The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) and Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, have officially opened applications for the 2026 Cohort of Anjal Z.
Anjal Z is an experiential fellowship programme dedicated to supporting global startups that are developing solutions to address early childhood challenges. The announcement builds upon a strategic agreement signed last year, which formally integrated Anjal Z into an ECA-dedicated track within Hub71’s flagship Access Programme.
Targeting foundational challenges
Through the programme, Hub71 and the ECA are inviting early and growth-stage startups to localise and deploy their technologies within Abu Dhabi’s early childhood ecosystem. Specifically, the partners are seeking founders building innovative solutions in key areas, including:
- Child obesity
- Arabic literacy
- Child mental health
Since its initial launch in 2020, Anjal Z has supported more than 45 global startups in developing and validating their products in Abu Dhabi. This sustained effort aims to strengthen the Emirate’s early childhood innovation landscape and reinforce its position as a launchpad for founders building purpose-driven technologies.
Funding and real-world adoption
For the 2026 intake, five selected startups will join Hub71’s Access Programme to receive support designed to accelerate their growth and enable real-world adoption in the capital.
The comprehensive support package includes:
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AED 500,000 per startup, comprising AED 250,000 in incentives and AED 250,000 via a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) note.
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Access to Hub71’s broader ecosystem, including market access through government, capital, and partner networks.
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Support in collaboration with the ECA to facilitate pilot and funding pathways, helping founders validate their impact and build market traction.
Leadership perspectives
H.E Dr. Yousef Al Hammadi, executive director, knowledge & impact at ECA, highlighted the programme’s value: “Through Anjal Z, we support global start-ups to turn ideas into real benefits for Abu Dhabi’s children and families. There are incredible opportunities in Abu Dhabi for those who are ready to think big. Anjal Z won’t just offer you resources; it will provide partnerships, industry contacts, market entry pathways and investment opportunities.”
Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, added: “Innovation in early childhood development presents a significant opportunity to drive long-term societal impact. Enabling solutions in this space requires strong collaboration across stakeholders to support founders addressing foundational stages of human development, while enabling innovation to grow from Abu Dhabi.”
While Hub71 will lead the startup selection process, the ECA will participate across all evaluation stages and contribute to the final cohort decisions to ensure alignment with Abu Dhabi’s priorities. To ensure sustained outcomes and long-term value creation, both entities will track the progress and impact of the startups for up to three years following the completion of the programme.
Applications for the 2026 Cohort will officially close on 28 February. Startups can access eligibility criteria and application details directly via the Hub71 platform.
