Young entrepreneurs embarking on business ventures while pursuing academic studies are confronting a distinct set of challenges that extend far beyond curriculum choices. According to Sara Al Nuaimi, CEO of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa), the primary obstacles for student founders are not about choosing between education and enterprise, but rather developing the crucial skills needed to thrive in both realms simultaneously.
Al Nuaimi identifies three fundamental hurdles: limited entrepreneurial experience, poor time management, and critically, insufficient exposure to real-world business environments. She emphasizes that early exposure plays a transformative role in shaping how students comprehend business operations and decision-making processes. “Student founders are entering entrepreneurship earlier than ever, often while still navigating their academic journeys,” Al Nuaimi told Khaleej Times. “What they need most at this stage is exposure to real founders, real decisions, and real pathways beyond the classroom.”
Sheraa, a government-supported incubator based in Sharjah, has demonstrated remarkable success in addressing these challenges. The organization has supported over 180 startups, with more than half led by female entrepreneurs, upskilled more than 18,000 young individuals, and generated over $248 million in revenue through its initiatives.
The upcoming Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival serves as a prime example of the platforms addressing these needs. The event will convene investors, established entrepreneurs, and executives from prominent companies including WHOOP, Revolutionary, and Kitopi. Such gatherings provide student entrepreneurs with invaluable opportunities to move beyond theoretical concepts and gain practical insights.
Perhaps most significantly, these experiences help combat what Al Nuaimi identifies as another major challenge: confidence building. Many capable students hesitate to fully pursue their ideas due to uncertainty about how and when to begin. Exposure to authentic entrepreneurial journeys helps reframe this uncertainty as a natural part of the learning process rather than an insurmountable barrier.
The success of Eshara, an AI-powered Arabic sign language platform founded by students, exemplifies this approach. Through structured ecosystem support including incubation, mentorship, and live testing opportunities, the student founders transformed an academic concept into a functional startup addressing communication barriers for the hearing-impaired community.
These experiences demonstrate that with proper guidance and access to supportive environments, students can successfully develop as entrepreneurs while continuing their education, effectively bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world business application.