Make an Impact Where It Matters
The Manassah incubator by Aldar in partnership with startAD accelerates the region’s most ambitious retail entrepreneurs to turn homegrown concepts into viable businesses & overcome scalability challenges.
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Manassah in 60 Seconds
Retail innovation is an idea whose time has come.
Zip through the highlights to watch what the future holds.
Why Manassah?
AED 1 Million
Get Equity-Free financial incentives worth up to AED 1 Million from Aldar.
Aldar Retail Spaces
Win a space in Aldar's flagship properties.
World-Class Training & Mentorship
Accelerate your business with expert guidance via startAD at NYU Abu Dhabi.
De-risked Pilot with Aldar
Pilot your retail technology with Aldar businesses.
24/7 Access to Cloud Spaces
Win free rental for 1 year (1 person) at Aldar’s pioneering Flexible Workspace Solutions.
Upskill with Brinc
Scale via mentorship & upskilling designed for retail tech, provided by global accelerator Brinc.
startAD Community Benefits
Become part of the startAD community & get alumni benefits from Amazon Web Services, IBM Cloud Credits, and HubSpot.
Spotlight On: Retail Tech
Retail SMEs
You’re entrepreneurial, fresh, and changing what it means to be a retail business. You’re building a shopping experience unlike any other. You’re ready for Manassah 2.0
Retail Tech
Disruption is second nature to you. You’ve proven your technology works and are transforming the future of retail in Abu Dhabi. You’re ready for Manassah 2.0
Why Manassah?
AED 1 Million
Get Equity-Free financial incentives worth up to AED 1 Million from Aldar.
Aldar Retail Spaces
Win a space in Aldar's flagship properties.
World-Class Training & Mentorship
Accelerate your business with expert guidance via startAD at NYU Abu Dhabi.
De-risked Pilot with Aldar
Pilot your retail technology with Aldar businesses.
24/7 Access to Cloud Spaces
Win free rental for 1 year (1 person) at Aldar’s pioneering Flexible Workspace Solutions.
Upskill with Brinc
Scale via mentorship & upskilling designed for retail tech, provided by global accelerator Brinc.
startAD Community Benefits
Become part of the startAD community & get alumni benefits from Amazon Web Services, IBM Cloud Credits, and HubSpot.
You’re a Retail SME with a
- Fresh concept; you’ve been around for no more than 2 years
- Clear initial business model
- Runway to scale and /or are generating revenue
- Presence in the UAE or interest in growing in the region
Our Partners
Vision Come True: Manassah 1.0
Manassah 1.0: a Journey
From over 150 applicants, 5 startups proved their mettle. 2 of them advanced into discussions with Aldar Leasing. 3 of them secured equity-free investments worth up to AED 1 Million.
With a turnover rent deal, they launched at Aldar's Mamsha Al Saadiyat building - located next to the Louvre Abu Dhabi & the pristine Saadiyat Island beachfront.
These are their stories.
Straight from the Startups
>Alumni Stories
Coffee Architecture
Founded by the first female Emirati certified Q grader, Coffee Architecture won an equity-free investment, fit-out contribution, and location space - while sharing a love of minimalism, art, and gourmet coffee along the way.
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Alkalime
Alkalime’s menu tastes as good as it looks and it looks as good as it feels. Proving eco-friendly wholesome eating is an idea whose time has come, it won an equity-free investment, fit-out contribution, and location space.
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Wake n’ Bake
Wake ‘n’ Bake started life as a digital-only gourmet bakeshop that lovingly handcrafted delicious goodies from natural and unprocessed ingredients. It won an equity-free investment, fit-out contribution, and location space.
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Mr. Draper
Merging haute couture & high tech, Mr Draper is a shopping experience unlike any. Its idea to easily curate personalized outfits using a proprietary algorithm and in-house stylists saw it engage with Aldar Leasing.
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Maharat
Pioneering innovation in special education, Maharat offers specialized programs for children with unique needs & developmental support. Its mission to shape a better future saw Maharat engage with Aldar Leasing.
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