SDCEE Launches the Young Entrepreneur Program
May 13, 2022
Over the past few years, Dubai has been in the spotlight of economic development and has become one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. At this rate of growth and development, it is only fair that the younger generation of Dubai gets ample opportunities to hone their entrepreneurship skills through an interactive learning program.
To meet this requirement, we have launched the SD Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence (SDCEE)in collaboration with Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship, Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus (Dtec), and Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO).
If you are an aspiring or an experienced entrepreneur, SD Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence (SDCEE) provides courses that can help you navigate through the complex business environment of today irrespective of where you are in your business career.
Let us dive into the details to see what this program is all about, who is launching it, what are the key benefits of the program, and how you can sign up for the same.
Who is launching the program?
The program is a collaboration between the SD Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence (SDCEE) and the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship along with the Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus (Dtec) and Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO).
Ghanim Al Falasi, the Senior VP of Technology and Entrepreneurship at Dubai Silicon Oasis, and Mr. Shailesh Dash, board member, founder, and mentor at SDCEE, together launched the new program for young and experienced entrepreneurs that will include special courses and programs to give a boost to the entrepreneurial culture of Dubai.
The SD Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence
SDCEE was launched in December 2021 as an international collaboration between Newage Learning FZCO and Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship. The centre was launched to foster the up-and-coming generation of entrepreneurs and mold them into becoming the leaders of tomorrow.
Approved by the KHDA, SDCEE offers entrepreneurship education, mentorship to aspiring entrepreneurs, and also networking opportunities within the business field.
The centre also organizes conferences and other networking events for pioneers of the entrepreneurial community of Dubai to get together, thereby paving the way for innovation.
The Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship, Rotterdam (ECE)
As one of the leading centres for entrepreneurship in Europe, the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship (ECE) believes in innovation. Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship is initiated by the Rotterdam School of Management and Erasmus School of Economics and is owned fully by the Erasmus University Rotterdam. The centre’s leading innovation excellence program is driven by a team consisting of highly-motivated staff with subject capabilities varying from strategic leadership, ambidexterity, entrepreneurial finance, innovation management, entrepreneurship economics, and corporate venturing.
Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship has very strong research initiatives mainly focusing on startups and scaleups and these research insights offer practical solutions on how to recreate the favorable conditions for these companies to grow and thereby contribute to the economic development of the region.
In 2021, ECE partnered with Newage Learning FZCO to launch the SD Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence in Dubai which is now spearheading the entrepreneurship culture in the Gulf region and offering a one-of-its-kind learning opportunity to the youth of the UAE.
The Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus, (Dtec), Dubai Silicon Oasis
Dtec is an integrated ecosystem that provides support to individuals and organizations to set up a new business in Dubai. In a nutshell, an epicentre of entrepreneurship and innovation in the UAE.
Dtec has collaborated with SDCEE to provide a conducive environment for entrepreneurial learning for the youth of Dubai.
During the launch, Ghanim Al Falasi, the Senior VP of Technology and Entrepreneurship at Dubai Silicon Oasis, stated, As one of five urban centres in the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, Dubai Silicon Oasis has been mandated as a science, technology, and knowledge hub that drives innovation. Through its coworking tech hub for entrepreneurs, Dtec, hosting more than 1,000 startups from 75 countries, DSO is keen on providing a conducive ecosystem for entrepreneurs and startups in Dubai and the wider UAE. In line with The Entrepreneurial Nation initiative by the Ministry of Economy, the new programs will offer Dtec’s community and wider entrepreneurial ecosystem an edge, enabling them to establish promising and profitable businesses.
He further added, Our collaboration with SDCEE is part of our commitment to ensure Dtec’s community has a truly impactful ecosystem to utilize and benefits from a wide array of additional elements, such as access to a network of like-minded individuals, VCs, and mentors. We believe equipping entrepreneurs with the right knowledge is the first step in the journey to housing unicorns in the future, in line with the nation’s drive to become home to 20 unicorns by 2031.
Mr. Shailesh Dash, founder, and mentor, also expressed that he and his team from SDCEE are happy to work with Dtec which will be the location of the new initiative.
Who will benefit from the program?
As the Young Entrepreneurs program largely focuses on the youth, it will be of immense benefit for the nascent start-up builders who are new to the world of business and are looking to enhance their entrepreneurial skills.
The future entrepreneurs of Dubai can learn everything they need to know to kickstart their entrepreneurial careers and implement their business ideas to establish a successful business.
The program will help participants learn to identify new business opportunities and establish lifelong industry connections that will continue to fuel their career in the long run. It is also beneficial for young entrepreneurs who have already set up their start-ups but wish to develop their professional skills and scale their businesses.
SDCEE and the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship have brought faculty from Rotterdam and the wider GCC region on board to deliver the program.
What will the program structure look like?
The Young Entrepreneurship Program is set up to offer multiple subjects and courses to aspiring entrepreneurs. There are many aspects of setting up a successful business and the program has been structured to cover every minute detail of being a successful entrepreneur.
The program will cover all the basics from giving shape to a rough business idea to strategies for scaling, knowledge on funding, social responsibility of businesses, creating and presenting a business pitch, and more.
Mr. Shailesh Dash, said, We are excited to partner with Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship mainly because of the capability to provide active learning experiences to teach the skills needed to successfully translate high-potential projects and ideas into the real world.
The centre not only provides entrepreneurship education, but also helps create many promising start-ups, fast-growing scale-ups, and innovative established firms through passionate research and knowledge dissemination, and that first-rate knowledge and experience will further complement DTEC’s current strength.
