Wamda

Regional

What we learned at WEF Mena 2019

The World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) concludes today, drawing more than 1000 government, business and...

wef Jordan Innovation

Regional

How investors can support entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa

The potential for entrepreneurship in the region is high, based on digital consumption and a startling increase in investment funding for...

Investment Venture Capital

U.A.E

In conversation with Muhammad Chbib of Tajawal

Having been raised and educated in Germany, Muhammad Chbib describes himself as someone with “German thinking paired with Arab...

travel tech sukar Entrepreneur

Saudi Arabia

Saudi undergoes entrepreneurship drive but challenges remain

Saudi Arabia’s government is no stranger to technology or entrepreneurship. In fact, the country’s sovereign wealth fund, the...

entrepreneurship Saudi Arabia Saudipreneurship

Palestine

In conversation with Christina Ganim of Kenz

Christina Ganim founded Kenz with her colleague and friend Nicola Cuoco. The e-commerce website, founded in Palestine, sells underwear to...

Entrepreneur startup Women Entrepreneur

Regional

Careem's sale to Uber and how it affects the Mena startup ecosystem

I would have liked Careem to go public and remain independent because that is how you make the biggest statement about the maturity of the...

careem Uber acquisition

Regional

E-groceries: The fastest growing e-commerce segment

In the $8.3 billion e-commerce sector in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena), it is the grocery segment that has perhaps experienced...

online grocery e-grocery Food delivery

Regional

The anatomy of an exit in the Middle East

Khaled Talhouni is the managing partner at Wamda Capital Anyone active in the startup scene today seems to be pre-occupied with when and...

Venture Capital Exit strategies exiting

Kuwait

In conversation with Abdullah Boodai of Kuwait's Snapbook

Snapbook is a Kuwaiti startup that began as a photo-printing service. Today, it likes to describe itself as a gifting service, offering...

E-commerce kuwait

Regional

Convenience and efficiency drive Mena's health tech innovations

Where and when the world’s first hospital was established is frequently disputed, but there is little doubt that the Middle East was...

Health hackathon Health health tech

Regional

The rise of the micro influencer

Social media influencers in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region command some of the highest fees in the world, but their...

Branding Social Media influencer marketing

Lebanon

In conversation with Audrey Nakad of Lebanon's Synkers

Synkers is an online peer-to-peer education platform connecting private tutors with students. Founded in Lebanon by Audrey Nakad, Zeina...

EdTech ceo entrepreneurship

Regional

Could ICOs be a better way to raise money?

The frenzy around cryptocurrency has died down in recent months, but a new asset class in the form of initial coin offerings (ICO), the...

ICO ethereum Bitcoin

Regional

Can the digital era bridge the gender divide?

With International Women’s day approaching on 8 March, it is perhaps a timely reminder of the stark gender divide across the Middle...

Education STEM gender issues

Saudi Arabia

In conversation with Abdulmajeed Alyemni of KSA's Salasa

Salasa is a logistics fulfilment company based in Saudi Arabia. Working with e-commerce companies, Salasa fulfils their orders, packs them...

Logistics Saudi Arabia

Regional

Namshi latest e-commerce platform to expand to Egypt as competition heats up

Namshi is set to expand to Egypt and establish a logistics base in Saudi Arabia following Emaar Malls' full acquisition of the...

E-commerce Namshi Noon

Global

East Africa’s thriving tech ecosystem

By Maryam Mgonja, associate for East Africa at Seedstars Africa, home to more than 1.2 billion people, of whom over 60 per cent make up...

africa Kenya startup

Morocco

In conversation with Niama El Bassunie of Morocco's WaystoCap

WaystoCap is a business-to-business e-commerce marketplace that enables companies in Africa to import and export goods. The platform...

waystocap b2b Trade

Egypt

Egypt's growing interest in Africa

Toward the end of last year, billboards adorned Egypt’s capital city of Cairo with adverts for Africa-focused conferences and...

africa African Summit Swvl

Regional

The Middle East’s technological forte is in the food sector [Opinion]

As Gulfood draws to a close in Dubai this week, one of the biggest exhibitions in the region, the appetite for food is palatable [all puns...

food Food accelerator Innovation

Sudan

In conversation with Mohamed Elzakey of Sudan's Tirhal

Sudan’s startup ecosystem is seldom highlighted as one of opportunity due the country’s weak economy, high level of inflation...

ride hailing careem

Kuwait

How did Kuwait produce some of the Middle East’s largest exits?

Out of all the markets that comprise the GCC, Kuwait rarely attracts the same level of interest or attention as its more dominant...

talabat Carriage entreprenership

Regional

What we learned at Step Dubai 2019

The seventh Step conference concluded in Dubai on 14 February with some 6000 attendees and 300 startups exhibiting. The event, which...

Step Conference STEP Start

U.A.E

In conversation with Nizar Fakih of the UAE's Step

As the first of the Step conferences kicks off in Dubai this week, the “experiential tech festival” will aim to bring together...

Step Conference founder series

Thought Leadership

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