500 Global and Creators HQ Announce Inaugural Cohort of Creators and Founders Supporting Community of 20M+ Followers and Users

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)--500 Global, one of the world’s most active venture capital firms¹, and Creators HQ, the first content creator hub in the UAE and the Middle East with the goal of enabling the creators economy globally, today announced the content creators and founders selected for the inaugural cohort of its Creators Ventures Accelerator program, which aims to identify and incubate promising creator-led startups worldwide. The cohort serves a community of 20M+ followers, subscribers, and users across platforms.

The Creators Ventures Accelerator program attracted 1,131 applications from more than 70 countries. Over the next 10 weeks, the selected content creators and creator-led founders will join a hybrid business-building and acceleration program designed to fast-track their ventures. Their progress will culminate in a showcase at the fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, taking place January 9–11, 2026.

The program kicks off this week welcoming the following creators and founders:

• Abdullah Alowais - MyRefera | Marketing & Advertising | UAE
• Ajay Kishore - Stareable | Media & Entertainment | USA
• Angel Santana - dromOS | Software & Services | Mexico
• Arman Sohi - Bupple | Software & Services | USA
• Aydan Al-Saad - Skillstore | Education | Egypt
• Aziz Nawfal - Societiz | Education | USA
• Daniel Klatsidis - hypesociety | Marketing & Advertising | UAE
• Esraa Saleh - Super Abla | Education | Egypt
• Hyejee Bae - Neura Coach | Healthcare | USA
• James Jones - Bump | Financial Tech | USA
• Jeremy Angelier - SHAIKE | Marketing & Advertising | France
• Kim Tran - Trenderz | Marketing & Advertising | Ivory Coast
• Majd AbiAli - influSense | Software & Services | United Kingdom
• Mansour Al Thani - MoonTech | Marketing & Advertising | UAE
• Mariam Solika - The Good News | Marketing & Advertising | Egypt
• Muzakir Ijaz - Echooo AI | Marketing & Advertising | Pakistan
• Omar Farooq - Noqta Creative | Education | Bahrain
• Sam Royle - So Squared | Software & Services | United Kingdom
• Samantha Cutler - Mindfull | Healthcare | USA
• Yagmur Aydemir - Kami | Consumer | Turkey
• Yusuf Ansari - Viralizer | Software & Services | USA

Combining 500 Global’s venture-building experience with Creators HQ’s deep network and expertise in the creator economy, the program seeks to help participants develop the skills, tools, and strategies to grow sustainable businesses at the crossroads of creativity and entrepreneurship. The Creators Ventures Accelerator program resident mentors include:

• Sora Lee - Founder and marketing expert with 15 years of experience leading teams at Netflix, Meta, and TikTok, specializing in growth, partnerships, and monetization.
• Giacomo Poggiali - Fractional Head of Product, Venture Builder, and mentor with 7+ years of experience leading product development. Product Coach to 200+ startups, and mentor in 20 acceleration programs helping founders test ideas and achieve product-market fit.
• Jonathan Tanemori - Venture capitalist and mentor with 20+ years of experience across fintech, blockchain, Web3, and advising founders on investor engagement, fundraising, and growth strategies.
• Brian Lee - Founder & CEO of Knocksteady (acquired by Disney’s Maker Studios), and expert in incubating, investing and scaling creator-led businesses from zero.

About 500 Global

500 Global is a multi-stage venture capital firm with US$ 2.1B in assets under management² that invests in founders building fast-growing technology companies.

500 Global focuses on markets where technology, innovation, and capital can unlock long-term value and drive economic growth and development. The firm works closely with key stakeholders and advises governments on how best to support entrepreneurial ecosystems and economic development in emerging markets.

500 Global has backed over 5,000 founders representing more than 3,000 companies operating in 80+ countries. It has invested in more than 35+ companies valued at over US$ 1 billion and 160+ companies valued at over US$ 100 million (including private, public, and exited companies).

Its 175+ team members are located in more than 25 countries and bring experience as entrepreneurs, investors, and operators from some of the world’s leading technology companies.

¹ Based on PitchBook’s 2024 Global League Tables.
² Assets under management (AUM) calculations are based on internal estimates as of March 31, 2025.

About Creators HQ

Creators HQ is the first content creators hub in the UAE and the Middle East, launched under the Content Creators Support Fund—an initiative announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, during the second edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit in 2024—Creators HQ provides a foundation for creators, innovators, and creative initiatives to thrive.

Creators HQ is part of Visioneers, the UAE's largest content management and development platform. Visioneers encompasses 21 companies and platforms, including the 1 Billion Followers Summit, the New Media Academy, the Communications Center, the History Academy, Arab Nation, Masdar News, UAE Nation, UAE in Numbers, Whoweyya, Al Mal Channel, Wasl, Xposed, and AI Media Lab.

For more information, please visit: www.creatorshq.com

About the 1 Billion Followers Summit

With a goal of reaching over a billion people worldwide, the 1 Billion Followers Summit, the world’s largest event dedicated to shaping the content creator economy, organized by the UAE Government Media Office, brings together top global social media influencers across all online platforms. The summit explores how new media can drive positive societal change and fuel sustainable economic growth for nations. It is a key component of the UAE’s drive to foster a vibrant content creator community.

For more information, please visit www.1billionsummit.com