Investing Forum in Science and Technology
Connecting Arab Technology Innovators with Global Investors
An international gathering bridging the gap between those who generate technology and those who generate businesses and investments, building strong, innovative, and competitive knowledge-based businesses across the Arab region.
$12 Million
Startup Funding Generated
|
60 Startups Presented |
22 Investment Deals |
Forum Overview
The Investing Forum in Science and Technology (IFST) is an international gathering established by ASTF within their Entrepreneurship Development Initiative. It aims to stimulate investment in emerging technologies throughout the Arab region by connecting technology innovators with business investors.
The forum bridges "the gap between those who generate technology and those who generate businesses and investments." The ultimate vision is developing "strong, innovative and competitive knowledge-based businesses" that drive economic growth and technological advancement across the region.
Strategic Goals
Foster Investment Ecosystems
Discuss development of Arab business angel and venture capital industries engaged in regional economic and technology growth.
Corporate Participation
Enable multinational corporations to showcase their venture capital programs and social responsibility initiatives.
Network Building
Create informal connections among technology leaders, corporations, angels, venture capitalists, and financial institutions.
Investment Matching
Organize private meetings between Arab tech startups with global potential and interested investors.
Track Record of Success
Across seven forums held in Beirut, Jeddah, Manama, Kuwait, Amman, Cairo, and Dubai, the IFST has achieved remarkable results:
Arab Startups Presented
Investment Deals Facilitated
Startup Funding Generated
Attendee Profile
The forum welcomes an exclusive audience across sectors including IT, biotechnology, energy, and financial services:
Investors and Venture Capital Funds
Multinational Corporations
Angel Investors
Technology Leaders and Startups
Universities and Research Institutions
Financial Institutions
Forum History
Since 2001, the Investing Forum in Science and Technology has convened across major Arab cities, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders:
1st Forum
April 27-28, 2001Beirut, Lebanon
Theme: "Success Stories and Promising Opportunities"
Patron: Rafik El-Hariri (Former Lebanese Prime Minister)
Participation: ~50 businessmen and investors, venture capital representatives, and 5 startup companies
2nd Forum
December 18-20, 2004Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Theme: "Local innovation and international competition"
Patron: Prince Abdel-Maged Ibn Abdel-Aziz Al Saud
Participation: ~120 businessmen and investors, 8 startup companies
3rd Forum
September 27-28, 2005Manama, Bahrain
Theme: "More opportunities...and more investment"
Patron: Sheikh Selman Ibn Hamad Al Khalifa (Crown Prince)
Participation: 122 businessmen, 10 startup companies
4th Forum
April 10-11, 2006Kuwait
Theme: "The Arab risk capital industry development"
Patron: Sheikh Nawaf Al-Sabah (Crown Prince)
Participation: 125 businessmen, 17 startup companies
5th Forum
December 12-13, 2007Amman, Jordan
Theme: "Toward the development of venture capital in the Arab world"
Patron: King Abdullah Ibn Hussein
Participation: 125 businessmen, 20 startup companies
6th Forum
May 12-14, 2009Cairo, Egypt
Theme: "In the light of the global financial crisis, the technology is attractive alternative to the Arab capital"
Patron: Dr. Ahmed Nazif (Egyptian Prime Minister)
Participation: 180+ businessmen and investors, 30 startup companies
7th Forum
May 11-13, 2010Dubai, UAE
Theme: "The Establishment of regional integrated innovation system"
Patron: His Highness El-Sheikh Ahmed Ibn Said Al-Maktoum (Chairman of Dubai Silicon Oasis & Emirates Airline CEO)
Participation: ~150 businesspeople, 25 startup ventures, major technology companies
7th Investing Forum in Science and Technology
Dubai, UAE | May 11-13, 2010
Theme: The Establishment of Regional Integrated Innovation System
The 7th forum brought together approximately 150 businesspeople, 25 startup ventures, and major technology companies for three intensive days of matchmaking, panels, and workshops focused on building an integrated regional innovation ecosystem.
Featured: 25 business speakers across three panel sessions, plus three dedicated workshop sessions for entrepreneurs and investors, exploring multinational corporations' roles, government policy, venture capital dynamics, and entrepreneur perspectives.
