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Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 has become one of the UAE’s most important technology ecosystems, positioning the capital as a global base for startups, investors, corporates and government partners. Built to help high-potential technology companies scale from Abu Dhabi into global markets, Hub71 reflects the UAE’s wider ambition under We the UAE 2031 to build a future-ready economy driven by innovation, talent, investment and international partnerships.

Hub71 describes itself as a global tech ecosystem bringing together startups, investors, corporate partners and future-focused government entities to provide founders with capital, commercial opportunities, mentorship and market access. Its specialist programmes cover AI, ClimateTech, Digital Assets, Life Sciences, smart and autonomous mobility through SAVI, early childhood innovation through ECA Anjal Z, and broader startup growth through its Access Programme.

This matters for Africa because the continent is not simply a market waiting for technology. It is one of the world’s youngest innovation frontiers, with fast-growing cities, expanding digital adoption, climate challenges, healthcare gaps, mobility needs, fintech demand and a generation of founders looking for global pathways.

For Hub71, Africa represents a serious strategic opportunity. For Africa, Hub71 represents a serious gateway into Abu Dhabi’s capital, regulation, corporate networks and global innovation infrastructure.

Hub71’s Growth Shows Abu Dhabi’s Innovation Strategy Is Working

Hub71’s 2024 performance demonstrates the strength of Abu Dhabi’s technology ecosystem. Hub71 reported that its startups secured US$2.17 billion in funding in 2024, a 44.7 percent year-on-year increase, while startup revenue reached US$1.2 billion. Hub71 startups also completed 91 corporate deals worth US$28 million with government and private sector partners.

These figures are important because they show that Hub71 is not only building a startup community. It is building a commercial ecosystem where startups can raise capital, generate revenue and access corporate demand.

That is where Africa becomes strategically relevant.

Africa has a young population, urgent development needs and rising entrepreneurial energy. Abu Dhabi has capital, infrastructure, regulatory support and global market access. The next step is not just inviting African startups into UAE programmes. It is building a structured UAE–Africa innovation corridor that connects founders, investors, universities, governments, media platforms and development partners.

Hub71 and UAE Vision 2031

Hub71 aligns strongly with the four pillars of We the UAE 2031.

Forward Society

Hub71’s support for founders, education-linked innovation and early childhood development connects directly to the UAE’s focus on building a skilled, capable and future-ready society.

Forward Economy

Hub71 supports the UAE’s transition into a knowledge-based economy by helping technology companies scale in sectors such as AI, ClimateTech, Digital Assets, Life Sciences and mobility.

Forward Diplomacy

By attracting international startups and investors to Abu Dhabi, Hub71 strengthens the UAE’s role as a global connector for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Forward Ecosystem

Hub71 is one of the clearest examples of the UAE building the infrastructure of the future economy: founders, regulators, investors, corporates and talent operating in one ecosystem.

This is why Hub71’s model is highly relevant to Africa. It is not simply an accelerator. It is a platform for ecosystem development.

Why Africa Should Matter to Hub71

Africa’s innovation needs are directly aligned with Hub71’s programme areas.

AI: African markets need AI solutions for agriculture, healthcare, education, financial inclusion, logistics, media and governance.

ClimateTech: Africa is one of the regions most affected by climate pressure, making climate innovation central to energy, water, agriculture and infrastructure.

Life Sciences: Africa’s healthcare systems need scalable solutions in MedTech, digital health, diagnostics and health access.

Digital Assets and FinTech: With large unbanked and underbanked populations, Africa remains one of the most important regions for financial innovation.

Mobility and logistics: Africa’s urban growth creates demand for transport, delivery, supply chain and smart mobility solutions.

Early childhood development: Africa’s demographic future makes early education and child development one of the most important long-term investment areas.

Hub71 already has the infrastructure to support these sectors. The missing opportunity is a stronger, structured Africa-facing engagement platform.

Where TVOA Fits Into the Hub71 Africa Strategy

The Voice of Africa Group is positioned to serve as a strategic bridge between Hub71, Abu Dhabi and Africa because it is not only a media platform. It is an ecosystem operating across media, events, tourism, trade, investment, youth development, sports and social impact.

Under the leadership of Kadmiel Van Der Puije, CEO of The Voice of Africa Group, TVOA has built a platform focused on connecting Africa to global institutions, investors, youth opportunities and cultural diplomacy. Kadmiel and The Voice of Africa’s recognition through the Misk Foundation 20 Under 30 further strengthens this positioning within the wider MENA region, linking TVOA’s work to youth leadership, innovation and global development priorities.

