Wamda

Regional

Crowdfunding: A way to bridge the credit gap

At first glance, the Middle East and in particular the GCC, seems like an ideal market for a robust crowdfunding economy. But the growth of...

Crowdfunding Investment liwwa

Regional

What makes a good entrepreneurship hub?

Recently, we published a feature on the battle of the startup hubs in the Middle East. There are several cities across the region,...

entrepreneurship Ecosystem

Egypt

In conversation with Amr El Sawy of Buseet

As the Middle East's most populous city with an insufficient public transportation system and rising fares, Cairo leaves millions...

Transport cairo

Regional

Top five VC deals in the second quarter of 2019

This quarter’s top five disclosed venture capital (VC) deals amounted to $99.1 million, with Egypt’s Swvl accounting for...

Series A series B Swvl

Regional

Can corporates in Mena change the entrepreneurial landscape?

Omar Al Sharif is the director of partner programmes at Wamda Governments across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) are eager to...

intrapreneurship Corporate entrepreneurship corporate venture capital

U.A.E

In conversation with Kunal Kapoor of The Luxury Closet

The Luxury Closet (TLC) is an online store that sells pre-owned fashion items founded in Dubai in 2012 by Kunal Kapoor. The company...

E-commerce The Luxury Closet Entrepreneur

Global

How blockchain can enable economic inclusion of refugees

Jessica Camus is Head of Partnerships and Impact at Diginex. Chris Hambarsoomian is Senior Associate, Government Solutions at...

Refugee Refugee Camps syria

Lebanon

In conversation with Elie Nasr of FOO

FOO started as a mobile app development company in 2009 in Lebanon. Founded by Elie Nasr and Ghady Rayess, the pair pivoted their business...

Foo Fintech b2b

U.A.E

The fintech way of sending money abroad

The Gulf is the world’s biggest source of outbound remittances worldwide and fintech startups are vying to disrupt the...

Fintech remittance remittances

Saudi Arabia

Who can prepare Saudi Arabia for the future?

Sofana Dahlan is one of the first ten female lawyers authorised to practice law in Saudi Arabia. She is also the president and founder...

saudi vision 2030 change

Egypt

In conversation with Amir Allam of elmenus

When working as a technology consultant, Amir Allam realised the frustration he had with finding up-to-date restaurant menus and pictures...

ElMenus food tech Egypt

Regional

The challenge of delivering goods on time

Faris Fallouh is the Global Express and ground services director at Aramex Peak seasons such as Eid, Christmas and the many popular...

E-commerce aramex Delivery

Jordan

Jordan's Ghoorcom looks to boost farmers’ profits through technology

Ghoorcom is a Jordanian business-to-business startup that could transform the country’s agriculture sector, swelling farmers’...

farming Blockchain

Regional

The Gulf embraces quantum power

Quantum computing could herald a breakthrough for Middle East innovation and security, according to experts. A quantum computer would...

Computing R&D

Lebanon

The challenges facing Lebanon's fashion ecosystem

Christina Chehade is the managing director at Endeavor Lebanon Lebanese designers have been rising in the ranks, dominating...

Fashion fashion supply chain

U.A.E

In conversation with Maya Talih Khatoun of RIOT

The fashion industry is the second most polluting industry after oil and gas. The total greenhouse gas emissions from textile production...

Fashion Sustainability RIOT

Global

Sustainable style and the rise of circular fashion

When luxury fashion brand Burberry admitted to destroying more than $35 million worth of fashion and cosmetics products last year, there...

Sharing Economy Fashion

Global

We are stuck in the middle of a technological cold war

As the US government banned China’s Huawei from purchasing US goods and services last week, many were left wondering whether their...

Huawei US china

Egypt

In conversation with Ahmed Wadi of MoneyFellows

In a bid to fund his wedding, Ahmed Wadi realised he’d taken out the maximum loan limit from his bank and so he came up with the idea...

Fintech Flat6Labs Cairo MoneyFellows

Egypt

Banking for the unbanked: The growth of fintech in Egypt

In Egypt, cash is king, even when it comes to salaries. Of the 100 million-strong population, the World Bank estimates that just 10-15 per...

Fintech finance fawry

U.A.E

In conversation with Bernard Lee of GlassQube Coworking

Bernard Lee was an investment banker in New York before moving to Abu Dhabi to work in debt restructuring for the Executive Council, where...

co-working space abu dhabi glassqube

Regional

Succession planning: Knowing when to hand over the reins

While many startups hope to eventually exit and enjoy a large payout, others in the region want to create a business that may become the...

family businesses

Regional

The three blind spots of social entrepreneurs

Suzan Elsayed is a Google Policy Fellow at Wamda and an independent researcher focusing on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and future of...

social impact Social Entrepreneurship

U.A.E

In conversation with Dana Baki of LUNCH:ON

LUNCH:ON partners with restaurants to offer office workers a selection of curated meals at discounted prices. It was founded by Mohammad Al...

Lunch:On food tech Entrepreneur

Thought Leadership

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