'Seal the Deal 2025' reinforcing Sharjah's role as innovation hub

The second edition of Seal the Deal — the flagship pitch initiative fostering entrepreneurship and bridging innovative founders with leading investors and business leaders — was successfully held on October 23rd, 2025, during the Sharjah Investment Forum and the WAIPA World Investment Conference 2025.

- Staff Reporter, Gulf Today

Organized by the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (now rebranded as SPARK), in collaboration with the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah), the American University of Sharjah (AUS), and the University of Sharjah (UoS), the event reaffirmed Sharjah’s position as a regional epicenter of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Held at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre as part of the Sharjah Investment Forum and the WAIPA World Investment Conference 2025, the event celebrated Sharjah’s thriving innovation ecosystem; a platform where bright minds meet bold investors and where ideas evolve into thriving ventures.

Inspired by the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SPARK, Seal the Deal continues to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs to transform academic innovation into investable ventures.

Building on the success of the inaugural edition, this year’s event has been expanded to include student-led startups, faculty-led ventures, and early-stage Sharjah-based startups. Each category reflects the innovative spirit and entrepreneurial energy which will help in shaping Sharjah’s economic future.