Creators HQ and 500 Global Set to Transform MENA Creator Economy with £10M Accelerator

Malaz Madani

Last updated 5-09-2025

3 min

Creators HQ and 500 Global announce the second "Influencer Accelerator" at the Billion Followers Summit.

This edition offers up to 50 million dirhams in funding for content creators and startups.

The 10-week programme combines 500 Global's expertise with Creators HQ's creator economy insights.

Twenty participants will be selected, with the final winner receiving significant investment.

There’s something about startup buzz in the Gulf that never fails to impress me. Just when you think the ecosystem couldn’t get any livelier, a fresh opportunity crops up, giving regional talent yet another platform to strut their stuff. Case in point: Creators HQ, teaming up with the global investment firm 500 Global, are rolling out the second edition of the “Influencer Accelerator” as part of the fourth Billion Followers Summit set for Dubai from 9th to 11th January 2026. This time, the theme is “purposeful content”—a real sign of the times, if you ask me.

Now, what sets this second round apart isn’t just the name or the timing. It’s the funding pot: a pretty serious chunk—up to 50 million dirhams—has been earmarked under the “Investing with Content Creators” initiative. It’s a direct push to back talented individuals and companies shaping the content scene, whether you’re a solo creator or building a company that has global aspirations. I reckon getting access to this kind of capital is nothing short of a lifeline for those looking to scale up, especially as competition heats up across the region.

The accelerator itself runs for 10 weeks. What you get is a mix that’s a bit hard to find elsewhere: the business-building know-how of 500 Global blended with the on-the-ground creator economy chops of Creators HQ. They’re planning to trim the field down to just 20 promising participants—think content creators, startups, possibly a few wildcard teams—who’ll go through step-by-step selections before one final winner is chosen. That champ walks away with serious investment to fuel their dreams. Needless to say, it won’t be a walk in the park.

Entry isn’t just about flashy ideas, though. Selection criteria include how viable the business model is, what sort of social or economic impact is on offer, innovation, and the quality of the market pitch. Oh, and don’t forget the nitty-gritty of operations: financial planning and execution matter, too. It’s spot on if you ask me—too many programmes overlook the nuts and bolts.

For anyone who fancies their chances, applications will remain open until 3rd October 2025. The online portal is creatorshq.com/creators-ventures for all the relevant details. It’s a bit of a faff sorting applications, I know, but these things really do make a difference in opening doors.

Having watched plenty of initiatives fizzle out before reaching their targets, I’m genuinely hopeful about this one. These joint efforts—especially with funding and expertise on tap—could give MENA creators that extra edge. And believe it or not, opportunities like these remind me why I got involved with Arageek in the first place; there’s nothing quite as satisfying as seeing local talent punch above their weight on the global stage. Well… maybe with the exception of a good cup of Arabic coffee at dawn, but you get my drift.

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