Weekly Wrap-Up: November 04-08
This week, we set off with the first of our three Mix N' Mentor events. We're really excited as ALL events have completely sold out - and we can already tell by the list of attendees that all sessions will result in very valuable exchanges.
Pic of the Week
Knowing exactly what investors are looking for can be pretty difficult, but it's critical if you want to make a successful pitch. Read what our Features Editor Glen had to say about it here.
Upcoming Events
Get ready as we’re taking our Mix N’ Mentor event to three different cities - and all tickets are sold out! Check out the attendee lists here.
09 Nov – Wamda Mix N’ Mentor Amman, co-organized with Oasis500- 10 Nov – Mix N’ Mentor Beirut, co-organized with AltCity
- 15 Nov – Mix N’ Mentor Dubai
Each event will have its own twist; and its own list of speakers.
Other Upcoming Events
- 10 Nov - Amman Meets Silicon Valley's Geeks on a Plane
- 15 Nov - Startup Weekend Algeria
- 15 Nov - Pioneers of Egypt Award Program by Etijah and the Synergos Institute
Make sure to check wamda.com/events, or follow @WamdaME on Twitter to stay updated about more events you can!
Entrepreneur of the Week
This week's 'Entrepreneur of the Week' is shared between Hind and Nadia Wassef, co-founder of Diwan Bookstore. Launched in 2002, the two sisters now manage 10 branhes across Egypt. Watch their interview to find out how they did it.
Wamda TV Face-Off
This week we hosted our first Face Off, a new series that pits startups in the same sector against each other to discuss the issues they face, successes they've had, and details of their business model. Our Face Off this week was between Souq.com and MarkaVIP, check it out to see how their models compare.
Articles you Might have Missed
The Most Active VCs in the Arab World in 2012
This week, we chose to highlight the Arab world’s most active venture capital funds, targeting startups at different stages of development. Find out how we built the list, and how the VCs rank here.
10 Education Technology Resources for the Arab World
Last week, Wamda contributor extraordinare Nafez Dakkak brought you two ways to give education in the Arab world a fresh boost. In this post, he shares 10 education techonology resources that can help overcome challenges in education. Read about them here.
Cashless in Kenya: A Mobile Money Experiment Using M-PESA
M-Pesa, launched in 2007, has quickly become the tool to help "bank the unbanked", and now dominates the market for mobile money transactions. In fact, 20% of the country's GDP moves through M-Pesa. Impressed? Find out more here.
Wild Peeta Goes Lean, Launching Crowdfunded Franchises and a New TV Show
Having tried Dubai's "go big or go home" approach and manoeuvered through a steep learning curve, the Al Awadhi brothers are not switching gears: going lean, and launching a TV show. Find out more here.
Anghami is the Arab world's first mobile and web music streaming platform, offering close to 2 million Arabic and international titles, and the ability to swipe through titles and share them with friends directly - all in one beautiful app. See for yourself, the first 100 Wamda readers to sign up using the promocode in the post get to download the app for free!
How LinkedIn Is Growing In The Middle East [Infographic]
A couple of months ago, we told you that LinkedIn had officially opened for business, by setting up an office in Dubai. So how exactly does the Middle East use LinkedIn? How large is the gender gap? Find out here.
The Rise of Insane!, Morocco's First Co-Working Space
iNSANE! is a co-working space like no other. Hosting events like Pitch Please! and the TEDx Casablanca Salon, this new space firmly believes that in a country where unemployment is soaring, entrepreneurship is the way. Find out what sets Morocco's first co-working space apart from others in the region here.
Silicon Valley investors Geeks on a Plane are coming to our Mix N' Mentor event in Amman on Nov 9th! Entrepreneurs will get a chance to chat with them in a casual group setting where they can voice opinions and discuss the challenges of their startups. If you're looking to pitch, sign up before November 5th.
Doing Business is Getting Easier Around the World [Infographic]
Check out the World Bank's 'Doing Business 2013' report (and infographic) to find out stats about the ease of opening a business, women in the workforce, regulatory environment in specific case study countries, reforms in African business regulations, and reforms by region. See it here.
Bayt.com's Rabea Ataya on Failure, Success, and Keeping Things Fresh [Wamda TV]
Rabea Ataya of Bayt.com discusses his perspective on failure and what galvanized the success of Bayt, as well as what they do to remain innovative and set their platform apart from competing businesses. Watch his interview to find out how he defines failure.
Ex-Sukar CEO to Launch Fab.com Clone for the Middle East
Can a design e-commerce site succeed in the Middle East? That’s a question that Muhammad Chbib, the ex-CEO of Sukar, will be asking this year- he’s set to launch Desado, a Fab.com clone for the Middle East, by the end of 2012.
