SANDBOX - Startup program by DTEC

Dubai's only VC-backed startup investment
program

$150,000 investment

FROM ORASEYA CAPITAL

5 epic
months

of hard work

Mid
Feb 2025

program commences

APPLY NOW applications close 5th January 2025, 23:59

As featured by:

SANDBOX is the landmark startup accelerator program from Oraseya Capital, designed for ambitious pre-Seed to Seed stage technology entrepreneurs.

If you’re looking to take your startup to the next level, read on...

SANDBOX lays emphasis on exposure, investor-readiness, and growth. Spanning 5 intense months, founders can expect unparalleled access to VCs, guidance from seasoned entrepreneurs, and hundreds of hours of hands-on support from some of the region’s best mentors.

Outdo competition,
gain a winning edge

$150,000 investment from Oraseya Capital via SAFE Note Agreement ($110,000 cash + $40,000 program fee)

Tens of hours of workshops covering 9 pillars

1:1 mentoring with expert practitioners

Coworking space for you and your team

$1m+ of in-kind credits from our partners

Financial diagnostics to best position you for funding

Tailored legal diagnostics and support

A like-minded community of highly ambitious founders and guests

Regular pitch deck reviews and workshops

Opportunity to avail business license, if required

Exposure to VCs and Angels across MENA

Local exposure at startup events

What differentiates sandbox?

Attracting 2500+ applications to date, SANDBOX has "fast become one of the most sought-after startup programs in the region."

SANDBOX is about you: our founders. Everything is designed to help you scale and ultimately raise funds. The program is structured around 9 pillars to cover all bases: Product Development, Investor Relations, Traction, Scaling, Financial Diagnostics, Legal Support, Commercial Viability, Growth Marketing, and uniquely, Wellness.

We're the first startup program in the region to lay emphasis on wellbeing and performance.

APPLY NOW applications close 5th January 20254, 23:59

A startup program
like no other

Throughout SANDBOX, founders can expect a flexible curriculum of content and a series of sprints focusing on growth and fundraising. The program sees founders develop a habit of feedback and accountability; rewarding those that make significant progress. SANDBOX is uniquely structured into 2 phases.

Application process: 3-stage application process including submitting an application form, presenting on a screening call, then pitching to the SANDBOX Selection Committee.

Phase 1 - "Diagnostics": Deep-dive 2-months focusing on diagnostics, product-market-fit, and positioning.

Internal "Pitch": All startups pitch to the SANDBOX Investment Committee. Those shortlisted are invited to Phase 2 and receive an investment of $150,000 from Oraseya Capital via SAFE Note Agreement ($110,000 cash + $40,000 program fee).

Phase 2 - "Sprints": Intensive 3-months focusing on investor-readiness, commercialisation, and growth.

At the end of Phase 2, the program wraps up with the SANDBOX Demo Day whereby founders pitch to investors from around the region and around the world.

APPLY NOW applications close 5th January 2025, 23:59

Testimonials

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

SANDBOX is uniquely structured around 9 pillars, to accelerate your learning

Product development

Building a product is one thing, building a scalable product is another.

Expect workshops covering:
- Architecture of scalable solutions
- UI/UX Design trends
- AI/ML : how to build the dataset and train the ML
- Testing Automation
- Product release and updates
- Data Analytics: how to, use cases, failures

...and much more!

READ MORE

TRACTION

From optimising sales funnel conversion to enhancing web traffic, hit the ground running.

Expect workshops covering:
- Automating Sales Funnels
- Optimizing SEO,SEM and paid- Social
- Growth hacking tools and techniques
- Creating inbound & outbound lead engines
- Plan, Hire and Manage a Sales Team

...and much more!

READ MORE

Scaling

Grow your client base from 10-to-100-to-1000+, whilst becoming "investor ready"

Expect workshops covering:
- The Art Of Virality
- Automation business processes
- Smart hiring & scaling your team
- Storytelling and how to pitch to VCs
- How to build a winning pitch deck
- How to negotiate a term sheet

...and much more!

READ MORE

Financial diagnostics

Deep dive diagnostics to help you best prepare for your funding rounds.

Expect workshops covering:
- Audits – Impact on attracting investors
- Managing and improving cash – cash conversion cycle
- Raising Funds - what do the investors
- Board meeting financial pack what to expect
- Preparing for a financial Due Diligence

...and much more!

READ MORE

Wellness+

Being a founder is incredibly stressful. SANDBOX prioritizes the mental health of you and your team.

Expect workshops covering:
- Healthy Habit-Building For Startup Founders
- Managing Anxiety & Building Resilience
- Balancing Work & Life
- Leveraging Lifestyle Fitness
- Managing Your Personal Finances


...and much more!

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Legal Support

$3000 worth of legal support, plus 1:1s and workshops from startup lawyers.

Expect workshops covering:
- How & where to set up your holding company
- Protecting your Intellectual Property
- Understanding the terms of in a Convertible Note
- Equity vs. Convertible
- How to prepare for a legal Due Diligence

...and much more!

READ MORE

COMMERCIAL VIABILITY

Strategy and planning are one thing, but execution is another.

Through a series of sprints and workshops, SANDBOX ensures founders remain focused and accountable on the KPIs that matter.

READ MORE

INVESTOR RELATIONS

From pitch reviews to datarooms, work with professional investors

to best prepare your startup to attract funding from VCs and Angels.

READ MORE

GROWTH MARKETING

From SEO and SEM to referral programs and guerilla marketing

campaigns, learn and implement viral marketing techniques that will not only attract leads, but create ambassadors for your brand.

READ MORE
APPLY NOW applications close 5th January 2025, 23:59

Partners that
cover all your bases

It’s no secret that founders need help. From software credits to bespoke advice, we’ve partnered with some of the best-in-class so that you can hit the ground running, fast. Click on each partner's logo to reveal the perks, totaling $1,000,000+.

APPLY NOW applications close 5th January 2025, 23:59

The startups currently enrolled in SANDBOX

Since its inception in 2022, SANDBOX has “fast become one of the most sought-after startup programs in the region," having received 2500+ applications and enrolling 30+ startups across 3 cohorts.

The secret is simple: founder centricity.

The team behind SANDBOX

FAQs

We're not only one of the most founder-centric programs, we’re also the most transparent.

With 40+ FAQs, we’ve left no stone unturned. Of course, if there’s anything else you’d like to know, get in touch with us.

Our 5 most common FAQs

When is the next cohort?

The next cohort commences February 2025

Will SANDBOX invest in my startup?

For each startup shortlisted into Phase 2 of the program, Oraseya Capital will make an investment of $150,000 via SAFE Note Agreement ($110,000 cash + $40,000 program fee).

What is the selection process?

Step 1: Submit your application form via the Apply Now button below
Step 2: At this point we want to get to know you better. You’ll be invited to a call with the SANDBOX team
Step 3: The final stage is pitching to our Selection Committee

How is the SANDBOX program structured?

SANDBOX is split into 2 phases. After the Selection Process, startups are invited into Phase 1 which lasts 8 weeks and is equity-free.

At the end of Phase 1, all startups pitch to the SANDBOX Investment Committee. Those shortlisted are invited into Phase 2. Not all startups from Phase 1 are shortlisted into Phase 2.

Phase 2 is much more intensive, and lasts 12 weeks. At the beginning of Phase 2 - and only for the startups that are shortlisted into Phase 2 - Oraseya Capital will invest $150,000 into each startup via SAFE Note Agreement ($110,000 cash + $40,000 program fee). This capital is expected to be used to propel the startups' growth and also help attract further investment. At the end of Phase 2, startups will be invited to pitch at the SANDBOX Demo Day.