UAE telecom services operator du has announced a strategic tie-up with Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), the integrated free zone technology park, for ‘The Entrepreneur’, the UAE’s first business reality TV show.

The show, which features business upstarts in a competition to identify the country’s most promising SME entrepreneur, will be aired on television channel Dubai One later this year.
 
Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, through its wholly-owned technology incubator ‘The Silicon Oasis Founders’ will offer the show’s top shortlisted entries an unrivalled boost in business including the winner and the following top 5 competitors.

The winner of the show will be entitled to office space for one year at the SOF facility while the top 5 runner-ups will receive the office space for six months, said a senior official.

"Encouraging technology-based entrepreneurship is vital for achieving sustainable growth for the economy of the UAE," remarked Shahla Abdul Razak, the deputy CEO of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority.

"We are proud to partner with du for this exciting, innovative and inspiring initiative. We are confident that ‘The Entrepreneur’ will encourage aspiring businesspersons and enhance their performance and commitment," Razak stated.

“The director of SOF will assess the proposals of the winners and the top 5 finalists to select the most promising ventures for funding,” she added.

Hala Badri, the executive VP, Brand and Communications, du, said: "Dubai Silicon Oasis’ generous partnership with us on ‘The Entrepreneur’ has enabled us to offer meaningful prizes to our most talented contestants."

"DSO’s participation, will allow our top contestants to gain invaluable support that will mold them for success in their future business endeavours," she noted.

The other strategic partners for du’s ‘The Entrepreneur’ includes Dubai One, as the official broadcaster, Sony Pictures Television Arabia as the production partner, Wamda as the knowledge partner and Ernst & Young as the exclusive advisor.-TradeArabia News Service