Forum Program
Day 1 - May 11, 2010: Matchmaking Day
Registration
Investors ? Entrepreneur Match Making Sessions
Entrepreneurs present to investor panels; identifies top Arab startups
Match Making Sessions Continue
Continued investor-entrepreneur interactions
Opening Ceremony & Keynote
Welcoming remarks from ASTF leadership; keynote by Dr. Walden Rhines (Mentor Graphics)
Day 2 - May 12, 2010: Conference Day
Panel I: Multinational Corporations
MNCs' roles in regional innovation through VC funding and partnerships
Panel II: Government & Academia
Government policy, VC funds, and technology transfer initiatives
Panel III: Venture Capital & Angels
Recent investment, quality and quantity of deal flow, and exits
Panel IV: Entrepreneur Perspectives
Successful Arab entrepreneurs share experiences and regional insights
Day 3 - May 13, 2010: Workshops Day
Workshop 1: Building High-Tech Economies
Building high-tech economies globally
Workshop 2: Electronic Design Industry
Electronic design industry fundamentals
Workshop 3: Best Practices in VC Management
Lessons from Silicon Valley for investor and fund manager audience
7th Forum Speakers
Distinguished leaders from across the technology, investment, and entrepreneurship sectors:
Dr. Walden Rhines
Chairman & CEO
Mentor Graphics, USA
Rich Goldman
VP, Corporate Marketing
Synopsys, USA
Husni Khuffash
Regional Manager
Google, UAE
John Waclawsky
Chief Architect
Motorola Inc., USA
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
Robert Ayan
Managing Director
Cambridge Advisors, USA
Simon Edward
CEO
Mowgli Foundation, UK
Sami Issa
Executive Director
ATIC, UAE
Daniel Durn
Executive Director
ATIC, UAE
Dr. Ussama Fayyad
Executive Chairman
OASIS-500, USA
Mohammed Barig Siraj
CEO
ICT Ventures, KSA
Ahmed Gomma
CEO
Ideavelopers, Egypt
Ghazi Ben Othman
General Partner
MINAH Ventures, Tunisia
Dr. Hazem El Tahawy
Managing Director
Mentor Graphics Egypt, Egypt
Sam Alkharrat
Managing Director, Public Sector
Cisco Systems, UAE
Majied Qasem
Managing Director
d1g.com, Jordan
Ray Milhem
CTO
Dubai Silicon Oasis, UAE
Jihad (Jay) Srage
VP, Business Development
Qualcomm, UAE
Mohammed Alzubi
Business Development Manager
Dubai Silicon Oasis, UAE
Success Stories
Entrepreneurs who participated in the Investing Forum and went on to build successful technology companies:
Rashid M. Al-Ballaa
Founder & CEO, National Net Ventures (N2V)
One of the largest internet holding companies in the MENA region. Board member of National Technology Group; founded Direct Broker for Financial Services (DBFS), UAE's first STP e-brokerage company.
Location: Saudi Arabia | Education: B.Sc. Computer Science, King Saud University
Zaid Ayoub
Founder & Managing Partner, New Energy Co.
Focus on clean technology, renewable energy, and carbon trading. Previously founded Dimensions Consulting Inc (DCI), serving semiconductor giants; sold to Antares ATT in 2006.
Location: Jordan | Education: MBA and BSEE, Santa Clara University
Habib Haddad
Founder & CEO, Yamli.com
Arabic search engine and transliteration technology. Founded YallaStartup (entrepreneurship NGO); co-founded INLET; recognized as Young Global Leader by World Economic Forum (2009); "Thirty under 30" honoree.
Location: Lebanon | Education: Computer and Communication Engineering, American University in Beirut; M.S. Electrical Engineering, USC
Tarek Elesseily
General Manager, Silicon Vision
Designs mixed-signal communication products; clients include Intel, TDK, Huawei. Founded in 2007.
Location: Egypt | Education: B.Sc. and M.Sc. Electrical Engineering, Ain Shams University
Dr. Nasser Kutkut
Director, Florida Energy Systems Consortium
Former founder and CEO of Power Designers LLC; consultant to Petra Solar Inc.
Location: USA | Education: PhD Electrical Engineering, MBA Management and Entrepreneurship, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Tariq Al-Asiri
Co-founder & General Manager, Argaam.com
Online financial portal providing valuable information and full coverage to all GCC stock markets.
Location: UAE
Get Involved
Interested in participating in future forums or learning more about investment opportunities in Arab technology startups?