About Us
DANA is an Abu Dhabi based venture builder and an investment platform that supports women-led startups in desert technologies, including sectors of agritech, food tech, water solutions, and renewable energy.
DANA works throughout the MENA region and offers its startups/ecosystem partners regional collaboration, innovation mentorship, impact community, and funding.
The program emphasizes the importance of diversity in innovation, empowering women from across the MENA region generating unique sustainable solutions, and generating top quality deal flow.
DANA’s venture builder program can last between 8-18 months, tailored to the needs of each startup, including hands-on mentorship, product advisors, corporate design partnerships, proof of concept and feasibility testing at our beta sites, incorporation of AI tools, and business developing in the MENA region.
Startups in the program will be able to enjoy access to DANA’s strong partners in the region, academic RD, product development and piloting in DANA’s Beta site, and investment.
OUR
VISION
We envision an interconnected region in which women lead a burgeoning tech ecosystem based on values of sustainability and diversity.
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DANA'S
PORTFOLIO
our deal flow currently includes women-led startups from the MENA region focusing on sustainability that addresses the desert climate, that address pertinent pain points in the region’s most significant industries.
INVESTMENT CRITERIA
Cutting Edge Solutions
Women Led Companies
Social and Environmental Impact
MENA Region and Developing Markets
Pre-seed – series A
R&D
DANA places a strong emphasis on incorporating feedback and insights directly from corporate and industrial stakeholders that align with the objectives of startup solutions. Through our collaboration, startups and strategic partners gain valuable access to the Masdar City, Agadir, and Ramat Negev Beta Sites. These sites serve as testing grounds for comprehensive pilot programs covering all facets of food security, spanning from the initial stages of seeding, irrigation, and soil cultivation to later stages involving compost, fertilization, pesticides, pre and post-harvest procedures, packaging, preservation, and logistics.
In addition, We provide startups and strategic partners with access to our beta sites in Ramat Negev, Masdar City, and Agadir, offering comprehensive proof-of-concept (POC) services and support for achieving product-market fit. Our pipeline facilitates access to professional agronomists for guidance throughout the POC process, along with services such as company and IP registration, AI implementation, data analysis, and assistance in commercialization.
BETA SITE
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Masdar City Beta Site:
This site focuses on Proof of Concept (POC) for the MENA food security ecosystem. Collaborating with distinguished partners, it provides a platform for startups and innovations in desert agriculture. The site showcases unique products and demonstrates regenerative agricultural practices.
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Agadir Beta Site:
Chosen as the third beta site, Agadir emphasizes water technology and sustainable solutions. With a rich history in traditional farming, Agadir aligns seamlessly with DANA's mission to address Morocco's water ecosystem needs. DANA's partnership with IAV University establishes Agadir's new innovation hub for resilient and eco-efficient agriculture solutions, emphasizing academic research in sustainable technology.
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Ramat Negev Beta Site:
The Ramat Negev beta site is a leading facility in desert agriculture. It features cutting-edge solutions in desert agriculture, agritech, and water technologies. Covering 1,000 dunams, the site includes greenhouses, nethouses, outdoor desert agriculture, and a packaging house, providing extensive areas for agricultural testing.
ABU DHABI
“The National Food Security Strategy 2051 aims to make the UAE a world-leading hub in innovation driven food security globally.”
We are proud to be part of the rapidly developing Abu Dhabi ecosystem, contributing to the manifestation of the National Food Security Strategy 2051 while bringing female leadership to the forefront.
OUR PARTNERS
Team
Regionally Spread across MENA women-Led but focused on Diversity and Gender Equality.
Shirley Shahar
Nadine Benchaffai
CEO
Venture Builder
Director
Yoav Kovetz
Water Tech and Project Consultant
Yara Amayra
Vinod Subramaniam
Asif Mohammed
Community
Manager
Head of Sustainability
Beta Site Project Manager
Assaf Ron
Chief Agronomist
Bouchra Adil
Admin Lead
Professional Advisory Board
Yoav Kovetz
YFM Water Engineering & Projects
Water Tech & Projects
Dganit Vered
SmartAgro
Agritech
Tariq Bin Hindi
Global Ventures
Financial & Investments
Nadine Benchaffai
DANA Venture Builder
Food Tech
Assaf Ron
Chief Agronomist
DANA Venture
Builder
Advisory Board
David Sable
DoAble
Nick Cochrane Dyet
British Chamber of Commerce, UAE
Maha Al Fahim
High Water Venture Partners
Malachi Halliday
Halliday Growth
Founding Team
Katie Wachsberger
Shirley Shahar
Zada Haj
DANA
THE WOMAN BEHIND THE NAME
Dana Salah was a close friend and colleague, and an engineer, innovator, and entrepreneur from Ramallah. She and Zada were co-founders of their own startup, mentored by Shirley.
Four years ago, Dana was tragically killed in a car accident.
At the same time, our team developed the idea for a regional desert tech accelerator, and were given the blessing of Dana’s family to name the program in her honor.
Thus, it is only natural that this project, based on women empowerment, environmental justice, and diversity will carry Dana’s name.
We promised ourselves to make this project one in which Dana would have taken pride.
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