“Our fellows will gain the knowledge, network, and skills needed to thrive in the venture capital ecosystem.”
Sharif El Badawi
CEO of Dubai Future District Fund
About the Fellowship
The Dubai Future District Fund Venture Fellows program empowers Emiratis with the knowledge and practical skills required to become investors in the venture capital industry.
The program consists of 4 modules spread over 12 months with digital and in-person touchpoints.
The program is delivered by experienced VC investors that are committed to empowering the next generation of Emirati investors and entrepreneurs.
Program Outcomes
Learning, mentorship, and networking with some of the most experienced investors in the region.
Build a strong community of lifelong peers in the venture capital and startup ecosystem.
Learn how to manage the full deal cycle, from sourcing to deploying capital.
Certification of completion by the Dubai Future District Fund.
Program Structure
Learning Framework
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Learning will be blended to include online course content and in-person sessions that will be customized to the local VC practices and include local VCs as instructors.
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Fellows will get the opportunity to shadow individuals in the DFDF team.
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Fellows will get the opportunity to scout deals for DFDF.
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Fellows will be required to create an investment thesis as their final assignment reflecting all learned key subjects.
Program Completion
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Fellows must complete all training models and associated assignments, shadowing sessions, and the final investment thesis project to obtain the course certificate of completion.
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By the end of the program, fellows will receive a “Certificate of Completion”, awarded in a ceremony by the officials of the Dubai Future District Fund.
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Those who complete the program become part of the DFDF network with a potential path into venture capital firms in Dubai, UAE, and the region.
Fellowship Schedule - Module 1 (2023)
The program is made up of four quarterly modules:
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MODULE 1 (Feb-Apr): Intro to VC; Sourcing & Evaluation
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MODULE 2 (May-Jul): Legal & Finance; Economics of VC
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MODULE 3 (Aug-Oct): Fund Ops & Portfolio Management
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MODULE 4 (Nov-Jan): VC Fund Modeling; Thesis Development
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COMMENCEMENT: Final Deliverables
About DFDF
The Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF) is the evergreen venture fund of Dubai anchored by the Dubai International Finance Center and the Dubai Future Foundation.
The fund aims to deploy half of its investments into venture capital funds and the other half into startups directly.
Our mission is to boost startup and venture capital investing and business activity in Dubai and the region, providing a healthy return to investors and facilitating GDP growth and job creation.
Have questions?
We'd be happy to answer any questions you may have about the program.
You can email us at fellows@dfdf.vc.
