Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority's Anjal Z Program recognised at the Middle East Technology Excellence Awards 2023

The initiative was lauded in the Startup - Government category, marking a transformative initiative to leverage technology startups for early childhood development.  

The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) has been recognised at the esteemed Middle East Technology Excellence Awards 2023, underscoring its unwavering commitment to nurturing comprehensive early childhood development (ECD) through innovation.

The organisation secured a coveted accolade in the "Startup - Government" category for its groundbreaking Anjal Z Program, a collaborative initiative with The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), Techstars, and Hub 71 that enables global startups to help solve ECD challenges and address gaps through their products and services.

The Middle East Technology Excellence Awards stand as a testament to innovation, pushing the boundaries of technological advancements and embracing change across various industries. This recognition highlights ECA's relentless efforts to reshape the ECD landscape by championing innovation and harnessing the potential of technology.

The Anjal Z Program, with AED15 million in non-equity funding support (over three years) from ADIO enables global growth-stage startups to localise their solutions and address pressing ECD challenges in Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE. These solutions receive additional support through mentorship from industry experts, expert sessions and by leveraging the local government and non-government network.

ECA's primary focus revolves around creating an integrated and comprehensive ecosystem for early childhood development in Abu Dhabi. The Anjal Z Program, now entering its fourth cohort, has demonstrated remarkable success since its inception in 2020. To date, it has propelled 32 early and growth-stage startups. Half of the growth-stage startups have set up operations in Abu Dhabi.

Additionally, the programme empowers the youth interested in entrepreneurship through the Abu Dhabi Youth Challenge, an immersive and experiential bootcamp designed for students and recent graduates. The participants produce innovative solutions to various ECD challenges and learn how to transform their idea into a startup. The programme includes intensive workshops, one-to-one mentorship sessions, teamwork sessions and offers the opportunity to intern with the Anjal Z startups. Thus far, 21 internships have been concluded.

Guided by visionary leadership, the ECA stands at the forefront of transformative initiatives, finding unique approaches to solve ECD challenges. 

The Middle East Technology Excellence Awards is presented by Asian Business Review Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2024 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's outstanding contributions in pursuit of technological innovation, please contact Danica Avila at [email protected].