Priority is given to founders who are either based in or operating in Sharjah. For applicants that are not we require a credible plan to scale your OpCo in Sharjah (e.g., pilots, partnerships, licensing, and OpCo setup) and your in-person availability for essential on-site sessions and events during the Fellowship.

No. SWIF is fully sponsored through our partners; there’s no program fee charged to Fellows. Currently, all our flagship programs are designed to be equity-free and fee-free, lowering barriers for founders to access support.

No. SWIF does not take equity in your venture. Our programs have a long track record of supporting founders without requiring equity, focusing instead on mentorship, access, and market pathways.

English. If you prefer to communicate in Arabic at any point, the fellowship team will support you, and we strive to source bilingual mentors/trainers where possible.

Yes. We assess leadership potential, venture momentum, and contribution to the cohort. Solo founders are welcome if the venture has real traction and a credible path to scale.

Please disclose any overlaps. SWIF involves core on-site gatherings and a steady weekly cadence; we expect full commitment to the SWIF calendar to protect the quality of your experience (and your cohort’s)

Expect an average of 1-3 hours per week for workshops, mentor councils, peer sessions, and independent work, plus immersive weekends and roadshow days during peak moments

SWIF is designed for operating ventures with proven traction and clear scalability potential (customers, revenue, pilots/POCs, or strong pipeline).

If you’re at idea/MVP with no validation yet, SWIF may not be the right fit for now, we encourage you to build validation first, then reapply.

We’re sector-agnostic with a focus on impact-oriented ventures. However, priority will be given to ventures operating in advanced manufacturing, education, sustainability, and creative industries.

Yes! Guidance and access are part of the experience. Fellows receive targeted introductions to government partners and may access legal/setup support through Sheraa’s ecosystem, similar to what’s offered in Sheraa’s market-access programs. Specific support varies by venture needs and partner availability.

Travel and accommodation are not covered. Details on logistics support (if any) are shared with shortlisted candidates and can vary by partner commitments and session locations.

Tell us in your application. We will work with you to reasonably accommodate accessibility needs and family/caregiving realities where possible (e.g., advance scheduling, hybrid options for non-critical sessions).

No, deferrals are very rare and considered case-by-case, depending on cohort design and calendar constraints. If unforeseen circumstances arise, discuss them promptly with the fellowship team via swif@sheraa.ae.

Absolutely. We welcome reapplications once you’ve advanced traction (e.g., revenue, pilots, partnerships, team).

You’ll join the SWIF alumni community within Sheraa’s broader community network, continuing access to ecosystem opportunities. Our programs regularly create post-program exposure (SEF, roadshows) and connection pathways.