Some of the major areas that the ECE program will focus on include:
1. Building Leadership Skills
2. Navigating Through Real Business Situations
3. Cultivating a Mindset for Business
4. Strategies for Internationalization of Business
5. Social Entrepreneurship
6. Growth and Scaling Strategies
7. Human Resource Development
8. Finances of a Business
9. Impact Investing
10. Networking in the Industry
Here are the different tools by which the program will benefit young entrepreneurs of Dubai:
1. Mentorship Program
2. Courses for teaching various subjects of entrepreneurship
3. Networking Events
4. Professional Advice and Assistance
5. Skill Development Courses
6. Conferences and Seminars
7. Exchange Programs
8. Consultation
What is the ultimate goal of the Young Entrepreneur Program?
The Young Entrepreneur Program by SDCEE is grounded on the firm belief that anyone can become a successful entrepreneur if they have the right support and guidance. The SD Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence was primarily set up keeping in mind the entrepreneurially minded individuals of the Gulf region who have shown immense talent and zeal to be a part of the business world.
As Shailesh Dash puts it, We believe everyone can become an entrepreneur and we will develop their mindset and skillset to empower these individuals to embrace their purpose and become impactful leaders through an innovative and entrepreneurial approach.
How can I sign up for the program?
Now that you have read about this program for young entrepreneurs, you can sign up for the program by following this link and reading our complete program brochure here.
We are also aware that you must have many questions about the program, how it can benefit you, and whether you are eligible for it or not. You can write to us at info@sdcee.ae or get in touch with us on our website sdcee.ae and we will be happy to assist you with any information you may need.
Conclusion
All eyes are set on the UAE as the country continues to grow and develop, despite the economic ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic. In September 2021, the country launched a new campaign titled United Global Emirates to bring to light the benefits and incentives that the government of UAE is offering its entrepreneurial community.
This Young Entrepreneurship Program furthers the goals of the UAE as a country as it provides a one-stop learning ground for budding entrepreneurs who can then contribute to the efforts of the UAE government in making it a globalized hub for businesses.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is SDCEE?
SDCEE or SD Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence is a KHDA-approved centre for learning and education for the entrepreneurs of Dubai. It has been launched in collaboration with Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship, Rotterdam, and Dubai Technology and Entrepreneur Campus (Dtec), Dubai Silicon Oasis.
2. Does SDCEE provide certified courses for entrepreneurs?
Yes, the SD Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence provides certified courses for entrepreneurs to kickstart their venture in Dubai. Upon successful completion of the program, the participants will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from SDCEE and the Erasmus Centre of Entrepreneurship.
3. What is the SDCEE Young Entrepreneur Program?
The Young Entrepreneur Program, offered by the SD Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence along with the Erasmus Centre of Entrepreneurship is a series of instructor-led courses for young entrepreneurs who wish to set up their business in Dubai. The program aims to guide young entrepreneurs to overcome the challenges they may face in today’s competitive business world.
4. What are the benefits of setting up a business in Dubai?
Besides being strategically located, Dubai offers multiple benefits for entrepreneurs looking to set up their businesses here. With state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure, visa provisions, 100% expat ownership, and much more, Dubai is one of the fastest-growing economic hubs in the MENA region.
5. Who can be a part of the SDCEE Young Entrepreneur Program?
The Young Entrepreneur Program invites applicants in the age group of 15–22 years who have the zeal to learn the intricate aspects of starting a venture. Applicants above this age group can be entertained on a case-to-case basis for this program.
6. When will the SDCEE Young Entrepreneur Program commence and what would be the duration of this Program?
The SDCEE Young Entrepreneur Program is a 3-week program that will commence in two cohorts of 20 participants and will begin in July 2022.
7. How is the SDCEE Young Entrepreneur Program different from other programs?
Through its 3-week intensive bootcamp, the Young Entrepreneur Program aims to equip participants to put their acquired skills into practice right away, in addition to the theoretical knowledge and insights about entrepreneurship and innovation.
a. Orientation: The students will be given a clear understanding of the key concepts and entrepreneurial principles that will be followed by a networking session. The participants will get clarity on the roadmap of the program and the deliverables for each step.
b. Acquire the right skills: With the SDCEE Young Entrepreneur Program, participants will be able to acquire the right business skills including evaluating business opportunities across various sectors, validating the problem-solution and product-market fit, engaging in customer discovery and validation, validating a business’ value proposition, using creative brainstorming techniques, developing and utilizing the Business Model Canvas and Delta, and applying the Build – Measure – Learn cycle.
c. Ecosystem visits: Every week, the participants will have an ecosystem visit in Dubai, where they will have the opportunity to interact with key stakeholders and contributors of the UAE’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.
d. Mentorship: With a total of 6 mentors providing their in-person insights to each cohort, participants will get the opportunity to learn and discuss their ideas with some of the renowned industry veterans, to build solutions and profitable ventures.
e. Pitching sessions: On the final day of the 3-week program, participants would be able to make use of their learnings and pitch their idea to a jury of experienced investment professionals and receive first-hand feedback on their pitch.
f. Academic team: The facilitators of this program are from the esteemed Erasmus Centre of Entrepreneurship which executes various academic courses throughout the Netherlands along with the prestigious Erasmus University, Rotterdam.
8. Where will the Program be conducted?
The Program will be conducted at the SDCEE Campus at the Dubai Technology Entrepreneurship Campus, Dubai Silicon Oasis.
For more information, please feel free to reach out to us through the contact form on our website or get in touch with our course advisor at the below coordinates:
Email: info@sdcee.ae
Phone: +971 50 553 0451
