Turn your YOUTH’s Dream ​Into a tech Startup

Build, launch, and grow your own tech startup with our 12-week immersive virtual program, plus a chance for an internship.

Reserve Your Spot
Limited Seats Available
🌟 Stand out on university applications
🚀 Jumpstart your career by 10 years
🏅 Create your world-class network

youth Empowerment partners

Shaping Young Innovators, Together.

Refer a School or Partner? Email us at ysp@founderconnects.com

Our community

Before we dive in, here’s who we are: We’re an online community built to fuel UAE startups ​with the resources, connections, and perks they need to thrive and succeed!

Hamza Khan, co-founder of Letswork, transforms workspaces in the Middle East through innovative solutions.

Talal Bayaa is the co-founder and CEO of Bayzat, transforming HR, payroll, and insurance in the UAE.

Sandra Helou, Co-Founder and CEO of MetaMinds, drives metaverse solutions and leads Zilliqa's strategy in the GCC region.

Richard Fitzgerald is the Founder and CEO of Augustus Media, driving digital media brands like Lovin Dubai, Smashi TV, and many more.

Tariq Abu Samra, CEO of BloomingBox, leads UAE's online gifting platform, innovating and enhancing customer joy.

For ages 17 to 27

weekly IMMERSIVE virtual workshops

At the Youth Startup Program (YSP), you'll learn to turn your ideas into tech startups through weekly immersive virtual workshops using cutting-edge AI tools.

Idea Evaluation

Learn industry-standard frameworks to ​evaluate your startup ideas.

Storytelling as a Founder

Master the art of crafting a compelling ​story for impactful pitches.

Finding Your Passion

Gain clarity on your passions and align them ​with a vision for your masterpiece and life.

Olympic Mindset Training

Develop an Olympic mindset that will drive ​you to success in building your masterpiece.

Secure Your Spot Today
Limited Seats Available

Get a Head Start
on Your JOURNEY

This program sharpens your skills and jumpstarts your journey - whether it's launching a tech startup or building an entrepreneurial mindset.

Resilience and ​Adaptability

Helps you tackle challenging ​subjects without giving up.

Networking and ​Collaboration

Builds valuable connections with peers and professors.

Understanding ​the Journey

Applies practical knowledge to real-world scenarios.

Public Speaking

Boosts presentations and class participation.

Problem-Solving ​Skills

Tackles complex assignments and exams confidently.

Clarity on Career ​Interests

Helps them explore their interests to see if it's truly right for them.

Build real
​projects in WEEKS

No prior knowledge needed. We equip ​students with emerging tech and real-world ​skills, ready to launch a startup in weeks.

tool stack

Students will explore essential tools and apps, empowering their startup journey.

And More

blueprint to ​Entrepreneurship

Weekly immersive virtual workshops that unlock the path to ​launching your tech startup.

Week 1

Kickoff - AI Prompts & Idea Generation

Get ready to break the ice! You'll engage in fun networking activities and brainstorm creative business ideas using AI prompts. Start building connections and generating ideas within targeted sectors to spark your entrepreneurial journey.

Week 2

Research & Business Model Canvas

Discover the blueprint for your business! This week, you'll explore the Business Model Canvas and conduct market research to identify key elements like target market, value propositions, and revenue streams. Gather insights to shape your business strategy and refine your ideas.

Week 3

Core Features Identification

Learn how to validate your business idea! In this workshop, you'll create surveys and conduct interviews to gather feedback on your MVP. Focus on identifying key features and understanding customer needs, helping you refine your product before full development.

Week 4

App Branding Identity

Get a glimpse of how your app could look too! In this workshop, create brand names, logos, and taglines, then survey peers for feedback. Refine your brand identity to align with your business goals and build a strong market presence.

Week 5

Wireframing

Learn wireframing essentials! Create low-fidelity app prototypes focusing on user flow and functionality. Refine designs through peer feedback and competitor analysis to improve usability and gain insights into how wireframing can set your product apart.

Week 6

MVP: Part 1

Focus on creating your Minimum Viable Product (MVP) by refining prototypes and highlighting core features. Use peer feedback to make improvements, ensuring your product addresses customer needs and is ready for the next step.

Week 7

MVP: Part 2

Focus on creating your Minimum Viable Product (MVP) by refining prototypes and highlighting core features. Use peer feedback to make improvements, ensuring your product addresses customer needs and is ready for the next step.

Week 8

Crafting Your Story

Master the art of storytelling! Learn how to create a compelling narrative around your startup that engages and emotionally connects with your audience. You'll craft a story arc and receive feedback to improve clarity and impact.

Week 9

Shaping Your Pitch

Hone your pitching skills! You'll learn how to structure a persuasive pitch and practice delivering it with confidence. This workshop prepares you to effectively communicate your business ideas and attract investors or partners.

