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Participants emphasised that sustaining and stabilising entrepreneurial ventures requires a series of intentional actions and supportive elements, such as building strong relationships with customers and distribution networks, creating clear decision-making frameworks, and accelerating innovation by involving users early to ensure the practical application of technology in real-world scenarios. They stressed the importance of investing in new talent and utilising supportive ecosystems that empower enterprises and bolster their confidence as they progress.
The Entrepreneurs Resilience Roundtable was attended by His Excellency Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Entrepreneurship Sector and for the Regulation of Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Economy and Tourism; His Excellency Khaled Al Huraimel, Group Chief Executive Officer of BEEAH Group; His Excellency Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Chief Executive Officer of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq); and Majed Haremel Al Shamsi, Executive Director of Corporate Support at the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA).
Her Excellency Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, said: “Strong entrepreneurial ecosystems are defined by their ability to respond collectively and decisively. What we are seeing today is a continued evolution in the way businesses operate and grow. The Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund reflects our commitment to providing founders with the right support at the right time, ensuring they remain focused, stable, and well-positioned for long-term value creation.”
She added: “At Sheraa, we remain committed to providing founders with the right support at the right time, while fostering an environment that enables businesses to adapt, grow, and continue to contribute to Sharjah’s economic development and the UAE’s broader innovation landscape.”
The Entrepreneurs Resilience Roundtable brought together Anam Khalid and Wajdan Gul (Squatwolf); Nadine Mezhar (Sarwa); Faiza Bouguessa (Bouguessa); Ghizlan Guenez (F-Force); Walid Shihabi (Keyper); Sahar Karoubi (Bambuyu); Ali Al Bastaki (Racks); Harith Al Midfa (Recovery Island); Sanad Yaghi (DTEK.ai); William White (AiREV); Ruba Al Nashash (Pulse IoT); and Ahmad Almannaee (Crystal Clear Water Sports), creating a space for shared reflection across sectors and business models.
Wajdan Gul, co-founder of Squatwolf, candidly discussed how business models aren’t fixed—they evolve with time and circumstance. “Every phase brings something different,” he said. “What really matters is staying alert and making decisions that fit where your business actually is, not where you think it should be.”
Sahar Karoubi, the founder of Bambuyu, emphasised the importance of maintaining a close relationship with customers. For her, it’s less about strategy on paper and more about genuine connection. “It comes down to knowing your customer properly,” she explained, “and making sure what you’re doing still matches how they interact with your product.”
From an operational standpoint, founders also emphasised the value of having a solid foundation. Ali Al Bastaki, Founder of Racks, highlighted clarity of purpose as a guiding force. “If you know what you stand for, decisions become much simpler,” he said. “Our values have always shaped how we move and how we grow.”
Businesses demonstrated their discipline by adapting when it mattered most. Faiza Bouguessa, founder of Bouguessa, shared a practical example of how her brand navigated a challenging period. “We had to rethink everything,” she said. “We paused new collections, focused on what was already working, and brought production back to our local workshop to keep things steady. At the same time, we made better use of what we had—reworking existing pieces into something more timeless and leaning on archive sales to keep revenue flowing.” Throughout it all, our priority was to protect the core of the business and ensure the team remained supported.
William White, Head of Developer Relations at AiREV, highlighted how direct engagement with future users can accelerate early-stage innovation. He said their AI system, On Demand, has been in use since June 2024 and that much of its progress came through hands-on work such as hackathons and smaller, focused campaigns. Even during COVID, the team kept working on it. The platform was built and tested as it went, with universities in the region involved. Students worked on it too, adding to it over time.
The discussion also addressed how much the wider environment matters when founders face uncertainty. Ghizlan Guenez, founder of F-Force, said resilience on its own isn’t enough. Drawing on her experience working closely with entrepreneurs, she sees the real difference in what surrounds them—people they trust, honest feedback, and access to the right networks. “What really matters is the environment around the founder,” she said. "The community, the exchange of views, and the connection to the right people are crucial."
A similar point came from founders working in sectors closely tied to the wider economy. Ruba Al Nashash, Co-founder of Pulse IoT, spoke about the need for people in sectors such as construction and infrastructure to work more closely together. She said that when companies can talk openly and share what they’re dealing with, it becomes easier to handle market changes—whether that’s supply delays or the rising cost of materials.
Throughout the discussion, one point emerged clearly: businesses are continuing to progress, albeit with greater caution. There is increased focus on addressing the fundamentals effectively while remaining vigilant for emerging opportunities.
The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre launched the Entrepreneurs' Resilience Fund to help small businesses and start-ups through tough times.
The fund, valued at AED 5 million, specifically targets businesses in manufacturing, food security, healthcare, and essential supply chains. In addition to funding, it offers practical support such as day-to-day assistance, marketing support, access to markets, and connections to Sheraa's network of partners and mentors.
The aim is to support these businesses in achieving stability and promoting growth, while improving Sharjah's economy and the overall innovation environment in the UAE.
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