Dubai Founders HQ, Mastercard and Pemo launch finance solution to support startups and SMEs

Dubai: Dubai Founders HQ has partnered with Mastercard, supported by Pemo, to launch a new founder finance solution designed to help startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) strengthen cashflow, reduce costs and improve operational efficiency. Aligned with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), the initiative aims to provide founders with practical financial tools that support sustainable growth and business scalability. Eligible businesses can access more than AED10,000 in first-year value, including up to 2% cashback on eligible foreign exchange and advertising expenditure, complimentary access to Pemo's spend management platform, Mastercard-powered corporate cards, and a range of exclusive business benefits and offers. According to the partners, participating businesses can typically recover between AED 500 and AED1,200 per month in previously untracked spending, reduce administrative workloads by more than 60 hours per month through automation, and shorten month-end financial closing processes from as much as nine days to three days in some cases. Integrated financial management solution The initiative addresses common challenges faced by startups and SMEs, including fragmented expense management, manual receipt collection and limited visibility over company spending. Through a single platform, founders can access Mastercard-powered corporate cards, automated expense management through Pemo, real-time spend tracking and accounting integrations with platforms including QuickBooks, Xero and Zoho. The solution enables businesses to issue cards to team members, set spending limits and approval controls, automate receipt collection and monitor company expenses in real time. Combined with cashback incentives, travel benefits, partner offers and automated financial controls, the platform is designed to help founders retain more capital, improve financial discipline and focus on business growth. Supporting Dubai's startup ecosystem Hadi Badri, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), the economic development arm of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said efficient cash management and financial discipline have become increasingly important for startups and SMEs operating in today's business environment. "Through Dubai Founders HQ, we are committed to providing founders with practical solutions that solve real business challenges," he said. "This initiative delivers tangible value through cost savings, stronger financial controls and greater visibility over company spending, helping founders focus on what matters most: building and scaling their businesses." Badri added that the initiative reflects Dubai's commitment to creating a resilient and founder-friendly ecosystem that supports entrepreneurs and advances the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, said the partnership reflects Dubai Founders HQ's commitment to providing founders with access to practical and high-impact business solutions. "By helping businesses manage costs, improve financial visibility and operate more efficiently, the initiative supports founders in building stronger foundations for sustainable growth from Dubai," he said. Driving SME growth Mark Elliott, Division President of East Arabia at Mastercard, said the partnership aligns with Mastercard's broader efforts to support small businesses and strengthen economic resilience. "As part of Mastercard's Built Small. Moving Strong regional resilience programme, our latest collaboration with Dubai Founders HQ and Pemo helps SMEs maintain business continuity and unlock enduring growth," he said. Ayham Gorani, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pemo, described the partnership as an important milestone for a company built in Dubai to serve the region's startup and SME community. "Through this collaboration, we are putting enterprise-grade financial tools directly in the hands of founders, helping them manage their businesses more efficiently, make smarter financial decisions and grow with confidence," he said. The initiative further strengthens Dubai Founders HQ's role as a platform for collaboration between government entities and the private sector, expanding the range of support available to entrepreneurs and helping startups and SMEs build and scale their businesses from Dubai.