They tell you, “Change is the only constant” – but how big is this change? Is it dramatic or is it insignificant? And is it really ongoing? They also say, “With big change comes big opportunities.”
The Middle East has witnessed significant shifts in the past few years. Many people consider the Arab Spring to be one of the main factors that empowered young men and women to take an uncertain but very rewarding path as part of what I would call an Entrepreneurial Revolution in the region.
This revolution has been making headlines far less frequently than our political uprisings, but this does not mean that it has not had as great of an influence or level of empowerment. On the contrary, it’s amazing how fast the entrepreneurial ecosystem has been growing and attracting Arab and international investors.
With 45 million internet users in Egypt alone and countless untapped opportunities, we can only anticipate a boom in the Middle Eastern tech scene in the coming years. Yet there is no denying that we still have a long way to go. Entrepreneurs are definitely facing many challenges, from legalities and funding to political instability.
As a startup, you can get bogged down by each challenge or you can build on the fact that those who survive will have opportunities to grow beyond the borders of their countries. I chose the latter. My startup, Elwafeyat, was lucky enough to have been incubated in two of the top local and international business accelerators, Flat6Labs and 500Startups.
Along with two of my co-founders, I came to Silicon Valley three months ago seeking knowledge. I joined 500Startups, who, by the way, have invested in 16 other MENA startups in the past three years. This experience has been, and still is, so rewarding and the amount of know-how, mentorship and exposure we get every day is far too overwhelming.
Which is why I’ve decided to launch this series of articles to pass on this knowledge to my fellow entrepreneurs in emerging markets. Through my posts, I’ll be providing real-world examples of how entrepreneurs are disrupting different markets and the tools and tactics they are using in the process, from key metrics and growth measures to traction and product development.
We cannot predict what the future holds for this Entrepreneurial Revolution, but I can only try and do my part.
Follow along and stay tuned to get a real sense of my Silicon Valley experience from the inside.
WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss Is Egypt’s Startup Scene Just A Bubble? Top Investors Answer and 9 Egyptians Who Are Kicking Butt In Silicon Valley.