Funding Activity

The seventh Investing Forum in Science and Technology program

Forum Day 1: Matchmaking Day (May 11th , 2010)
8:00 - 9:00 Registration
9:00-13:00 Investors – Entrepreneur Match Making Sessions
Entrepreneurs Presentations and Investors Panel Feedback
Output: ASTF Top Arab Startups Ready for Investment
13:00-14:00 Lunch Break
14:00-17:00 Match Making Sessions - Investors Panel ( Continue )
19:00 - 22:00 Opening Ceremony: Welcoming Speeches and Dinner
- Dr. Wissam Rabadi, Program Manager, Arab Science and Technology Foundation
- Dr. Zarouni, CEO Dubai Silicon Oasis
- Dr. Abdalla Alnajjar, Chairman, Arab Science and Technology Foundation

Keynote Speaker:
- Dr. Walden Rhines, Chairman & CEO, Mentor Graphics, USA
Forum Day 2: Conference Day ( May 12th , 2010)
8:00 - 9:00 Registration
9:00 - 10:30 Panel Discussion I : Multinational Corporation as a Driver for of Regional Innovation

The panel will highlight the role that Multinational Corporations (MNC) are playing to drive innovation through activities: Corporate VC Funding, M&A, Corporate Social Responsibility, strategic partnership with local startups, spin-outs and technology transfer and licensing

Moderator: Sam Al kharrat, Managing Director , Gulf & Pakistan Region, Cisco Systems, UAE
Speakers:
  • Jihad (Jay) Srage, Vice President, Business Development, Qualcomm, UAE
  • Rich Goldman, Vice President, Corporate Marketing & Strategic Alliances, Synopsys, USA
  • Mr. Husni Khuffash, Country Business Manager, Google, UAE
  • Dr. John Waclawsky, ex-Chief Architect, Motorola Inc., USA
  • Sami Issa, Executive Director, ATIC, UAE
10:30 - 12:00 Networking Coffee Break
12:00 - 13:30 Panel Discussion II: Role of Government, NGOs and Academia in Developing the Regional Ecosystem

The panel will high light the role that governments, civil society organizations and universities are playing in developing the innovation ecosystem in the region such as: policy to promote entrepreneurship, government-backed VC funds, entrepreneurship education and technology transfer from academia and research institutions

Moderator: Ray Milhem, CTO, Dubai Silicon Oasis, UAE
Speakers:
  • Nizar Cheniour , Director, Entrepreneurship Development, Khalifa Fund, UAE
  • Omar Hamarneh, CEO, El Hassan Science city, Jordan
  • Dr. Abdelhakim Hammach, Senior Advisor, Investment, Riyadh Techno Valley, KSA
  • Mr. Robert Ayan, Managing Director, Cambridge Advisors, USA
  • Simon Edward, CEO, Mowgli Foundation, UK
13:30 - 14:30 Lunch Break
14:30 - 16:00 Panel Discussion III: Venture Capital and Business Angels: Activities and Trends

This panel will attempt to discuss the recent activities of VCs and Angel Investors and the future trends in the industry. Speakers will address issues such as: recent investment, quality and quantity of deal flow, successful exits, attractive opportunities and pressing challenges.

Moderator: Mohammed Alzubi, Director, Business Development and Investment, DSO, UAE
Speakers:
  • Daniel Durn, Executive Director, Acquisitions and Portfolio Management, ATIC, UAE
  • Dr. Ussam Fayyad, Chairman, Oasis 500, Jordan
  • Feroz Sanaulla, Regional Director, Middle East, Turkey and Africa, Intel Capital UAE
  • Ahmed Gomma, CEO, Technology Development Fund, Egypt
  • Ghazi Ben Othman, General Partner, MINAH Ventures, Tunisia
  • M. Barig Siraj, CEO, ICT Ventures, KSA
16:00 -16:30 Networking Coffee Break
16:30 - 18:00 Panel Discussion IV: The Regional Innovation Ecosystem from the Entrepreneur perspective
The speakers on the panel are successful Arab entrepreneurs. They will share their own experience in starting and growing their businesses, opportunities and challenges and what should be done to improve the entrepreneurial activities in the region and increase the chances for success

Moderator: Mr. Majied Qasim, CEI, D1G.com, Jordan
Speakers:
  • Rashid M. Al-Ballaa, CEO, National Net Ventures (N2V), KSA
  • Zaid Ayoub, Founder and CEO, New Energy Co., Jordan
  • Tarek Elesseily, General Manager, Silicon Vision, Egypt
  • Dr. Nasser Kutkut, Director of Florida Energy Systems Consortium, UCF, USA
  • Tariq Alasiri , Founder, argaam.com, UAE
  • Habib Haddad, Founder, Yamli, Lebanon
Forum Day 3: Workshops Day (May 13th , 2010)
8:00 - 9:00 Registration
9:00 - 13:00 Workshop 1 : Building High-tech Economies: Experiences from around the World (Synopses)
14:00 -17:00 Workshop 2 : Starting business in the Electronic Design Industry (Mentor Graphics)
9:00 - 17:00 Workshop 3 : Best Practices in VC Management: lessons from Silicon Valley and Realities of MENA region

- Target Audience: Investors and Fund Managers
End of Forum