{"id":117909,"date":"2026-06-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/?p=117909"},"modified":"2026-06-04T02:53:40","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T02:53:40","slug":"du-set-aside-usd-50-mn-for-startups-through-new-shorooq-managed-fund","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/06\/04\/du-set-aside-usd-50-mn-for-startups-through-new-shorooq-managed-fund\/","title":{"rendered":"du set aside USD 50 mn for startups through new Shorooq-managed fund"},"content":{"rendered":"

du <\/strong>is putting USD 50 mn behind its startup<\/strong> ambitions<\/strong>, launching a new corporate venture fund with Mubadala-backed venture capital firm Shorooq, according to a press release (pdf)<\/a>. The fund will back startups working across areas including AI, fintech, cybersecurity, cloud services, gaming, enterprise software, and customer experience technology.<\/p>\n

The move gives the telecom operator a direct route into emerging technologies<\/strong> as well as companies that could eventually feed into its broader digital ecosystem. Shorooq will manage the fund and oversee investments, with a significant share of capital earmarked for UAE-based startups, while giving founders access to du\u2019s infrastructure, customer base, and market reach.<\/p>\n

The firm intends to build the portfolio \u201cwith discipline rather than to a quota<\/strong>,\u201d focusing on startups that can meaningfully support du\u2019s strategy, Shorooq Founding Partner Shane Shin told EnterpriseAM UAE. \u201cWe'll be active in the market from launch, and we'll move at the pace the right opportunities allow,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

Strategic fit comes first: <\/strong>Shin said startups will be assessed through Shorooq\u2019s standard sourcing and due diligence process, but with an additional filter of whether the company strengthens du\u2019s ecosystem or advances its digital ambitions. <\/p>\n

The focus is on solving problems tied to du\u2019s <\/strong>business<\/strong>. <\/strong>Shin said the common thread is startups turning new technologies into practical applications that can connect with du\u2019s infrastructure. <\/p>\n

What startups get beyond funding: <\/strong>Portfolio companies will also gain access to du\u2019s distribution channels, enterprise relationships, and customer reach, Shin says. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The telecom operator is backing startups in AI, fintech, cybersecurity, and cloud<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":117910,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"_primary_brand":0,"newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1557],"tags":[1468,7,1342,25],"brand":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"class_list":["post-117909","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-investment-watch","tag-du","tag-enterpriseam-uae","tag-investment","tag-investment-watch","wpautop","entry"],"acf":{"mongo_id":"a34179cd-8203-42fa-9f85-5f02abc6b04e","order":"6","is_powered_by":false,"story_type":"1","photo_url":"https:\/\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/1374.jpg","photo_position":"above","homepage_title":"","full_issue_title":"du launches USD 50 mn venture fund with Shorooq","related_issue":[117899],"teaser":"The telecom operator is backing startups in AI, fintech, cybersecurity, and cloud"},"yoast_head":"\ndu set aside USD 50 mn for startups through new Shorooq-managed fund - 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