In 2017, Middle East and North Africa startups reportedly attracted 560 million US dollars of investment across 260 deals – a 65% increase from 2016, making it a ‘record year’ for the MENA entrepreneurship world. When we look at the MEASA region more broadly, that figure multiplies exponentially.
Walid Hanna, Founder and CEO of Middle East Venture Partners – the largest and most established Venture Capital firm in the region – has been active in venture capital and development for close to two decades, and executed over 50 VC investments since 2010.
Walid tells us about the evolution he has witnessed in the investment and start-up landscape over the last eight years, driven by consumer habits and the emergence of new technologies. We also learn what VCs look for when considering which new concepts to add to their portfolio when presented with more than 800 new investment opportunities a year.
