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Step CEO Describes MENA Startup Ecosystem Growth
6.8
Step co-founder and CEO Ray Dargham previews Step Dubai, held February 11-12 at Dubai Internet City, and assesses MENA's startup maturation. He says the region—led by Dubai and Riyadh—is accelerating in AI, fintech and digital infrastructure, with Step attracting over 8,000 attendees, 400 startups, and investors representing $12.6 billion in deployable capital. He urges disciplined scaling, product-market fit, and stronger ecosystem support.
Key Points
- 1Notes strong momentum in AI, fintech, and digital infrastructure across Dubai, Riyadh, and emerging MENA markets
- 2Warns against raising capital before product-market fit, which amplifies inefficiencies and stunts sustainable scaling
- 3Urges investors, corporates, and governments to provide mentorship, patient capital, and post-funding operational support
Scoring Rationale
Provides timely, credible regional startup guidance with conference metrics; limited novelty and technical depth restrict broader impact.
Sources
Public references used for this report.
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