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MENA ECOSYSTEMS

Digital Saving Solution Menthum Launches in Egypt

09 Jan 2023
Menthum, a digital saving solution, is establishing the country's first purpose-built digital money market fund. [...]
A Year in Review for Egyptian Startups

A Year in Review for Egyptian Startups

28 Dec 2022
There is no denying that this year was an absolute rollercoaster for the Egyptian startup ecosystem, so here's a look back. [...]
How Fintech Galaxy Paves the Way for Open Finance in the MENA Region

How Fintech Galaxy Paves the Way for Open Finance in the MENA Region

26 Dec 2022
Fintech Galaxy founder, Mirna Sleiman, explains how her startup has paved the path for Open Finance in the Middle East. [...]
Saudi’s Jumlaty & Egypt’s Appetito Merge Into Foodtech Platform NOMU

Saudi’s Jumlaty & Egypt’s Appetito Merge Into Foodtech Platform NOMU

15 Dec 2022
With the merger, NOMU will have access to a smart grid of 16 warehouses, and be able to cover 100,000 F&B stores. [...]
UAE’s Co-Working Platform Letswork Raises $2.1 Million Seed Round

UAE’s Co-Working Platform Letswork Raises $2.1 Million Seed Round

14 Dec 2022
The platform plans to use this round of funding to expand to Saudi Arabia, with a focus on Riyadh. [...]
Addressing the Funding Gap for Female-Led Startups in the MENA Region

Addressing the Funding Gap for Female-Led Startups in the MENA Region

14 Dec 2022
Despite global trends, these women and movements in the MENA region are working to change the narrative on financing for female-led startups. [...]
How E-Commerce is Giving MENA's Beauty & Fashion Industry a Facelift

How E-Commerce is Giving MENA's Beauty & Fashion Industry a Facelift

14 Dec 2022
Today, new brands and e-commerce platforms are emerging at lightning speeds, transforming MENA's beauty & fashion industries. [...]
Saudi Arabian PayTabs Acquires Turkish Social Commerce Platform Paymes

Saudi Arabian PayTabs Acquires Turkish Social Commerce Platform Paymes

12 Dec 2022
Paymes will create new opportunities for merchants to trade and sell over social media, including WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram. [...]
Zoomcar Launches $2M Program to Promote Use of Electric Cars in Egypt

Zoomcar Launches $2M Program to Promote Use of Electric Cars in Egypt

09 Dec 2022
The program will enable electric car owners to rent their cars on the Zoomcar platform. [...]
How to create a positive company culture

How to create a positive company culture

01 Dec 2022
With a notable rise in startups amongst many emerging markets, here are the strategies that help create a positive company culture. [...]
Forbes Under 30 Spotlight: MaxAB Empowers Small Retailers Across Egypt

Forbes Under 30 Spotlight: MaxAB Empowers Small Retailers Across Egypt

25 Nov 2022
We speak with the founders of ecommerce platform MaxAB following their recognition by Forbes Middle East’s Under 30 list. [...]
Forbes Under 30 Spotlight: How Hadia Ghaleb Redefines Modest Swimwear

Forbes Under 30 Spotlight: How Hadia Ghaleb Redefines Modest Swimwear

24 Nov 2022
Seemingly overnight, entrepreneur Hadia Ghaleb changed the narrative around modest swimwear through her eponymous brand. [...]
9 Talks to Catch at Egypt's First Forbes Middle East Under 30 Summit

9 Talks to Catch at Egypt's First Forbes Middle East Under 30 Summit

21 Nov 2022
The highly-anticipated Forbes Middle East Under 30 Summit in El Gouna has finally announced its panels and talks. [...]
Belal Zahran On How Foodics is Driving Growth in Egypt’s F&B Sector

Belal Zahran On How Foodics is Driving Growth in Egypt’s F&B Sector

08 Nov 2022
Saudi-based fintech and foodtech platform Foodics’ successful expansion in Egypt was led by its country manager, Belal Zahran. [...]
The Future of Palestinian Startups