For Hub71, TVOA can support Africa engagement in three clear ways: narrative, access and execution.

Narrative means telling the story of Abu Dhabi’s innovation ecosystem to African audiences with credibility.

Access means connecting Hub71 to African youth, founders, universities, diaspora communities and institutional partners.

Execution means translating visibility into programmes, founder pipelines, events, media campaigns, delegations and market-entry conversations.

TVOA Subsidiaries and How They Align with Hub71

TVOA Media
TVOA Media bridges global audiences to Africa through its newspaper, website, podcast, social media, YouTube, newsletter and app. For Hub71, TVOA Media can spotlight African founders, explain Hub71 programmes to African markets and position Abu Dhabi as a serious innovation destination for African startups.

Experience Africa
Experience Africa is TVOA’s flagship Pan-African event in Washington, D.C., previously hosted at American University and Georgetown University, featuring food, fashion, cultural performances, embassies, speakers, comedy and sports activations. For Hub71, this creates a live platform to engage African and diaspora innovators, investors, students and institutions.

Experience Africa Tours
Experience Africa Tours creates transformative travel experiences across Africa and the wider global ecosystem. For Hub71, this can support innovation delegations, founder immersion trips and UAE–Africa market exposure experiences.

TVOA Trade, Investment & Tourism Forum
The Forum connects investors, governments and businesses to African opportunities. For Hub71, this is the most direct alignment for startup investment, founder-market entry, corporate innovation, deal rooms and UAE–Africa business engagement.

Ambassador of Africa
Ambassador of Africa connects African youth to global opportunities including internships, scholarships, jobs, mentorship, masterclasses and internships in Africa. With over 5,000 students in the pipeline and workshops connected to institutions such as Yale, Duke, American, Johns Hopkins and Howard, this platform can help Hub71 build a pipeline of African youth innovators and founders.

TVOA Sports
TVOA Sports operates as a recruitment and media agency connecting African athletes to global opportunities. This aligns with Hub71’s broader innovation economy through sports technology, athlete branding, performance data, media innovation and global talent pathways.

TVOA Social Impact Partners and Hub71 Alignment

The Father’s Haven Foundation
Father’s Haven Foundation is committed to building safe homes for orphaned and vulnerable children across Africa, with a focus on shelter, education, emotional support, mentorship and leadership development. This aligns with Hub71’s interest in impact-driven innovation, especially where technology can improve child welfare, education access and youth development.

The Countess Foundation
The Countess Foundation focuses on women and girls through skills development, creative empowerment and economic inclusion. Its flagship vision, 1 Million Women, 1 Million Futures, aligns with Hub71’s innovation priorities by supporting women-led entrepreneurship, digital skills, creative industries and economic participation.

Naberm Montessori School
Naberm Montessori School is launching in Ada, Ghana, with a focus on early childhood education, character formation, creativity and leadership. This aligns directly with Hub71’s early childhood innovation interests, especially through programmes such as ECA Anjal Z x Hub71, which supports startups addressing early childhood development.

The Strategic Opportunity

Hub71 has already proven it can attract global startups, capital and corporate partners. Africa offers the next major frontier for that model.

The opportunity is to create a structured Hub71 Africa Innovation Bridge focused on:

• African startup pipelines into Hub71 programmes
• Founder showcases across AI, ClimateTech, Life Sciences, FinTech and EdTech
• UAE–Africa innovation delegations
• University and youth founder recruitment
• Media campaigns positioning Abu Dhabi as a launchpad for African startups
• Investment forums connecting UAE capital to African innovation
• Pilot opportunities across education, health, climate and mobility

This is where TVOA can add value. It already operates across the exact sectors Hub71 needs to engage: media, youth, investment, education, culture, tourism and institutional partnerships.

Conclusion

Hub71 represents Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become one of the world’s leading innovation capitals. Africa represents one of the world’s most important growth markets for technology, youth entrepreneurship and future industries.

The strategic question is no longer whether Abu Dhabi and Africa should collaborate. The question is who can structure that collaboration credibly.

The Voice of Africa Group, led by Kadmiel Van Der Puije, is positioned to serve as that bridge by connecting Hub71’s innovation ecosystem to Africa’s founders, youth, institutions, investors and development priorities.

For Hub71, Africa is not just a market. It is a long-term innovation partner.

For TVOA, this is the work: connecting Africa’s next generation to the platforms that can help them build, scale and lead.

Kadmiel Van Der Puije Receives Misk 20 Under 30 Award from HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Foundation

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