News

Hub71 Refreshes Its Company Building Program

Startups may be eligible for up to $204,000 to help accelerate growth and hasten their contribution to the local economy.

Published

3 years ago

October 17, 2023

Nour Nasir

hub71 refreshes its company building program

At this year’s GITEX Global conference, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, Hub71, has announced a refreshed startup incentive known as the Company Building Program, where eligible businesses can receive up to $204,000 to accelerate their growth — a 50% increase over the original funding figure.

Upon completion of the program, top-performing startups could also be selected by Hub71 for an additional cash incentive of nearly $70,000 in exchange for additional equity.

The new incentive is a “natural progression” for Hub71, expanding on its pledge to support early-stage technology companies.

hub71 abu dhabi deputy ceo ahmad ali alwan

“This impact and shift to provide greater value to our startup community solidifies our commitment to founders as we aim to enhance the growth trajectory of innovative companies with the simplicity and flexibility needed to ensure they succeed,” Deputy CEO Ahmad Ali Alwan said.

“Our dedication will go beyond financial support; we are deeply invested in the success of startups in our community and will remain engaged in ensuring their sustainable growth and development in Abu Dhabi and beyond,” he continued.

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Startups joining the Hub71 Company Building Program unlock an extensive network of corporations, government entities, and investment opportunities. The program also gives startups access to mentorship, advice, and support, which positively affects their ability to grow and contribute to the economy.

Globally, the startup sector is valued at a massive $3 trillion. By 2030, The UAE aims to create a home for 20 “unicorns” — startups with a valuation of $1 billion or more. Hub71’s new program should aid those ambitions, boosting the number of high-performing tech companies headquartered in Abu Dhabi.

News

Abu Dhabi’s Robot Kitchen Is Serving Up Biryani, Not Burgers

Circus SE wants to put a tiny automated factory inside the buildings where Gulf residents live and work, bypassing part of last-mile delivery.

Published

5 days ago

October 20, 2026

Nour Nasir

abu dhabi's robot kitchen is serving up biryani not burgers

Circus SE

The most telling thing about a new autonomous kitchen now running in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Square is what it won’t cook:

“We don’t do fast food,” says Nikolas Bullwinkel, Founder and CEO of Circus SE. “We’ve actively decided not to build a machine that can only do burgers”.

Instead, the CA-1 system is built around pot-based cooking: curries, pastas, soups and rice dishes. After experimenting with highly personalized recipes, Circus deliberately leaned back toward recognizable food. “We’re going with a chicken biryani because you know it,” Bullwinkel says of the AED 40 dish.

circus se ca-1 robot system

The Germany-based robotics and food technology company operates across eight countries, and Abu Dhabi is its first deployment outside Europe. More locations are expected there and in Dubai.

In Germany, its units can be placed in supermarkets, gas stations, airports and hospitals. In the Gulf, Bullwinkel wants them inside residential and office buildings, replacing some of the complexity of last-mile delivery. “We’re basically bringing a very tiny factory a few square meters into your building,” he says. Catering company Royal Prestige supplies the ingredients and knowledge of local tastes.

The CA-1 manages up to 36 refrigerated ingredient silos alongside automated induction cooking, robotic plating and a self-cleaning dishwasher. Two robotic arms move ingredients through the system with minimal human intervention. It can produce up to 120 hot meals an hour, and a meal such as rice and curry can take around three to four minutes.

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Five cameras and multiple sensors monitor heat, temperature and consistency, an attempt to approximate what a chef perceives. “You can hear something gets burned, you can smell it, you can see it at some point,” Bullwinkel says. CircusOS, the company’s operating system, adjusts recipes in real time.

You might think of the platform as a threat to kitchen staff, but Bullwinkel frames Circus as a way for chefs to develop recipes and distribute them at scale. With that being said, rising labor costs and shortages are also part of his case for automation.