“To widen the gate of opportunity, the
region requires entrepreneurs, innovators,
educators and policymakers to clear the
path to 85 million new jobs.“
H.M. King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein
Amman is the
10thbest place to start
a technology companyin the world
Jordan ranked
#1in number of technology deals
funded in 2012 in the Middle East
Jordan ranked
#2in the Middle East By amount of funds
invested
References:- Bloomberg.com- Sindibad Business Reportfor Wamda.com
Stay a believer ….
The entrepreneur is our hero …
An accelerator is the first believer
Thomas Carlyle Lectures May 1840
On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and The Heroic in Historyis a book published 1841 –collection of six lectures.
Entrepreneurs …Great Men …
“Universal History, the history of what man has
accomplished in this world, is at bottom the History of the
Great Men who have worked here. They were the leaders
of men, these great ones; the modelers, patterns, and in a
wide sense creators, of whatsoever the general mass of
men contrived to do or to attain; all things that we see
standing accomplished in the world are properly the outer
material result, the practical realization and embodiment, of
Thoughts that dwelt in the Great Men sent into the world:
the soul of the whole world's history, it may justly be
considered, were the history of these. Too clearly it is a
topic we shall do no justice to in this place!”
Inspiration ….
“One comfort is, that Great Men, taken up in anyway, are profitable company. We cannot look,however imperfectly, upon a great man, withoutgaining something by him. He is the living light-fountain, which it is good and pleasant to be near.The light which enlightens, which has enlightenedthe darkness of the world; and this not as a kindledlamp only, but rather as a natural luminary shiningby the gift of Heaven; a flowing light-fountain, as Isay, of native original insight, of manhood andheroic nobleness ….. “
By believing we grow the oneto many, to thousands, to millions ….
“Every new opinion, at its starting, is precisely ina minority of one. In one man's head alone,there it dwells as yet. One man alone of thewhole world believes it; there is one managainst all men.”
Relentless: Key for the Vision & end in mind
“Having a Vision is not enough. It must becombined with imagination, determination, faith,hope and passion. It is not enough to just stare upat the stars...we must become the stars that thestars shine down on.” Victoria June
“Good business leaders create a vision, articulatethe vision, passionately own the vision, andrelentlessly drive it to completion.” Jack Welch
Reflect: keep asking why …
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” Mark Twain
“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” Eleanor Roosevelt
Respond: we are in an open lab with global applications
mobile broadband networks –Q2 2013
Turkey (59%), United Arab Emirates (55%), Saudi Arabia
(54%)
Southern Europe (45%), Western Europe (50%),
Northern Europe around (60%)
One language = 25 countries75% younger than 3559% younger than 15
Relevant & Depth = the right to winA balance between the tip of the iceberg, and
the mountain we don’t see
Respect: conformity vs..perceived chaos
• “Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” Steve Jobs
Accelerating Tech Start-ups in The Middle East
10 years ………… is tomorrow. 65 or 83 Million Jobs
• Investments required;
– Identify 3.7 million ideas/startups
– 365,000 businesses that can grow at a rate capable of employing 200 different skill sets
– 14.6bn USD
• Acceleration in MENA must have a new definition;
– must be disruptive yet relevant;
– Should leverage the Fiscal driven expenditure;
– Focus on being regional footprint that has a global right to win
• Launched to help existing companies, operating in the market,to acquire a much larger growth capital from investmentfunds.
• We launched this program after realizing that existingcompanies have a real need for investment as well that is notbeing addressed by local and regional investment firms.
• The investment can range from 50,000 USD to USD 500,000• This program is in partnership with Badia fund by ATH
(Accelerator Technology Holdings), Wamda, and MENAVentures
• We have invested in 12 companies so far, and 4 are closingthis week!
Oasis500 – Business Investment Track
Invested in 61 Companies
helped companies secure $12M in follow-on investment
18 Oasis500 companies attracted over $8M follow-on investments
4th Oasis500 Angel Network 6
Investment Impact
Plan Sept2011
June 2013
ApplicationsReceived
850 3500
Companies Trained
225 1000
Investment in Startups
34 60
4th Oasis500 Angel Network 8
Development Impact