Falcons of Majlis Targets UAE Startups With Serious Capital and Mentorship

Bollywood actor and entrepreneur Suniel Shetty joins the show as a mentor and potential investor, with the programme seeking to connect ambitious founders with capital and strategic growth opportunities.

Falcons of Majlis is preparing to enter the UAE television and entrepreneurship landscape with a startup investment format designed to put business growth ahead of entertainment-driven drama.

Backed by Bollywood legend and entrepreneur Suniel Shetty, the new UAE-based programme aims to create what its organisers describe as a platform for serious capital conversations, bringing promising founders together with investors, mentors and key players from the country’s rapidly developing startup ecosystem.

Rather than relying primarily on confrontation between entrepreneurs and investors, Falcons of Majlis is positioning itself around funding, mentorship, investor access and long-term support. The objective is not simply to identify businesses that can attract investment on television, but to help founders build companies capable of growing well beyond the programme.

Falcons of Majlis puts founders and business growth first

Suniel Shetty, who will participate as a mentor and potential investor, said the central objective is to identify promising entrepreneurs and provide them with the resources needed to scale.

“This is one exciting show, because the idea is to definitely find the best founders and make sure they get the best funding,” Shetty said.

He added that support would extend beyond financial investment.

“The intent is to do something magical. We want to make sure every founder is supported financially, through mentorship, hand-holding and even last-mile support, including sales.”

That approach gives Falcons of Majlis a broader ambition than a conventional pitch-based television programme. Funding may be an important part of the process, but the organisers also want participating companies to receive practical guidance and connections that can help them execute their growth strategies.

For founders, that could mean exposure to investors alongside support in areas such as business positioning, sales, pitching and preparing for future fundraising.

A different approach to startup television

Startup investment programmes have traditionally combined entrepreneurial pitches with high-pressure negotiations and dramatic exchanges between founders and investors. Falcons of Majlis intends to take a different route.

Shetty said the programme would remain highly demanding from a business perspective while avoiding unnecessary theatrics.

“Business probably would be drama when a founder is exaggerating about the product or the numbers,” he said, pointing to the importance of rigorous scrutiny.

“The due diligence is going to be really tough.”

The emphasis on due diligence is significant because the programme is intended to connect founders with serious investors. Companies will therefore need to demonstrate more than an attractive presentation. Their products, financial information, market opportunity and growth potential are expected to face detailed examination.

This could make the preparation process particularly important for entrepreneurs hoping to reach the final stages.

Thousands of applications to be narrowed down

The organisers expect the programme to attract a substantial number of entrepreneurs from across the startup ecosystem.

Thousands of applications are expected to be narrowed down to approximately 60 or 70 startups. Those selected will then undergo preparation before appearing on the programme.

The process is expected to include pitch refinement, investor preparation and business positioning workshops.

This preparation could give founders an opportunity to strengthen their businesses as well as their presentations. For early-stage companies, learning how to communicate their market opportunity, financial requirements and growth strategy to investors can be as important as the pitch itself.

The programme therefore aims to create a pipeline in which entrepreneurs receive support before entering the investor spotlight.

Connecting the UAE and India startup ecosystems

Falcons of Majlis also reflects the growing commercial relationship between the UAE and India.

Shetty highlighted the complementary strengths of the two markets, describing the UAE as a market with speed and India as one with significant reach.

“Dubai has speed. India has reach,” he said.

“When you combine both markets, it could be unbelievable. Imagine a founder successful in the UAE and also successful in India.”

The combination could create opportunities for UAE-based startups seeking access to India’s enormous consumer and technology market, while Indian entrepreneurs could potentially use the UAE as a gateway to international capital, regional customers and global markets.

Dubai has increasingly positioned itself as a base for international entrepreneurs, investors and technology companies. A programme focused on connecting founders to both UAE and Indian networks could further strengthen those links.

Major UAE startup ecosystem players expected to be involved

Falcons of Majlis is also expected to connect participating entrepreneurs with established organisations within the UAE’s innovation ecosystem.