The Future of Palestinian Startups

07 Nov 2022
The Middle East startup ecosystem may be on the rise, but Palestinian entrepreneurs still face funding challenges. [...]
What to Expect at Egypt’s First Forbes Under 30 Summit in El Gouna

What to Expect at Egypt’s First Forbes Under 30 Summit in El Gouna

01 Nov 2022
Showcasing the next generation of entrepreneurial brilliance along the shores of the Red Sea, the first Middle East Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit is less than a month away. [...]
Abu Dhabi to Host Inaugural Middle East Blockchain Awards

Abu Dhabi to Host Inaugural Middle East Blockchain Awards

21 Oct 2022
The inaugural edition of MEBA is scheduled to take place at the W Abu Dhabi on Yas Island, from November 14th to November 18th. [...]
Countdown to Forbes Middle East Under 30 Summit in Egypt Begins

Countdown to Forbes Middle East Under 30 Summit in Egypt Begins

17 Oct 2022
Scheduled to take place from November 24th to November 26th, the summit aims to support the region’s startup ecosystem. [...]
Tickets Now On Sale for Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit in El Gouna

Tickets Now On Sale for Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit in El Gouna

10 Oct 2022
Taking place in El Gouna from November 24th to November 26th, the Forbes Middle East Under 30 Summit El Gouna will be an immersive experience for entrepreneurs and creators alike. [...]
How Startups Can Survive in an Economic Downturn

How Startups Can Survive in an Economic Downturn

28 Sep 2022
We go in-depth on the mindset required to approach an economic downturn, and the resilience needed to come out of it larger than before. [...]
How Startups in the MENA Region are Embracing Sustainability

How Startups in the MENA Region are Embracing Sustainability

18 Sep 2022
Staff writer May El Habachi speaks with some of the foremost entrepreneurs in the green sphere to discuss the future of sustainability in the MENA region. [...]
Startups Without Borders Concludes Competition in Palestine With Meta

Startups Without Borders Concludes Competition in Palestine With Meta

16 Sep 2022
The ‘Boost Without Borders - Palestine’ competition - the first of its kind in Gaza - saw 10 startups pitch their business ideas for a chance to win up to $20,000 in cash prizes. [...]
The UAE's Rise as the Next Foodtech Hub of the Middle East

The UAE's Rise as the Next Foodtech Hub of the Middle East

07 Sep 2022
Staff writer May El Habachi speaks with some of the leading figures of the UAE's agritech industry to discuss the future of food - and the necessity of such tech to the future of the UAE. [...]
How to Choose the Right Accelerator Program for Your Business

How to Choose the Right Accelerator Program for Your Business

01 Sep 2022
Staff writer May El Habachi reached out to experienced entrepreneurs in the accelerator space to discuss the intricacies of choosing the program that fits your startup best. [...]
Why Investors Should Join the Femtech Revolution in the MENA Region

Why Investors Should Join the Femtech Revolution in the MENA Region

30 Aug 2022
StartupScene Staff Writer May El Habachi sat down with some of the leading femtech entrepreneurs in the MENA region to discuss the rise of femtech - and why investors need to pay attention. [...]
An Ecosystem in Exodus: The Future of Lebanon's Startups

An Ecosystem in Exodus: The Future of Lebanon's Startups

18 Aug 2022
Staff writer May El Habachi sat down with the leaders and major players behind the Lebanese businesses pioneering a new path through the eye of the storm. [...]
10 Edtech Startups Transforming Education in the MENAP Region

10 Edtech Startups Transforming Education in the MENAP Region

23 Jul 2022
The Middle East and Africa's edtech market is expected to reach $7 billion by 2027, as schools across the region continue adopting technology solutions and products in classrooms. [...]
The Rise & Fall of Airlift Technologies - An Insider Analysis

The Rise & Fall of Airlift Technologies - An Insider Analysis

20 Jul 2022
Less than a year since its record-breaking $85 million dollar raise, the delivery service is shutting down. EquiTie founder Ahmed El Hamawy shares his insights on the implications of this crash... [...]
Egypt's Fintech Boom in Numbers

