Entrepreneurs and creatives at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF 2025) gained hands-on insights into transforming ideas into sustainable ventures during a series of high-impact workshops on day two. The sessions explored key strategies for turning skills into businesses, protecting intellectual property, and building long-term creative careers – offering practical guidance from seasoned industry experts.

Turning passion into a profitable business

In the workshop ‘How to Turn a Skill into a Business’, Lebanese musician, engineer, and entrepreneur Patrick Abdo shared his journey from drummer to founder of multiple music schools and The Drum Path, an online drumming academy. Speaking to a packed room, Abdo underscored the importance of genuine passion and patience in creative entrepreneurship.

“It has been and will always be my passion and hobby,” he said. However, he cautioned against expecting overnight success. “If you’re not that passionate about it and expecting early money from it, I would suggest you skip it or not go this route.”

Abdo emphasized the need for a strategic approach to creative entrepreneurship, advising aspiring founders to maintain other income sources in the early stages. “Good results come late,” he said, “You just have to be patient, wait, and socialise.”

The power of patents: Why protecting innovation matters

In the session ‘How to Create a Patented Invention’, veteran scholar and inventor Dr. Edriss A. Ali explored the role of patents in securing a competitive edge and attracting investment. With over 30 years of experience in academia and patents across the US and GCC, Dr. Ali explained that intellectual property is more than just ownership – it is a strategic tool for industry impact.

Using his patented microwave-assisted pressing technology for date juice extraction as an example, he demonstrated how patents enable commercial growth and innovation. His method enhances efficiency, preserves nutritional value, and reduces environmental impact – offering applications beyond the food industry, including pharmaceuticals and petrochemicals.

“True innovation thrives when it is not only created but also protected, allowing it to scale and redefine industries,” he concluded.

Building sustainable music careers through entrepreneurship

Meanwhile, hip-hop duo Sons of Yusuf led the workshop ‘Beyond the Music: Empowering Artists with Entrepreneurial Skills and Self-Growth’, offering independent artists a roadmap to success beyond their craft.

Brothers Ya’koob and Abdul Rahman Al Refaie, known for blending Arabic culture with Western hip-hop, shared how digital platforms, strategic networking, and self-improvement can help artists build long-term, profitable careers. They encouraged musicians to use platforms like Instagram and YouTube not only to showcase their work but also to connect with industry professionals and pitch ideas.

They also highlighted common pitfalls that aspiring artists face, such as rushing into opportunities without mentorship or business knowledge. Sharing personal experiences, they emphasized the importance of continuous learning and strategic planning before committing time and resources to new ventures.

From monetizing passion to securing intellectual property and expanding creative careers, the SEF 2025 workshop participants walked away with actionable insights to fuel their entrepreneurial journeys.