Confidence, time management biggest challenges student entrepreneurs face, says CEO
Students are delving into the entrepreneurship world earlier than ever before, juggling business and academics. However, lack of experience in the entrepreneurial world, mismanagement of time, and not enough exposure are the major challenges facing these young entrepreneurs, the CEO of Sheraa, Sara Al Nuaimi, said.The number one issue is exposure, more specifically early exposure, which plays a defining role in how students understand how a business functions, says Al Nuaimi. “Student founders are entering entrepreneurship earlier than ever, often while still navigating their academic journeys. What they need most at this stage is exposure to real founders, real decisions, and real pathways beyond the classroom,” she told Khaleej Times.Sheraa (Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre) is a Sharjah-based government-supported entity that functions as an incubator for startups in the country. Thus far, it has supported over 180 startups, with over half being led by women, upskilled 18,000-plus youth, and generated over $248 million (Dh903 million) in revenue.Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Avenue for student entrepreneursThis weekend, the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival will bring together investors, entrepreneurs, and big names like executives at WHOOP, Revolutionary, Kitopi, and many others, in one of the largest entrepreneurial festivals. These kinds of platforms, Al Nuaimi said, are foundational for student entrepreneurs to move beyond academic settings.For student entrepreneurs, this kind of engagement can help address another major challenge: confidence. Many students hesitate to pursue their ideas fully, not because of a lack of capability, but because they are unsure of when or how to begin. Exposure to real entrepreneurial journeys often reframes uncertainty as part of the learning process rather than a barrier.Sara Al Nuaimi Al Nuaimi pointed to student-founded ventures that have benefited from this exposure, noting that structured ecosystem support allows ideas to move beyond the classroom and into real-world testing. One such example is Eshara, an AI-powered Arabic sign language platform founded by students to address communication barriers faced by the hearing-impaired. Rather than remaining an academic concept, the startup progressed through incubation, mentorship, and live testing opportunities that helped the founders refine their product and understand its practical application. Experiences like these, she said, demonstrate how students can grow into entrepreneurs while continuing their education, provided they have access to the right guidance and environments.Global leaders from tech, sports, and social media to lead discussions at the SEFSEF 2026 leads youth empowerment with launch of ‘Sharjah’s Little Founders’
Students are delving into the entrepreneurship world earlier than ever before, juggling business and academics. However, lack of experience in the entrepreneurial world, mismanagement of time, and not enough exposure are the major challenges facing these young entrepreneurs, the CEO of Sheraa, Sara Al Nuaimi, said.
The number one issue is exposure, more specifically early exposure, which plays a defining role in how students understand how a business functions, says Al Nuaimi. “Student founders are entering entrepreneurship earlier than ever, often while still navigating their academic journeys. What they need most at this stage is exposure to real founders, real decisions, and real pathways beyond the classroom,” she told Khaleej Times.
Sheraa (Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre) is a Sharjah-based government-supported entity that functions as an incubator for startups in the country. Thus far, it has supported over 180 startups, with over half being led by women, upskilled 18,000-plus youth, and generated over $248 million (Dh903 million) in revenue.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
Avenue for student entrepreneurs
This weekend, the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival will bring together investors, entrepreneurs, and big names like executives at WHOOP, Revolutionary, Kitopi, and many others, in one of the largest entrepreneurial festivals. These kinds of platforms, Al Nuaimi said, are foundational for student entrepreneurs to move beyond academic settings.
For student entrepreneurs, this kind of engagement can help address another major challenge: confidence. Many students hesitate to pursue their ideas fully, not because of a lack of capability, but because they are unsure of when or how to begin. Exposure to real entrepreneurial journeys often reframes uncertainty as part of the learning process rather than a barrier. Sara Al Nuaimi
Al Nuaimi pointed to student-founded ventures that have benefited from this exposure, noting that structured ecosystem support allows ideas to move beyond the classroom and into real-world testing. One such example is Eshara, an AI-powered Arabic sign language platform founded by students to address communication barriers faced by the hearing-impaired.
Rather than remaining an academic concept, the startup progressed through incubation, mentorship, and live testing opportunities that helped the founders refine their product and understand its practical application. Experiences like these, she said, demonstrate how students can grow into entrepreneurs while continuing their education, provided they have access to the right guidance and environments.
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