Egypt's Fintech Boom in Numbers

12 Jul 2022
The Fintech Investment Focused Landscape Review surveyed 148 fintech startups and 26 investors and accelerators to cover all aspects of the fintech ecosystem. [...]
Jordan: The Middle East's Overlooked Tech and Innovation Hub

Jordan: The Middle East's Overlooked Tech and Innovation Hub

27 Jun 2022
Staff writer May El Habachi sat down with some of the most established and up-and-coming entrepreneurs in Jordan to get the final word on the country’s oft-overlooked tech and innovation industry. [...]
KSA Venture Builder BIM Ventures Launches New $32 Million Fund

KSA Venture Builder BIM Ventures Launches New $32 Million Fund

25 Jun 2022
'BIM Investments II' will focus on Saudi proptech, fintech and investtech startups, though the company will also explore Egypt and UAE. [...]
KSA’s Ajlan & Bros Signs $5B Investment Agreements in Egypt

KSA’s Ajlan & Bros Signs $5B Investment Agreements in Egypt

24 Jun 2022
Agreements have been signed with a number of companies from a variety of sectors, including Sami Saad Holding, Triangle Group, Magrabi Agriculture, Pharco Pharmaceuticals and Hassan Allam Holding. [...]
Abu Dhabi’s ADQ Launches $100 Million Tech Fund in Jordan

Abu Dhabi’s ADQ Launches $100 Million Tech Fund in Jordan

15 Jun 2022
Launched in collaboration with Jordan’s Ministry of Digital Economy & Entrepreneurship, the fund will invest in high-growth technology companies to further accelerate the country’s digital economy. [...]
Everything You Need to Know About the Debut Edition of EEA Talks

Everything You Need to Know About the Debut Edition of EEA Talks

31 May 2022
Set to debut as part of the road to the second edition of Egypt’s Entrepreneur Awards, the speakers and topics for EEA Talks have been announced and have thrown up some unique topics. [...]
Tunisia’s 216 Capital Ventures Raises $9.6M for Early-Stage Fund

Tunisia’s 216 Capital Ventures Raises $9.6M for Early-Stage Fund

29 May 2022
The raise comes as the first tranches of the VC firm's fund, which will look to invest in 50 startups at pre-seed and seed stages. [...]
Meet the Finalists of Egypt's Entrepreneur Awards 2022

Meet the Finalists of Egypt's Entrepreneur Awards 2022

25 May 2022
Across 17 categories, some of the country's most innovative entrepreneurs have been chosen out of hundreds of nominees for this year’s EEA. [...]
UAE’s Alpha Dhabi to Invest $2.5B in Alpha Wave Ventures II Fund

UAE’s Alpha Dhabi to Invest $2.5B in Alpha Wave Ventures II Fund

25 May 2022
Run by Abu Dhabi’s Chimera Capital and New York’s Alpha Wave, the fund has wasted no time in making investments. [...]
Saudi VC Fund STV Partners With Meta to Support Local Tech Startups

Saudi VC Fund STV Partners With Meta to Support Local Tech Startups

24 May 2022
The news comes as digital transformation and futuristic technologies come to the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. [...]
Algeria Venture & AIF to Launch New $10M VC Fund for Local Startups

Algeria Venture & AIF to Launch New $10M VC Fund for Local Startups

18 May 2022
The news comes as more and more international VCs divert their gaze towards a booming African ecosystem. [...]
UAE & South Korea Sign Partnership to Empower SMEs

UAE & South Korea Sign Partnership to Empower SMEs

09 May 2022
The two parties have signed an MoU that paves the way for the exchange of information and research, while paving the way for easy cross-market expansion. [...]
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Week Month Year

10th Edition of RiseUp Summit to Take Place This March

Having impressed and inspired thousands over the years, RiseUp promises that this year’s edition will be “the summit of the decade.” [...]

