The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival 2026 has kicked off with a bang, drawing thousands of participants from around the world. The event, held at the Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park (SPARK), is organized by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa). Over the next few days, entrepreneurs, professionals, investors, and talent will gather to discuss the realities of starting, growing, and sustaining businesses in an increasingly complex economic environment.
## Fostering Financial Clarity and Sustainable Growth
Shahd Abdelhadi, Co-Founder of Women Who Invest, led a masterclass on ‘Money Mastery 101: The Do’s and Don’ts of Saving and Investing.’ The session emphasized the importance of financial clarity in achieving sustainable growth. Abdelhadi encouraged participants to approach capital management with a structured and long-term perspective. She also discussed how founders and organizations can assess returns beyond immediate financial metrics, pointing to skills development, operational resilience, strategic partnerships, and long-term value creation as essential indicators of effective investment decisions.
## Leveraging Location Analytics for Business Success
Isaias Thomas Biju, Head of UX/UI Design at Year 2 – BSc Computer Science, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, led the workshop ‘Geo Game-Changer: Turning Geolocation Data into Profit.’ The session highlighted the significance of location analytics in business decision-making. Biju demonstrated how startups can use geospatial data as a strategic asset, rather than just a basic mapping function. He emphasized the importance of underutilized location data, which can provide valuable insights into demand patterns, service coverage, and cost efficiency.
## Unlocking the Power of AI Automation
Philip Wride examined the deployment of artificial intelligence across industries in his masterclass ‘Artificial Intelligence Automation for Businesses.’ Drawing on his extensive experience in technology and automation, Wride translated technical concepts into practical applications for non-technical founders. The session explored AI agents used to manage automated conversations across platforms, functioning as virtual receptionists, sales assistants, and customer support tools. Wride also introduced autonomous AI agents that integrate directly with business systems to execute tasks independently.
More than 14,000 participants are expected to attend SEF 2026, which promises to be an exciting and informative event. Entrepreneurs, professionals, investors, and talent will gather to discuss the realities of starting, growing, and sustaining businesses in an increasingly complex economic environment. With a focus on practical, execution-focused strategies, SEF 2026 is set to unlock growth and sustainable success for businesses across the region and beyond.
