Oraseya Capital, the venture capital arm of Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), invests from pre-seed to Series-B stages, supporting visionary founders shaping the future of the region. Through DUNE Venture Days, which will be held for the first time at WORLDEF DUBAI 2026, Oraseya Capital brings together the most influential investors and innovators from the ecosystem to exchange ideas and explore new waves of opportunities.
The “Zero-to-One Startup Competition” will be held on the second day of DUNE Venture Days. The competition is designed to support and showcase the most promising early-stage ventures. It offers a highly selective pitching opportunity, with a single winner and a single prize. The prize has been set at 100,000 AED.
Zero-to-One Startup Competition Application
Applications for the Zero-to-One Startup Competition can be submitted online until January 31st. The Oraseya Capital team will review the applications and shortlist the top 10 ventures. On February 13th, the selected top 10 ventures will pitch live in front of a jury composed of leading VCs and ecosystem leaders. The startups will compete for the chance to win the 100,000 AED grant, sponsored by DIEZ – Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority. They will also gain direct exposure to investors actively deploying capital in the region.
Who Can Apply?
This competition is open to early-stage technology startups (pre-seed to seed) that meet the following criteria:
- Annualized revenue of less than USD 500,000
- Less than USD 1 million raised to date
- A clear connection to the UAE market
- A founding team ready to pitch live in Dubai on February 13th
Apply now: https://luma.com/0zdhtsjw
Application deadline: January 31, 2026
About DUNE Venture Days
The first edition of DUNE Venture Days, led by Oraseya Capital, will be held on February 12th and 13th in partnership with Dubai CommerCity, alongside WORLDEF DUBAI 2026. The program is tailored for selected VCs, startup investors, and ecosystem leaders. DUNE is completely free and is part of Oraseya’s contribution to the VC ecosystem. The event offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen existing relationships, build new ones, and bring together individuals with whom we genuinely enjoy exchanging ideas.
