Flagship UAE creator-economy occasion, the 1 Billion Followers Summit has revealed that its Creators Ventures Accelerator—run by Creators HQ in partnership with 500 International—has attracted 1,131 functions from content material creators and digital startups throughout greater than 70 international locations.
The programme seeks to establish and incubate promising creator-led startups, offering mentorship, information sharing, and entry to funding networks to assist them construct sustainable companies within the rising world content material financial system.
Contributors might be showcased on the fourth version of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, to be held from January 9 to 11 2026 at Emirates Towers, the Dubai Worldwide Monetary Centre, and the Museum of the Future, underneath the theme “Content material for Good.”
At a look
- 1,131 functions from 70 international locations
- 609 certified for the subsequent section
- 20 individuals to affix the primary cohort
- Funding of as much as AED50m ($13.6m)
- Finalists introduced at 1 Billion Followers Summit 2026
Subsequent section
Of the 1,131 candidates, 609 certified for the subsequent stage after assembly participation standards.
They embody 347 content material creators from greater than 70 international locations—led by India, adopted by Egypt, america, the UK, and Syria.
The accelerator additionally drew 262 functions from digital startups and enterprise platforms.
From these, 20 candidates might be chosen for the inaugural cohort.
A specialised group of enterprise capitalists and digital-media consultants will assess the tasks on innovation, creativity, social and financial influence, execution high quality, enterprise planning, scalability, and funding potential.
They may also present mentorship all through the programme to assist long-term progress.
AED50m funding alternative
Contributors will be part of an intensive 10-week coaching programme combining 500 International’s company-building experience with its ecosystem devoted to the creator financial system.
Within the first section, organisers will invite 20 individuals to current their concepts on stage, advance 10 to the semi-final, and choose three finalists.
The winners, introduced on the closing day of the summit, will obtain an funding alternative and funding of as much as AED50m ($13.6m) from Creators HQ and trade buyers.
International creator financial system
Khadija Hussain, Government Director of Authorities Communication on the UAE Authorities Media Workplace and Deputy CEO of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, mentioned the response highlights the UAE’s rising position as a magnet for artistic expertise.
Hussain mentioned: “We’re happy with the large response to the Creators Ventures Accelerator programme, which displays the UAE’s rising stature as a worldwide hub for purposeful content material creation and innovation and its capability to draw high artistic expertise from around the globe”.
She added that the programme provides an unprecedented alternative for creators and rising digital corporations to show concepts into sustainable ventures.
“The Creators Ventures Accelerator programme serves as an interactive platform that brings collectively creativity and innovation inside a single ecosystem.
“This built-in mannequin reinforces the position of content material creation as some of the very important sectors of the brand new financial system, giving collaborating creators a real alternative to turn into influential enterprise leaders.”
She emphasised that by way of its collaboration with 500 International, the summit gives creators and startups with the instruments to develop their tasks into globally aggressive corporations.
Empowering creator entrepreneurs
Mei Chel Tan, Managing Companion at 500 International, mentioned the partnership demonstrates the agency’s dedication to nurturing innovation within the creator financial system.
“The creator financial system is a big contributor to at the moment’s world social and industrial outcomes, with the potential to drive actual financial worth and innovation,” Tan mentioned.
“We’re thrilled to accomplice with Creators HQ on this initiative, by way of which we’re empowering content material creators and creator applied sciences to construct and scale significant companies and options.”
The Creators Ventures Accelerator underscores 500 International’s objective to leverage its enterprise capital experience and world platform to assist creators and entrepreneurs remodel concepts into high-impact companies and advance creativity worldwide.
UAE digital and artistic financial system
The accelerator operates underneath Creators HQ, the UAE and Center East’s first devoted content material creator hub and a part of Visioneers, in partnership with 500 International, one of many world’s most energetic enterprise capital corporations.
By combining mentorship, funding, and worldwide publicity, the initiative advances the UAE’s technique to construct a diversified digital and artistic financial system that empowers entrepreneurs to compete globally.
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