Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, crowned Timble AI as the grand prize winner of the fourth edition of Eureka! GCC. This startup competition is one of Asia’s largest business model contests. The award ceremony was held at Al Habtoor Palace Hotel in Dubai.
The event brought together entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and officials including the Ambassador of India to the UAE, Sunjay Sudhir. More than 300 startups from across the Gulf Cooperation Council and countries such as India, Jordan, Turkiye, the United Kingdom, and Pakistan entered the competition this year.
Thirty startups advanced to the semi-finals and participated in a training program featuring workshops, strategic consulting, and courses on business modeling and pitching to investors. In the final round, the top 10 startups presented their ideas to a panel of judges.
Timble AI from the UAE won first place with its innovative AI-driven business solutions. Electrogenos earned the top award in the Sustainable Solutions category, Dreamloop AI secured second place overall, and Invoice Mate received recognition for excellence in public engagement and storytelling.
Sheikh Nahyan emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship in the UAE’s development. He highlighted the country’s support for startups through funding, education policies, advanced infrastructure, advisory services, and intellectual property protection. He also noted Dubai’s growing reputation as a global hub for business and innovation.
The minister called for more efforts to raise public awareness of entrepreneurship by promoting role models, mentorship programs, and competitions. He praised Eureka! GCC for fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors and for encouraging innovation and economic growth in the region.
Pankaj Gupta, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Gulf Islamic Investments and founder of Eureka! GCC, said the competition has grown from a recognition platform into a regional movement. It unites decision-makers, investors, and innovators with the shared goal of sustainable innovation.
The event received strong support from strategic partners, including iACCEL GBI, Crowe UAE, Headstart, Its Her Way, Encubay, Trusity, Startup Middle East, Diwan Hub, Bits Pilani, and Ecobee. These organizations provided resources and market access to help startups succeed.
With this edition of Eureka! GCC now complete, the winners move forward with new funding, media exposure, and a growing network of regional support. They join the next generation of successful Gulf startups contributing to one of the world’s most dynamic economic regions.