The initiative is expected to work with ecosystem players including Hub71, DIFC Innovation Hub, in5 and Sheraa.

These organisations represent different parts of the country’s entrepreneurship infrastructure, including incubators, accelerators, innovation communities and investor networks.

Access to such networks could be valuable for startups that need more than a single funding round. Entrepreneurs can require assistance with recruitment, technology, partnerships, market entry, fundraising and international expansion as they grow.

By connecting founders with established ecosystem organisations, Falcons of Majlis is aiming to create opportunities that continue beyond the television format.

Startups could receive support even without investment

One of the programme’s notable features is its proposed support for companies that do not secure investment during the show.

According to the organisers, startups that fail to receive funding will still receive a year of media and social promotion support through NKN Media.

That means participation may offer value beyond the possibility of receiving capital.

For an early-stage business, increased visibility can help attract customers, employees, strategic partners and future investors. A year of promotional support could therefore give unsuccessful pitches another route toward building awareness in the market.

The approach also supports the programme’s broader message that founder success should not be measured exclusively by whether an investment deal is secured on television.

Suniel Shetty’s role goes beyond celebrity involvement

Shetty’s involvement gives Falcons of Majlis a strong connection to India’s entertainment industry, but his role is expected to extend beyond being a celebrity face for the programme.

As a mentor and potential investor, he is positioned to participate directly in evaluating founders and helping entrepreneurs develop their businesses.

His experience as an entrepreneur also adds a business dimension to his participation.

For the programme, that combination could help attract founders who are looking for both investment and strategic guidance.

The organisers’ emphasis on mentorship also reflects a wider shift in startup investment, where entrepreneurs increasingly seek investors who can provide networks, industry expertise and operational support alongside capital.

Success will be measured by founder outcomes

For Shetty, the ultimate measure of Falcons of Majlis will not necessarily be television ratings or the number of investment deals completed during the programme.

Instead, he said the success of the show would be closely tied to the long-term performance of the entrepreneurs who participate.

“The success of the show is the success of the founders,” he said.

He added that even if one participant eventually becomes a unicorn, while others grow enough to create jobs and build sustainable businesses, the programme would have achieved its objective.

That philosophy places the emphasis on building companies rather than simply creating compelling television.

Regional tensions temporarily delayed production

The production of Falcons of Majlis was temporarily delayed amid regional tensions earlier in 2026. Despite the disruption, Shetty expressed confidence in the UAE’s business environment and its continued appetite for entrepreneurship.

“Dubai is the way it is,” he said. “Businesses are on. The appetite for founders and innovation is always there.”

The comments underline the confidence behind the programme’s decision to build its platform in the UAE.

The country has continued to promote itself as an international destination for entrepreneurs, investors and technology companies, while Dubai in particular has sought to strengthen its position as a global business and innovation centre.

A new platform for UAE entrepreneurs

Falcons of Majlis arrives at a time when the UAE startup ecosystem is becoming increasingly connected to international capital and entrepreneurial networks.

Its combination of investment, mentorship, ecosystem access and media exposure could offer founders a broader proposition than traditional pitch competitions.

The programme’s planned selection of 60 to 70 startups from thousands of applicants also means that entrepreneurs will face significant competition before reaching the television stage.

For those who do make it through, however, the potential benefits could extend well beyond a single investment conversation.

With Suniel Shetty serving as a mentor and potential investor, and with connections expected across organisations including Hub71, DIFC Innovation Hub, in5 and Sheraa, Falcons of Majlis is positioning itself as more than a startup television show.

Its larger ambition is to create a platform where entrepreneurs can secure capital, strengthen their businesses, access influential networks and potentially expand across the UAE, India and international markets.

If the programme delivers on that promise, Falcons of Majlis could become a distinctive addition to the UAE’s growing entrepreneurship landscape — one where the real measure of success is what happens to founders and their companies after the cameras stop rolling.