The “Billion Followers Summit,” the largest global event focusing on the content creation economy, organized by the Media Office of the UAE Government, has announced its evaluation committee responsible for assessing the projects submitted by participants in the “Influencer Acceleration Program.” This is part of the second edition of the “Investment with Content Creators” program, hosted by the “Influencer Hub,” the first dedicated space for influencers in the UAE and the Middle East, under the umbrella of the Visionaries Group, in collaboration with 500 Global, a leading venture capital firm worldwide.
The summit also revealed the members of its mentoring team, who will provide participants with essential skills, tools, and support to expand and sustainably grow their businesses, allowing them to build the next generation of leading companies in this sector.
A list of 21 eligible content creators and startup founders has been confirmed, who collectively have over 20 million followers and users.
The program aims to support and nurture promising startup projects from content creators. These projects will be showcased during the fourth edition of the “Billion Followers Summit,” taking place from January 9 to 11, 2026, at the Emirates Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, and the Museum of the Future, under the theme “Purposeful Content.”
Content creators and emerging digital companies in the content industry that successfully present their projects to the evaluation committee will have the chance to receive investments and funding of up to 50 million dirhams from investors in the content creation sector.
Evaluation Committee
The evaluation committee announced by the Billion Followers Summit is composed of prominent experts, top investors, and executive managers, including Jonathan Labin, a well-known investor and former managing director at Meta, who brings over 20 years of extensive experience as a board member, investor, and advisor to numerous global and emerging companies.
Meghan Lightcap, a partner at Slow Ventures Fund, is a financial expert who has played key roles in the success of several companies she has been involved with, including serving as the Head of Finance and Strategy at Olive and an analyst in investment banking at JPMorgan.
Scott Van Den Berg, founder of Hotstart VC, invests in brands owned by content creators and celebrities, and has co-founded two successful brands: one with MrBeast and the other with Jessica Alba.
Professional Mentoring Team
The mentoring team includes Sora Lee, a marketing expert with over 15 years of experience leading teams at Netflix, Meta, and TikTok, specializing in growth, partnerships, and monetization.
Giacomo Bocchiari, a project founder and mentor, has over seven years of experience in product development management, having trained products for more than 200 startups and served as a mentor in 20 acceleration programs aimed at helping founders validate their ideas and ensure market fit.
Jonathan Tanemori, a venture capital investor and mentor, has more than 20 years of experience in fintech, blockchain, and Web3, advising founders on engaging investors, fundraising, and growth strategies.
Brian Lee, founder and CEO of Knocksteady (which was acquired by Disney’s Maker Studios), specializes in nurturing content creator ventures from inception, investing in them, and scaling them.
Global Recognition
H.E. Alya Al Hamadi, Deputy Vice President of the Media Office of the UAE Government and Director of the Billion Followers Summit, stated: “The interest in the Influencer Acceleration Program underscores the success of the Billion Followers Summit in establishing itself as a global hub for creativity and entrepreneurship in this promising sector, solidifying the UAE’s status as a global capital for the creative and digital economy.”
She further noted that the strategic partnership between the Influencer Hub and 500 Global in the Influencer Acceleration Program provides the next generation of content creators and promising startups with tools, funding, and an inspiring environment to develop their projects, transforming their creative ideas into sustainable business models that positively impact communities.
List of Eligible Participants
The eligible candidates consist of 21 content creators and startup founders, including content creator Angel Santana, founder of dromOS, a platform that allows content creators to turn challenges into playable experiences that can generate income.
Another qualifying content creator is Israa Saleh, the founder of the “Super Apla” platform, which teaches children Arabic through engaging content that connects the language with culture, geography, and history.
Omar Farouk is also among the eligible participants, working on a project named “Point,” an educational platform designed to transform creative Arab content creators into professional storytellers through practical courses offered by established influencers.
Another startup, Shalke, is a creative studio combining artificial intelligence and cinema, enabling creative content makers worldwide to produce high-quality AI-generated films, founded by renowned content creator Jeremy Anglier.
MyRefera, founded by Abdullah Al Owais, also aims to assist brands in launching creative campaigns for their products using artificial intelligence, directly connecting them with innovative content creators to enhance visibility, transition creators into entrepreneurs, and increase their followers and revenue.
Nurturing Projects
The Influencer Acceleration Program has seen substantial interest from both content creators and promising startups, receiving over 1,130 applications, of which 609 met the eligibility criteria; 347 were content creators, and 262 were promising startups and business platforms from over 70 nationalities.
All qualifying applications underwent meticulous evaluation by a specialized panel consisting of top venture capital investors and global experts in digital media and venture capital based on a set of criteria, including innovation, economic and social impact, execution quality, marketing potential, as well as planning quality and the ability to attract investments and grow.
The finalists will participate in a series of interviews and careful reviews, with these participants being given the opportunity to showcase their projects during the “Billion Followers Summit” in front of the evaluation committee and notable investors, competing for a comprehensive support package that includes funding, investment, and strategic partnerships.
The program aspires to equip participants with the skills, tools, and support necessary for sustainably expanding and growing their businesses through knowledge, mentorship, and networks that will enable them to establish the next generation of leading companies in the content creation industry.
The selected participants will undergo an intensive training program lasting 10 weeks, combining hands-on experience from 500 Global in startup development and support system networks in the content industry.
The Influencer Acceleration Program exemplifies 500 Global’s commitment to leveraging its venture capital expertise and global platform to empower talented content creators and entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into high-impact projects, further promoting creativity and innovation on a global scale.