This summer, thousands of moms and dads will load their children onto buses and hug them goodbye as they head off to camp to pursue their childhood dreams. Many of these kids will devote their time to practicing their curveballs and base stealing on the diamond. Undoubtedly, all of them will be dreaming of becoming the next Mike Trout or Christian Yelich. But what are the odds that the kid sitting…
The Canadian startup scene is ready to perform on the global stage -- but, according to two of Canada’s most active investors, it’s in need of a pep talk. Both Bruce Croxon and Anthony Lacavera argue that Canadian startups have incredible potential yet often exit early or sell out to large foreign companies. They feel like (and I would agree) overcoming this mentality and trying…
When it comes to global startup hotspots, few places come close to the UAE. Despite strong competition from other nations, including New Zealand, Singapore, Norway and Sweden, the UAE more than hold its own in the battle to attract the world’s top entrepreneurs. Even countries purported to be the best in the world for entrepreneurs –Germany and Japan– would find it hard to match…
I have witnessed all kinds of business cycles during my 15 years in the UAE. Those were the days when prices of commercial properties and offices were skyrocketing. Areas around Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road crossed AED350 per square foot. The cost of setting up businesses was high when compared to other leading economies, especially for startups, and on top of that, the long circuitous, and…
The UAE startup ecosystem has developed significantly in the last couple of years and is leading the MENA region in terms of investments. In 2017, US$560 million was invested in 260 startups, according to research from community platform MAGNiTT. With the UAE committed to strengthening its non-oil sector through diversification, startups and SMEs are rightly being recognized for the crucial role they…
The UAE is one of the best places in the world to locate a startup due to its healthy economy, attractive finance options, impressive infrastructure and extensive government support. But the icing on the cake for many entrepreneurs is the exciting mix of potential clients– right on your doorstep. So, let’s break down why the UAE has such a strong pool of potential clients for…
