Dubai: The 1 Billion Followers Summit, the world’s largest event dedicated to the content creation economy and organised by the UAE Government Media Office, has announced a significant milestone for its Creators Ventures Accelerator initiative. The second edition of the programme, organised by Creators HQ in partnership with 500 Global, has received 1,131 applications from content creators and digital startups spanning over 70 countries.
According to Emirates News Agency, the programme is designed to identify and nurture promising creator-led startups. Participants will be showcased at the fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, scheduled to take place from January 9 to 11, 2026, at several iconic locations in Dubai, including Emirates Towers, the Dubai International Financial Centre, and the Museum of the Future, under the theme ‘Content for Good’.
The initiative aims to equip participants with essential skills, tools, and support to sustainably grow their businesses. By offering mentorship, knowledge sharing, and access to networks, the programme seeks to empower creators to develop the next generation of leading companies in the creator economy.
The Creators Ventures Accelerator has garnered strong interest from individual creators, business platforms, and emerging creator-related digital startups. The diverse pool of applicants includes pioneering content creators and creator-led companies working in areas such as Creator IP, AI Creator solutions, creator monetisation, media, gaming, wellness, and technology.
Khadija Hussain, Executive Director of Government Communication at the UAE Government Media Office and Deputy CEO of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, expressed satisfaction with the overwhelming response to the programme. She noted that it reflects the UAE’s growing stature as a global hub for purposeful content creation and innovation and its ability to attract top creative talent from around the world.
Hussain explained that the programme serves as an interactive platform that unifies creativity and innovation within a single ecosystem. This model underscores the pivotal role of content creation as a critical sector of the new economy, providing participants with genuine opportunities to become influential business leaders.
She further highlighted the collaboration with 500 Global, which provides creators and startups with the necessary tools to expand their projects into leading companies capable of competing on a global scale.
Mei Chel Tan, Managing Partner at 500 Global, emphasized the significance of the creator economy in driving global social and commercial outcomes. She expressed enthusiasm about partnering with CreatorsHQ to empower content creators and creator technologies in building and scaling meaningful businesses.
The programme attracted 609 qualified applicants for the next phase, including 347 content creators from over 70 countries. Among the top five countries represented are India, Egypt, USA, UK, and Syria. Additionally, 262 innovative digital startups and business platforms applied, with 20 applicants selected for the inaugural cohort.
A specialised team of leading venture capitalists and international experts in digital media will assess projects based on innovation, creativity, economic and social impact, execution quality, marketing potential, business planning, profitability, scalability, and investment attractiveness. They will provide guidance and mentorship throughout the programme to ensure the long-term success of the selected projects.
Participants will engage in an intensive 10-week training programme, combining 500 Global’s company-building expertise with its extensive ecosystem network supporting the creator economy. In the first phase, 20 participants will present their ideas on-stage, with 10 advancing to the semi-final round and 3 finalists being selected.
The selected participants will be announced on the closing day of the 1 Billion Followers Summit. They will receive an investment opportunity and funding of up to AED 50 million from Creators HQ and investors in the content creation industry, fostering an ideal environment to transform innovative ideas into scalable, globally competitive ventures.