An overview of key trends, investment climate, and real opportunities for regional startups from the floor of Web Summit Qatar 2025.

An article by Yaroslav Kologryvov, CBDO and co-founder of PLATMA AI startup.

In the first part we discussed that Web Summit Qatar 2025 showcased MENA’s evolving tech landscape, with AI, fintech, and cybersecurity taking centre stage, signalling the region’s strategic push for innovation and investment. In the second part, we uncover the real state of venture investment in MENA—what investors are truly looking for, the challenges startups face, and the tangible opportunities the summit provided for scaling businesses in the region.

The real state of venture investment in the region

Officially, the presence of 723 investors was announced at the summit. I cannot say that my startup and others were able to meet with each of them (as with any large event, this is practically impossible). However, the quality of interaction with them was significantly higher than at other regional events.

The compact format of the summit (4 times smaller than in Lisbon) contributed to deeper and more substantive discussions. Working at the PLATMA exhibition booth, I noted several key trends in the investment landscape:

What investors are looking for

• Focus on practical application. Investors no longer respond to merely "innovative ideas" – they are looking for projects with proven results and a clear monetisation strategy. Solutions in the fields of business AI, fintech, and operational process optimisation were especially in demand.
• Regional specificity. Copying Western business models without considering local specifics no longer attracts serious investors. Successful startups demonstrated a deep understanding of regional peculiarities – cultural, regulatory, and infrastructural.

What doesn't work

• "Raw" ideas without an MVP. Investors showed minimal interest in projects at the idea stage without a working prototype or first customers.
• Global solutions without local adaptation. Projects that don't take into account the specifics of the MENA region attracted almost no attention.
• Focus only on technology without understanding the business model. Technically complex projects without a clear path to monetisation did not interest investors.

The real value of Web Summit for regional startups

Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) offered perhaps the most tangible and practical opportunity: free annual registration instead of the standard fee of $4,000. Of course, we, like many other startups, did not miss the opportunity to take advantage of this offer. More than 1,634 companies registered to open offices in Qatar, and 156 received licences directly during the event.

Practical opportunities for startups:

• Infrastructural support. Besides QFC, active support for startups was provided by Qatar National Bank (QNB) and Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI). Unlike purely marketing statements, here we're talking about specific programmes and resources.
• Quality networking. The adequate size of the event allowed for effective use of time for communication with potential partners and investors. The absence of exhausting queues and hustle, characteristic of other large technology conferences, was a pleasant bonus.
• Concrete results. According to the organisers, early startups that attended Web Summit Qatar 2024 attracted $120 million in funding over the past year. This figure seems plausible, given the activity of investors such as 500 Global, Greycroft, and Peak XV. I'm confident that this year's amounts will be even more significant!
• Regional focus. My colleagues and I believe that Web Summit Qatar differs from GITEX in Dubai or LEAP in Riyadh precisely in its orientation towards the needs of regional startups. 228 Qatari startups had the opportunity to showcase their solutions to the global technology community – and these are really good numbers!

Practical recommendations for startups

For our team, this wasn't the first Web Summit. We had previously been to Lisbon, and I really have something to compare it to. Based on my experience, as well as with the support of Alexey Pavlov, founder of the fintech startup XONO, we've compiled several recommendations for startups planning to participate in future events:

• Use infrastructural opportunities. Offers from structures like QFC are not just marketing actions but a real opportunity to reduce operational costs when entering the Qatar market.
• Focus on demonstrating practical applications. Investors in the region have become more selective and are looking for solutions with proven effectiveness.
• Adapt your product to regional peculiarities. Taking into account cultural, linguistic, and regulatory aspects significantly increases the chances of attracting both investments and first customers.
• Use the size of the event to your advantage. The compactness of Web Summit Qatar compared to giant conferences allows for more efficient planning of meetings and establishing valuable contacts.

"Web Summit Qatar is a powerful platform for young startups to gain visibility, learn from industry leaders, and connect with potential investors and partners. My advice to startups is to enter the summit with a strategic approach—define clear objectives, whether it’s raising funds, forming partnerships, or gaining industry insights," noted Alexey Pavlov, founder of the fintech startup XONO.

Also according to Alexey, Web Summit provides a structured way to transact through:

• Investor Office Hours – Private 1-on-1 meetings with VCs.
• Startup Showcases & Pitch Competitions – Giving startups high visibility.
• Workshops on fundraising strategies & regional regulations – Helping startups align with investor expectations.
• Follow-up networking events – Keeping the momentum alive post-summit. To secure deals, startups should send follow-ups immediately after meetings and demonstrate traction through real-world use cases.

Conclusion: A realistic view of the future

Web Summit Qatar showed that despite the global decline in venture funding, the MENA region continues to actively develop and attract investments. Qatar is successfully positioning itself as a technology hub, creating not only attractive conditions for startups but also real infrastructure.

Our experience and the experience of other startups we talked to at this event were unequivocally positive. We not only took advantage of the QFC offer but also established valuable contacts that are already beginning to bring practical results.

For startups considering the MENA region as a promising market, Web Summit Qatar represents real value – not as a place to collect business cards, but as a platform for establishing quality connections and practical steps for market entry. Unlike larger and noisier events, the emphasis here is on the quality of interaction, not on quantitative indicators.

I am confident that in the coming years, we will see a growth in the number of successful projects that started precisely thanks to the connections and opportunities obtained at Web Summit Qatar.