New pitching arena gives SMEs, young founders bigger stage

At a time when the Gulf’s innovation economy is expanding at record speed, a new pitching arena in Dubai opened its doors — one designed not just for seasoned founders, but to give SMEs (Small and Medium-sized — Enterprise) and young aspiring entrepreneurs a platform to grow, learn and attract investor interest.

- Nandini Sircar [e-mail]

Initially created to bring together global venture funds, angels and founders, IgKnightED has now grown into a cross-regional ecosystem linking sectors, countries and skill levels.

(COURTESY: KT EVENTS)

The pitching session on Wednesday at the Address Skyview, Dubai — organised by Khaleej Times Events — brought together companies seeking capital and founders working to sharpen their investment readiness.

Bicky Carlra, President of WeValue, described the moment as a shift in mindset. “We're expanding our focus to SMEs and youth entrepreneurship — training undergraduates and even high-school founders to dream differently,” he said, adding that the region’s next wave of innovators will be job creators, not job seekers. “The future isn’t about finding jobs — it’s about creating them.”

The pitching arena is rooted directly in IgKnightED’s origin story. Three months earlier, when ICC Oman’s Riddhima Bahl approached Carlra about bringing a similar initiative to the UAE, the idea sparked a renewed vision. The team asked themselves why the UAE and wider GCC shouldn't have a platform that leads—not follows—the startup ecosystem.