Week 10

Digital Marketing & Investor Buzz

Unlock the secrets of digital marketing! Design a strategic plan tailored to your MVP using tools like social media, SEO, and email campaigns. Plus, build investor buzz by enhancing your networking and outreach skills.

Week 11

Financial Planning & Fundraising

Get financial savvy! Develop a clear financial plan that outlines your revenue streams, expenses, and fundraising strategies. Present your plan and get feedback to ensure your startup's long-term sustainability.

Week 12

Demo Day: Pitch & Voting

It’s the big day! Showcase your final pitch to peers, friends, and investors. Receive votes and feedback from various sources, and celebrate the culmination of your hard work throughout the program.

Week 1

Kickoff - AI Prompts & Idea Generation

🎉 Get Matched with an Internship 🎉
Watch the Sessions Overview

Demo Day: Pitch & Voting

Students pitch their startups, followed by voting for ​the top 3. Winners get extended community access for ongoing support and extra resources.

1st prize

Lifetime access to the ​community (for life)

2nd prize

1-year access to the ​community (worth AED 4,380)

3rd prize

6-months access to the ​community (worth AED 2,190)

Scoring System

40%

From friends and family votes

25%

From community, shared by YSP team

25%

From YSP's investor network

10%

YSP Board

startup experience internship

Upon completing the program, students are ​matched with real startup founders in our ​community for internship opportunities.

Reserve Your Spot Now
Limited Seats Available

From class to community

During the program, students join our online community, gaining access to ​valuable resources and ongoing support.

our Online Community

185​
Startups
26
Mentors
$1M
in Perks
Discounts & Credits
18
Sectors
Join Now Before It Fills Up
Limited Seats Available

Build a startup ​with personalized ​SUPPORT

Access our online community and message your ​instructors, squad, and other founders for support.

Program Locations

Frontiers of Innovation

CLASSES

MIXED

Boys

Fridays at 2:30PM
1 hour

Girls

Semester 2

CLASSES

BOYS ONLY

Boys

Mondays at 2:30PM
1 hour

Girls

Tuesdays at 2:30PM
1 hour

CLASSES

GIRLS ONLY

Boys

Wednesdays at 2:30PM
1 hour

Girls

Thursdays at 2:30PM
1 hour
Enroll My Future Leader
Refer a school? Email us at ysp@founderconnects.com

Immersive virtual experience

Fun, collaborative, and engaging - where creativity thrives in a fully interactive digital space.

Grab Your Spot Today
Questions? Email us at ysp@founderconnects.com

Hands-on-learning: workshops

Team Based ​Challenges

In-Class virtual Pitching ​

Problem-Solving

Mentorship Circles

Interactive Role Play

Prototyping sessions

✅ Build at your own pace—adjust when exams come around.

Experience
guides

çağrı yalçin

community manager

madeeha samad

facilitator

session-based instructors

Instructors aligned with sessions - like an engineer for MVP sessions.

Rony Hage

Founder & CEO at Founder Connects

ajinkya tanpure

Founder & CEO at CrossVal

walid abou ali

Co-Founder & CTO at Places

aghyad alahmad

Co-Founder & App Engineer at Places

Guest Entrepreneurs

Visits from other successful founders to inspire your startup journey.

cosmin manea

Co-Founder at Instashop

nour taher

Co-Founder & CEO at Intella

Lara Hussein

Co-Founder & CEO at The Waste Lab

Tariq Abu Samra

Founder & CEO at BloomingBox

HOW TO JOIN

(1) Apply to Enroll

Enroll below, and complete the ​application.

(2) Choose Time Slot

Choose which time slot fits you ​best.

(3) Join The Journey

Start your journey in ​building your startup.

CALENDAR

12-week program repeats each semester.
1st semester
Nov 18 - Feb 6 ('24-'25)
2nd semester
MAR 3 - May 22 (2025)

AED 3,000

 AED 2,299/Student

Special Offer for Semester 1 – Registration Now Open!
3 Months
We​ekly
English
Virtual
Installment plans available
Weekly Virtual Workshops in English
Internship with a real startup
$1M in Perks (tools: discounts & credits)
5-Months Community Access (worth AED 1,825)
Exposure to Real-World
Building Resilience & Adaptability
Digital Certificate of Completion
Lifelong Connections
Important dates:
Semester 1 Registration closes on November 14th, 2024.
Important dates:
Semester 1 Registration closes on November 16th, 2024.

Limited – Only few seats left

View Calendar & Enroll Now!
Notify me next semester
Questions? Email us at ysp@founderconnects.com
18

Please fill out the form.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

frequently asked questions

What is Youth Startup Program?
Do I need technical knowledge to join?
Do I need to join in Semester 1 if I'm interested in Semester 2?
Is there a refund policy?
What's the time commitment?
What if I miss a class?
I have more questions
FoundersPerksChannelshow it worksYouth startup program
privacy policyterms of service
All rights reserved