The importance of startups implementing Artificial Intelligence technology and adopting sustainable strategies for global expansion was discussed at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival 2024 through inspiring speeches and sessions featuring businesswomen and technology experts, including Abdullah Abushiekh, the founder of Astra Tech and CEO of Botim, and Mariam Bint AlSheikh, the director of Sharjah Business Women Council. They shared insights and experiences that led them to success.
In his address titled “ChatGPT Evolution: Where Technology Can Fail,” Abdullah Abushiekh emphasized that ChatGPT technologies are currently undergoing a revolutionary shift in natural language search and processing mechanisms, impacting online communication. He predicts that about 99% of platforms connected to it will not continue to work based on click-based mechanisms, but will move towards direct command-based operations.
This contributes to enhancing its user-friendliness and making it accessible to a wider range of users, enabling it to transcend language and cultural barriers.
Abdullah Abushiekh also highlighted in his speech that Artificial Intelligence technology, specifically ChatGPT, is still in its early stages.
He explained that the upcoming years will witness significant and rapid developments that will positively impact online data exchange and enhance devices used in this context. These advancements are already emerging, whether on advanced mobile devices relying on AI or on screens, designs, and operations.
He stated, “Large institutions are quickly moving towards using machine learning in their operations, and this will also be the case for small companies to compete and survive. Opportunities in this field will increase, but the question revolves around its impact on jobs. Human employees cannot be abandoned, however, the approach is different, and human skills must be reinforced to keep up with the changes.”
In another session titled “The Power of International Expansion and Thinking Globally in Your Venture,” Mariam Bint AlSheikh, Jennifer Blaustein from Female Fusion, and Natasha Heatheral Shaw from Tish Tash Public Relations Agency provided guidance and advice and shared their experiences in expanding globally for startups and entrepreneurs, emphasizing that investing in different markets, reaching a wider audience, and seeking new opportunities serve as drivers for businesswomen to expand their companies or products. They emphasized that fundamental pillars are needed for the success of this step, including studying the target market, understanding it, knowing the cultural background of the audience, and seeking to build formal partnerships or through freelancing.
Mariam Bint AlSheikh said that they are working in the Sharjah Business Women Council to create a suitable environment for women in Sharjah, based on the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in the Emirate of Sharjah, who aims to create equal opportunities for women. Currently, there are members of the council working in several countries around the world such as Brazil, Egypt, and Palestine. We are also organizing business missions to travel outside the country with the aim of exploring global markets and influencing them. We always invite businesswomen to connect with us and participate in our activities.
She added, “We support startups in accessing international markets and exploring various opportunities. We have many institutions that support businesses in accessing diverse markets. It is important for a businesswoman to have a strong, proactive, and integrated team, and as long as the company has an expansion strategy, it will achieve its goals. However, what happens after expansion is crucial, highlighting the importance of adaptation, flexibility, and agility.”
Jennifer Blaustein commented, “Initially, I had no intention of expanding internationally, but over time and considering the global status of the UAE, we at Female Fusion decided to expand. However, I always advise against…
Encouraging the opening of numerous offices and branches initially is crucial, as it involves high costs. However, collaborating and establishing independent work partnerships is possible, and the most important thing is to conduct a thorough market study.”
Natasha Heatherall Shaw stated: “I began my career by only considering freelance work to have enough time for myself. As work evolved and I realized the importance of expansion, I founded my company. Now we have three branches worldwide, and we plan to open the fourth branch soon. I started from the UAE and today we are present in other Gulf countries. What I would like to emphasize is that expansion was a result of work demands and needs. My advice to entrepreneurs is not to fear having a global company, and to focus on understanding the culture and needs of each country they operate in.”