Saudi’s Food Tech Startup Matbakhi Raises $2.3 Million Pre-Seed Round

The funding will be used to establish a hotel cloud kitchen model to further scale and expand its reach across Saudi Arabia. [...]

UAE-Based Workspace Booking Platform Hotdesk Acquires Spain’s YADO

Founded in 2019, Hotdesk has grown from 15 bookings in its first month to over 10,000 monthly bookings in a year. [...]

UAE’s Fintech Startup Wafeq Raises $3 Million Seed Round

The new funding will be used to support Wafeq’s entry into the Egyptian market. [...]

Digital Saving Solution Menthum Launches in Egypt

Menthum, a digital saving solution, is establishing the country's first purpose-built digital money market fund. [...]

10th Edition of RiseUp Summit to Take Place This March

Having impressed and inspired thousands over the years, RiseUp promises that this year’s edition will be “the summit of the decade.” [...]

Agritech Platform Mahasel Masr Secures Funding From EIIC

Mahasel Masr is a digital platform that offers solutions for reliably and securely facilitating online transactions of fresh produce. [...]

Qatari HeathTech Platform At Home Doc Raises $1.9M Pre-Series A Round

The platform plans to use these new funds to expand their health services to Saudi Arabia. [...]

Forbes Will Build First Middle East Tower in Egypt’s New Capital

The Forbes International Tower will be designed to be fully sustainable. [...]

Egypt Chosen Among Six African Nations to Host Unicorn Group Incubator

The Lagos-based Unicorn Group is seeking nnovative ideas, startups and early-stage companies in tech and tech-enabled sectors. [...]

The Real Deal With General Partner at Algebra Ventures Laila Hassan

Laila Hassan, General Partner at Algebra Ventures and Venture Partner at 500 Startups MENA, shares how blindingly bright success stories [...]

UAE’s MBRIF Opens Applications for Latest Innovation Accelerator

Since launching in 2018, some of the programme’s notable alumni have include Rizek, Sarwa and Hawa Water. [...]

She Strikes: The New Platform Empowering Egyptian Women in Business

Launched by Cairo-based Creative Industries Summit, the first cycle strikes on May 24th, bringing together experts and gurus from across [...]

Executive Insights ft Mohamed Sekkina, General Manager talabat Mart

StartupScene sits with the General Manager of talabat Mart to get his insights on what it takes to drive growth in one of the most [...]

10th Edition of RiseUp Summit to Take Place This March

Having impressed and inspired thousands over the years, RiseUp promises that this year’s edition will be “the summit of the decade.” [...]

Saudi’s Food Tech Startup Matbakhi Raises $2.3 Million Pre-Seed Round

The funding will be used to establish a hotel cloud kitchen model to further scale and expand its reach across Saudi Arabia. [...]

UAE-Based Workspace Booking Platform Hotdesk Acquires Spain’s YADO

Founded in 2019, Hotdesk has grown from 15 bookings in its first month to over 10,000 monthly bookings in a year. [...]

UAE’s Fintech Startup Wafeq Raises $3 Million Seed Round

The new funding will be used to support Wafeq’s entry into the Egyptian market. [...]

10th Edition of RiseUp Summit to Take Place This March

Having impressed and inspired thousands over the years, RiseUp promises that this year’s edition will be “the summit of the decade.” [...]

UAE’s Fintech Startup Wafeq Raises $3 Million Seed Round

The new funding will be used to support Wafeq’s entry into the Egyptian market. [...]

UAE-Based Workspace Booking Platform Hotdesk Acquires Spain’s YADO

Founded in 2019, Hotdesk has grown from 15 bookings in its first month to over 10,000 monthly bookings in a year. [...]

Saudi’s Food Tech Startup Matbakhi Raises $2.3 Million Pre-Seed Round

The funding will be used to establish a hotel cloud kitchen model to further scale and expand its reach across Saudi Arabia. [...]

Forbes Will Build First Middle East Tower in Egypt’s New Capital

The Forbes International Tower will be designed to be fully sustainable. [...]

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