SC Ventures, the innovation, fintech investment, and venture-building arm of Standard Chartered, has signed a strategic partnership with DIFC Innovation Hub to launch the National Venture Studio, a bold initiative designed to fast-track venture creation and innovation across the UAE and wider region.
As part of the collaboration, SC Ventures will deploy its Venture Building as a Service (VBaaS) model, equipping DIFC Innovation Hub with the processes, talent network, and startup expertise needed to operate and scale the new studio.
The VBaaS framework supports the entire lifecycle of venture creation—from identifying market gaps and validating ideas to prototyping, founder recruitment, and scaling.
“DIFC has a 20-year legacy of supporting innovation in the UAE, and this partnership reflects our commitment to shaping the future of entrepreneurship in the region,” said Gautam Jain, Operating Member at SC Ventures.
“Through our VBaaS model, we’re proud to empower DIFC Innovation Hub in launching the National Venture Studio, bringing our proven frameworks and capabilities to local innovators.”
The National Venture Studio will be open to a broad network of stakeholders, including individual founders, corporates, and public sector organisations, offering flexible onboarding via referrals or joint outreach by the two partners.
Enabling Tech-Driven Solutions for Regional and Global Challenges
The initiative comes at a pivotal time for the UAE, as the country doubles down on innovation, digital economy growth, and talent attraction under its economic diversification strategy.
The National Venture Studio will enable ecosystem players to co-create tech-enabled solutions that address both regional and global challenges, ranging from financial services to sustainability, logistics, and beyond.
“This partnership reinforces DIFC Innovation Hub’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in the UAE,” said Mohammad Alblooshi, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Innovation Hub.
“By launching the National Venture Studio with SC Ventures’ proven VBaaS model, we are equipping local innovators with the tools and expertise needed to create impactful, tech-enabled solutions.”
In addition to venture building, the collaboration paves the way for joint events, research projects, and capability-building programmes, contributing to DIFC Innovation Hub’s broader mission of positioning the UAE as a global leader in innovation.
The National Venture Studio is expected to become a key platform for government entities, corporates, and founders to rapidly ideate, test, and scale startups that align with national priorities and global innovation trends.
