The program was launched in early 2022 in collaboration with Amazon Web Services, AD Gaming, Tamatem Games, and others
Sharjah Media City has partnered with Shorooq Partners to empower game tech in the UAE. The program was launched in early 2022 in collaboration with Amazon Web Services, AD Gaming, Tamatem Games, and others.
Under the name SHFT BUILD programme, game tech start-ups are being supported through upskilling talent, knowledge, expertise, and support for the programme’s start-ups from global companies.
SHFT BUILD targets game studios, game developers, distribution platforms, developers of game engines, and streaming platforms that are building start-ups in the gaming industry.
Throughout the eight-week programme, 33 start-ups with a total of 68 founders spent more than 300 hours with SHFT BUILD’s online learning programme. This included designed content and over 100 hours of one-on-one coaching and mentoring sessions to help them enhance their business models, fundraise, and develop market strategies.
The programme concluded with a Demo Day, which allowed the six top-performing start-ups to pitch to an audience of over 160 guests, including founders, investors, and programme partners.
Dr Khalid Omar Al Midfa, Chairman of Shams, said, “Sharjah Media City has an ambitious vision to position Sharjah as a world-class hub for media and creativity in the region, to make creative entrepreneurship more accessible to talented creative individuals, and to inspire business growth. Gaming is naturally at the core of this mission, given the tremendous growth and reach the sector has come to enjoy. Our partnership with Shorooq Partners on the SHFT BUILD Gametech programme has allowed us to channel our resources towards driving innovation, supporting innovative projects, empowering ambitious, passionate eSports startup founders, and being their partner as they make their way towards progress and success.”
Mahmoud Adi, Founding Partner of Shorooq Partners, said, “The most successful games today, such as Fortnite, League of Legends, and Minecraft, are communities that retain loyal, long-term users and generate billions of dollars in annual revenue. We believe games infrastructure and technologies will be key building blocks of the Metaverse. With that in mind, Shorooq Partners is committed to playing our part and setting the stage for the gaming and eSports industry to grow and mature in the UAE and the region.”
