered mobile app offering personalized advice and access to experts (e.g., lactation consultants, psychologists) to help new parents build confidence and reduce anxiety. It includes an optional baby monitor that can be attached to the crib and connected to the app.
Comprehensive, game-based online platform providing schools, healthcare institutions, and parents with data, diagnostics, and AI-powered personalization to accelerate education for neurodiverse children.
Language learning app that connects young students with top college mentors worldwide, offering immersive English-speaking practice through a child-friendly curriculum.
Medical-grade video solutions for neonatal and pediatric intensive care units with AI-powered monitoring of vital signs and analytics to support critical care in a baby’s first days.
Mobile app designed to make early childhood development (ECD) engaging for parents with weekly plans of screen-free activities to boost their child’s potential, requiring just five minutes a day.
Program Incentives
3-Month program
Encompasses both an online program and in-person program where startups develop and implement bespoke project plans for their localization journeys.
Mentorship
Connects startups with dedicated mentors, both early childhood development and innovation experts.
Financing
Provides equity-free financing in the form of a grant of up to AED 1m in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO).
Localization
Enables public-private partnerships to support startups to launch their pilots in Abu Dhabi.
Providing Investment Opportunities
Facilitates the communication of startups with investors and gives them the opportunity to present their offers during the presentation day.
Abu Dhabi Experience
Promises a rich cultural experience in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The partnership will increase support for private sector companies seeking to innovate for regional and global impact, ensuring they have greater access to the support and funding required to succeed.
ADIO is the government entity responsible for attracting and facilitating investment in Abu Dhabi. ADIO enables opportunities for innovative investors and businesses of all sizes, facilitating connections across Abu Dhabi’s innovation ecosystem to help them establish and grow in the emirate.
Please apply by Friday, 28 June 2024
Upon registration, you will receive an email acknowledging the application. You will receive a follow-up email regarding the next steps/if any information is missing/if additional information is needed.
The program has two tracks:
Ignite: This track is for founders with an MRR of less than US$20k (or similar traction), who have not raised more than US$250k, and who have a team of fewer than five people. Founders in this category will:
💡 Receive Virtual world-class Masterclasses
👥 Have Access to a global network of mentors
🗣️ Get Techstars 1-2-1s and Pitch Feedback sessions
Launch: This track is for founders with an existing customer base and traction, MRR of more than US$20k (or similar traction), have not raised more than US$1m, and have a team of more than three people. For founders in this track, in addition to our top-notch resources, masterclasses, and mentorship, you will also have the opportunity to:
🇦🇪Localize your startup in Abu Dhabi
🧳 Launch a POC project in Abu Dhabi with a one-month all-expenses-paid trip
💰 Up to US$220,000 in equity-free funding from our partner, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office.
You will receive an email notification during the first week, and interviews will be scheduled between the first and second week of July. Kindly check your emails regularly and ensure availability, as we cannot offer alternative dates. Please look for our acceptance email to confirm your participation promptly, as delayed confirmations will not be considered.
Yes, after applying, if you wish to modify/change it, please email
innovationday@eca.gov.ae
We will select up to 20 startups.
Selected Launch Track startups will be invited to attend the in-person program in Abu Dhabi during the last four weeks of October 2024. The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) will sponsor flights and accommodation for two team members per startup.
Participation in the program is free. Startups invited to attend the final four program weeks in person will be eligible for up to a $270,000 equity-free grant to support their localization efforts.
There is no template. Your pitch deck should be submitted as a PDF (.pdf) file.
Please feel free to contact anjalz-foundercatalyst@techstars.com for more information/queries/support.
The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) is a government entity, based in Abu Dhabi, that supports holistic early childhood development. We do this by developing policies and laws, informing decision-making through research and transforming behavior.
Monday to Thursday:
09:00 am to 04:00 pm
Friday:
08:00 am until 12:30 pm
