The Incubation and Entrepreneurship Centre (IEC) at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has announced the launch of Build It Demo Day, a unique platform for innovators to present tangible AI-driven products to the UAE’s growing technology ecosystem. Unlike traditional startup pitches, Build It is dedicated to showcasing real prototypes and working models rather than slide decks.
The initiative sets three simple criteria: participants must demonstrate something they are genuinely proud of, ensure that AI forms the foundation of the product—whether as a model, agent, or workflow—and present their progress in the form of a prototype, mock-up, or short video.
The inaugural Build It Demo Day will be held on 30 October 2025, from 5 to 7 PM GST at Masdar City Park in Abu Dhabi. Applications are now open on a rolling basis to university students, startup founders, and professionals who are actively developing AI products.
Selected participants for the “Build It” gain exposure to a network of leading local and global organizations and access to a comprehensive package of technology credits designed to fuel their next milestone, including:
- OpenAI API credits (up to $2,000)
- Nvidia credits (up to $120,000)
- AWS credits ($25,000)
- ElevenLabs credits ($50,000)
- HuggingFace credits (up to $2,000)
- PostHog credits (up to $50,000)
- Microsoft Azure credits ($5,000)
- HubSpot 90% discount
Haochen Sun, Acting Head of the Incubation and Entrepreneurship Center said: “About 25% of our students show up with a startup idea already running, and there are builders across Abu Dhabi working on their own projects. But there wasn’t a place to share that early work, the kind that might break during the demo, but where you learn more by showing it than by perfecting alone. ‘Build It Demo Day’ is that stage. We brought together NVIDIA, Microsoft, AWS, ElevenLabs, and others who contributed over $200,000 in credits because they believe in early builders. We’re creating the space where a rough demo becomes a conversation, and that conversation becomes a company. And we want that story to be in Abu Dhabi.”
The IEC’s programs, including its Entrepreneurship Workshops and Grant Initiative, have already produced over 250 startup pitches and over 400 hours of mentorship and training by leaders from across industry, including OpenAI and Microsoft. Since its launch in 2023, MBZUAI’s IEC has supported the creation of 14 AI startups in Abu Dhabi, facilitated significant external investment, and fostered a thriving entrepreneurial community of more than 2,000 members.
Applications for Demo Day are now open on a rolling basis, To apply and learn more, visit https://buildit.mbzuai.ac.ae/. Submissions are encouraged for consideration in the first showcase on October 30.
