Founders bring smart shoes, AI prosthetics and a virtual pet clinic to UAE startup forum

An international startup showcase

Ajman Chamber organized the forum alongside the launch of its Thara Investment and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem. A startup exhibition organized by the Thara Foundation and a competition gave founders opportunities to present their businesses to investors and experts.

According to the Ajman Media Office, 30 startups were selected for the forum from 800 applicants across 43 countries. They presented their projects to prospective investors, customers and partners.

Founders attributed their interest in the UAE to the ease of doing business, access to talent and advances in technology and digital transformation. They described the country not simply as a market in which to open a business, but as a place to develop products for customers abroad.

Wearable technology and prosthetic limbs

Yoshi's founding director, Pietro Allegherti, traced his smart-shoe project to an idea developed in Italy. He subsequently moved to Dubai to establish the company, develop its products and pursue global sales.

The company is developing technology embedded in shoes and connected to smartphone apps. Allegherti said it can track steps, foot-related health indicators, stress and fatigue. The shoes can also deliver pulses and vibrations intended to activate the feet and body. He described potential users ranging from older adults and patients to the general public.

Bionic founder and CEO Omaima Al-Juwaini brought a prosthetics business founded in Tunisia to the UAE to explore development and international expansion opportunities. She said its AI-supported limbs help amputees anticipate and carry out movements with less effort, respond faster and move more smoothly than traditional prostheses, while placing less strain on the muscles that control them.

Bionic also supplies 3D-printed prosthetic limbs that can be adjusted as children grow without requiring a complete redesign. Its range includes carbon-fiber limbs, whose light weight and rigidity help movement, according to Al-Juwaini.

Remote care, affordable textbooks and payments

Taklus Solutions is developing a virtual veterinary clinic offering treatment and consultations remotely. Founding director Lakshan Kultic said owners in different locations could access care without transporting their animals when a case can be managed remotely, saving time, effort and money.

Kultic said the company began in Sri Lanka before moving to the UAE to seek growth and international opportunities. He cited the country's open economic environment and position connecting global markets as reasons startups of different nationalities, particularly those working in AI, choose to establish themselves there.

Another exhibitor, Alfredo, buys used textbooks and resells them to students at low prices, while also offering remote educational consultations. Founder and CEO Ahmed Al-Saif said the UAE gives startups room to grow and enter other markets.

Alfredo won the AED 100,000 prize in the forum's startup competition, which attracted applications from more than 45 emerging companies, according to Anecdoted. The Ajman Media Office said the annual Thara Awards included an Investors' Choice Award of AED 100,000 and an Audience Choice Award of AED 50,000.

Viz founder Fahad Al-Habsi presented a digital wallet designed for students and micro-enterprise owners. He said users can buy and sell without needing bank accounts, and that the wallet combines a simplified user experience with compliance with Central Bank standards and regulatory controls.

Al-Habsi said government support for innovation and entrepreneurship, together with the business climate, encourages companies to choose the UAE for their main or regional headquarters. He highlighted AI, financial technology, digital trade and sustainability.

Thara's structure and five-year targets

The Thara ecosystem comprises six integrated companies, according to the Ajman Media Office. Thara Holding oversees strategy and governance, while Thara Hub supplies workspaces, facilities and professional services. Thara X handles incubation and acceleration, and Thara Capital develops investment opportunities. Operational solutions and shared services sit with Thara Experience; Thara Foundation focuses on inclusive entrepreneurship and community development.

Targets announced at the forum call for at least AED 700 million in cumulative added value for Ajman's economy over five years. During that period, the ecosystem aims to help 100 companies establish, relocate or expand in the emirate and create 3,135 direct jobs.

Thara X's goal is to attract 120 startups each year, totaling 600 over five years, with direct investment targeted at 71 companies. Separately, Thara Capital aims to establish its first investment fund with a target size of USD 50 million, subject to the necessary approvals.

Thara Group CEO Marwan Hareb Al Aryani told Sharjah24 that the ecosystem includes a 10-week residency program offered twice a year, with 60 companies taking part in each cohort.

Its five-year community goals include employing more than 150 Emirati men and women and developing the skills of more than 300 Emirati talents. It also aims to support more than 75 women entrepreneurs, empower more than 15 entrepreneurs of determination and assist more than 100 home-based businesses.