Canadian University Dubai (CUD) has concluded its pioneering Entrepreneur Mentorship Series, an industry-integrated initiative designed to bridge academic theory with entrepreneurial practice and empower students to develop purpose-driven ventures with real-world impact.
Guided by the UAE’s vision to remain a global hub for entrepreneurship and innovation, the CUD entrepreneurship (ENT 242) series brought together top national and international industry experts to mentor the university’s future innovators.
Launched under Professor Karim Chelli, President and Vice Chancellor of CUD, the Entrepreneur Mentorship Series reinforces the university’s role in Dubai’s innovation ecosystem and supports the efforts taken by UAE Ministries of Economy and Investment in advancing entrepreneurship through strategic partnerships and frameworks.
Built on experiential learning and global best practices, the Entrepreneur Mentorship Series has inspired students from all disciplines to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset, leverage their technical and creative skills, and gain practical experience while expanding industry networks and market insight.
High impact sessions at Entrepreneur Mentorship Series
Across four high-impact sessions, students engaged at the Entrepreneur Mentorship Series with distinguished speakers who provided actionable insights and real-world strategies.
The first session featured Mohamed Jassim Al Rais, Executive Director of Al Rais Group, and Rayan Chelli, former CSO of Zip Trust FZCO and PhD candidate at McGill University, who shared perspectives on innovation and business success.
The second session two addressed the legal foundations of setting up a startup in the UAE, led by experts from the Dubai Economic Department, Habib Al Mulla & Partners, and UAE-based advisors.
The third session examined customer behavior and brand storytelling, with insights from Moaza Buti Alyouha, Vice President of Brand and Event Marketing Operations, Dubai Economic Department & Tourism, and Mahmoud Bartawi, Founder of Under500 and host of the BXB Show.
The final session, focused on financial strategy and investor readiness, featured Amer Al Ahbabi, Entrepreneur and Group Chairman of Vertix Holdings, and Jad Jubaili, Business Strategist and Angel Investor. Students gained clear guidance on financial planning, startup funding, and what investors look for when evaluating new ventures.
Signature Events at Entrepreneur Mentorship Series
The Entrepreneur Mentorship Series concluded with two signature pitch events, highlighting the entrepreneurial skills and ventures developed by students throughout the program.
Image Supplied | Cropped by GBN
At the Brand Me Summit, CUD’s flagship event, students took the stage for the CUD Startup Competition, pitching their concepts before a high-level jury including Dr. Mohammed Naji, Founder of MonaJi Group and Ambassador for Waterpik; Matthias Mende, award-winning entrepreneur and Founder of Bonuz Market; Jeremy Schneider, musician and creative entrepreneur; and Ghazy Al Yaman, CEO of Brand Me Summit.
The session was moderated by Dr Khulood Shebib Khansaheb, Assistant Professor and Incubator Manager at CUD, alongside Dr Robert J. McClung, Dean of First-Year Students at CUD. The winning team, EVENTA, earned the $817 (AED 3,000) CUD Prize for their standout concept and pitch performance.
A second showcase, the ENT 242 Final Pitch Competition, featured shortlisted teams presenting innovative ideas shaped over weeks of applied learning. Another team, AR Robot, secured an additional $817 (AED 3,000) CUD Prize, recognising their creativity, feasibility, and entrepreneurial promise.
These final events underscored CUD’s dedication to transforming mentorship into action and ideas into viable ventures.
Buti Saeed Al Ghandi Chancellor – CUD
“Dubai moves at the speed of the future, and so do we. Our downtown incubator is a launchpad for innovation, preparing students to think boldly, act entrepreneurially, and lead with the same unstoppable energy that defines Dubai’s success.”
In his address, Prof. Karim Chelli, President and Vice Chancellor of CUD, emphasized that, “As a downtown university embedded in Dubai’s innovation ecosystem, this series strengthened our journey of incubation and mentorship. By bringing industry directly into the classroom, we helped students build the aptitude, mindset, and networks to transform ideas into ventures that deliver real-world impact.”
Khulood Shebib Khansaheb, Assistant Professor and Incubator Manager at CUD, highlighted that the university aligns closely with the UAE’s vision to establish the Emirates as the region’s entrepreneurship hub. She noted that the series enabled students to engage directly with founders and industry leaders, applying their academic knowledge throughout every stage of the startup journey, from ideation to pitching.
