Aqua Labs backs UAE’s Vision 2030 with launch of $20mn startup fund

UAE’s Aqua Labs, the emerging Web3 investment group, has reiterated its commitment to the nation’s Economic Vision 2030, following the launch of its $20 million Startup Support Programme.

The programme underscores Aqua Labs’ mission to empower visionary entrepreneurs and position the UAE as a global launchpad for next-generation innovation. Unveiled this month in Abu Dhabi, it invites founders worldwide to apply for funding, mentorship, and access to Web3 infrastructure designed to accelerate real-world adoption of blockchain, AI, and digital finance technologies.

Speaking at the Vision 2030: Global Digital Economy and Brand Excellence Summit, which was held from last week at Palazzo Versace in Dubai, Bobby Zhou, Founding Partner of Aqua Labs, said: “We are honored to have supported the Vision 2030: Global Digital Economy & Brand Excellence Summit and to have given the opening address.

“Vision 2030 is a celebration of the convergence of technology, art, and real-world assets. We brought together visionary leaders, pioneering brands, and innovators with a shared goal: to transform traditional industries through blockchain-powered infrastructure and global asset tokenisation.

“Too often, when people hear the word ‘blockchain,’ they think of volatility, speculation, or fringe technologies. That perception is outdated. Blockchain represents excellence and virtue, a framework for trust in the digital world. By embracing it, we can reimagine industries, unlock new creative potential, and enable real-world value to flow seamlessly across borders. We are not just imagining the future, we are creating it.”

Organised by MOVA and Minax, the summit convened senior representatives from the UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism, the World Bank, the Private Office of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Ahmed Al Maktoum, Bithumb and Palm Promax Investment, alongside leading investors and innovators.

Aqua Labs Investment recently launched in Abu Dhabi as a licensed entity under the Department of Economic Development, serving as the operational arm of the Aqua1 Foundation, with the mandate to develop infrastructure for real-world asset tokenisation, AI-powered financial systems, and compliant blockchain ecosystems that connect sovereign and institutional capital with digital finance innovation.