Crimson Founders connects MIT and Harvard startups with UAE investors through The Crimson Collective Week
Crimson Founders has concluded The Crimson Collective Week 1.0 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), an initiative designed to connect startups affiliated with MIT and Harvard with investors and strategic partners.
Held from February 24-28, 2025, the program integrated 19 early-stage companies into the UAE’s investment and innovation network.
Startups engage with UAE’s investment ecosystem
The program was organized in collaboration with Investopia, Future 100, DMCC, Dubai Future Foundation, and Al Tamimi & Company. The selected startups were chosen from 52 applicants, each led by a founder affiliated with MIT or Harvard. The initiative included demo sessions, investor meetings, and networking events aimed at supporting business growth and market expansion.
At Investopia 2025, six startups presented their work on stage as part of the Future 100 initiative led by the UAE Ministry of Economy. The remaining 13 companies participated in investor discussions.
Recognition for innovation
Two companies received awards for their technology and market relevance:
HexemBio won The Crimson Founders Most Innovative Tech Award for its work in stem cell therapy for longevity and immune system rejuvenation.
Spectrohm won The Crimson Founders Most Relevant Tech to the UAE and MENA Region Award for its AI-powered high-speed security inspection technology.
Both awards were presented by DMCC AI Centre, a UAE-based partner of Crimson Founders.
Sectors represented in the 2025 cohort
The 2025 Crimson Founders Cohort includes startups working in AI, biotech, healthcare, fintech, blockchain, energy, cyber-security, and logistics. Alongside the six startups that presented at Investopia, the full cohort includes Bolt Insight, Cashflowy, Cytex, E62 Bio, Encore Health, HarvestAi, Kadeya, Kira, MathEarth, Rise, S1LKPAY, Vocadian, and Xtraa.
Global expansion plans
Following its UAE debut, Crimson Founders plans to expand The Crimson Collective initiative to New York, Boston, Silicon Valley, Riyadh, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The goal is to connect startups with investment and market entry opportunities in key international hubs.
In addition to Investopia, Crimson Founders partnered with DMCC, Dubai Future Foundation, and Al Tamimi & Company to host private investor meetings and market integration discussions. The event also featured guest speakers from MIT, including Dr. Manolis Kellis, Dr. Phil Budden, and John D’Agostino.
Anoosheh Kalantari, Founder, CEO, and Managing Partner of Crimson Founders, said:
"Crimson Collective Week proved that the UAE is not just a regional powerhouse but a global innovation hub. We are thrilled by the strong investor interest and strategic partnerships formed, and this is just the beginning of Crimson Founders’ mission to connect top-tier startups affiliated with MIT and Harvard communities with transformative opportunities worldwide."
