Abu dhabi: Athar+, Abu Dhabi's first purpose-driven hub dedicated to accelerating social impact, has announced 15 social enterprises as the winners of the "Impact Makers Challenge | AED1 Million Grant". The initiative aims to accelerate the growth of social enterprises and high-impact ventures, reinforcing Athar+'s commitment to fostering an inclusive and impact-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem.
According to Emirates News Agency, the initiative was organized in collaboration with the Emirates Youth Council for Entrepreneurship. It aims to empower youth social entrepreneurs, enabling them to benefit from shared experiences, inspire the next generation, and strengthen the social entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Salem AlShamsi, Executive Director of Social Incubation and Contracting at the Authority of Social Contribution - Ma'an, stated that the growth of social enterprises is key to driving community development. He highlighted that through Athar+, purpose-driven entrepreneurs are enabled to scale solutions that directly address community priorities and align with Abu Dhabi's social priorities. By providing tools and initiatives such as this grant, innovation is ensured to have a tangible, lasting impact on the community of Abu Dhabi.
The winners were evaluated and selected based on criteria including innovation, scalability, sustainability, and measurable social impact.