Five innovative startups from 42 Abu Dhabi’s students presented, demonstrating the power of peer-to-peer learning and entrepreneurial spirit.
Dubai, UAE – 29 October 2025 – 42 Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital’s innovative and disruptive coding academy, continues to play a key role in advancing entrepreneurship and innovation within the technology sector.
This is illustrated through its participation at Expand North Star 2025, part of GITEX Global, where five of the academy’s talented students showcased their tech-based startups, underscoring the impact of 42 Abu Dhabi’s peer-to-peer learning model in fostering entrepreneurial talent.
The academy’s participation at Expand North Star 2025 significantly enhanced its visibility, positioning it as a key innovation hub in the UAE. By presenting their startups at one of the world’s largest tech events, the students engaged with investors, tech leaders, and startups, opening up opportunities for collaboration with venture capital firms, accelerators, and government entities.
42 Abu Dhabi demonstrated its commitment to empowering students by providing them with the platform to pitch their startups, showcase their technical expertise, and gain exposure to the global entrepreneurial ecosystem. The academy’s hands-on, project-based learning model was clearly reflected in the success of these student-driven initiatives, allowing the learners to hone their coding skills while growing as entrepreneurs ready to make a real-world impact.
Dr. Ahmed Al Shoaibi, Acting CEO of 42 Abu Dhabi, said: “At 42 Abu Dhabi, we are more than just a coding academy. We are a launchpad for the next generation of entrepreneurs, equipping them with the technical and collaborative skills to solve real-world problems. We’re proud to see our students showcase their tech-based starups at events like Expand North Star 2025.”
Among the student startups showcased was CloudHub, an AI-powered hackathon platform enabling organizations to launch fully functional hackathons in just 10 minutes. CoHub42, another standout project, connects entrepreneurs with co-founders, advisors, and investors through AI matchmaking, speeding up the formation of well-balanced startup teams. Cursus Platform is reshaping education by replacing traditional lectures with project-based learning, empowering students to develop real-world skills and earn gamified rewards through hands-on projects.
Mohamed Abdellahi Al Faqih, Co-founder of Cursus Platform, said: “Presenting Cursus Platform at Expand North Star was transformative. It gave us the chance to see how our project could reshape education, and we gained invaluable insights from investors and industry leaders about the impact we could make in the education sector.”
Additionally, getinfo.ae is revolutionizing visitor engagement in industries like hospitality, healthcare, and tourism with AI-powered 3D avatars, providing personalized, real-time support. Romeo, a robot designed to guide visitors and answer questions, was presented as a solution for communication gaps at public sites, particularly in educational environments. Together, these projects showcase the diverse ways in which 42 Abu Dhabi students are driving innovation and impacting industries.
In another remarkable achievement, Team “No Time” from 42 Abu won first place in the Cyber Base Village CTF competition, a challenge that brought together universities from across the UAE. This victory is a testament to the exceptional talent, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that define 42 Abu Dhabi’s learners, continuously proving that the 42 community is truly Born to Build.
The impact of 42 Abu Dhabi’s entrepreneurial support was clearly demonstrated at the YouthX Hackathon, an initiative by the Mohamed Bin Zayed Foundation. As part of the hackathon, CloudHub won 1st Place in Innovation, and Cursus Platform secured 2nd Place in Education, highlighting the strength of the talent fostered at 42 Abu Dhabi and the academy’s role in nurturing innovative solutions that address real-world challenges.
Through these initiatives, 42 Abu Dhabi is demonstrating its strategic role in advancing the UAE’s goal to become a global leader in technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship. The academy’s investment in talent and its collaboration with industry leaders place it at the heart of the UAE’s innovation ecosystem.