Bahrain to host MENA Angel investor summit

Manama : Tenmou, Bahrain’s first ‘Business Angels’ organisation, in strategic partnership with the Economic Development Board (EDB) is preparing to host the third Middle East North Africa (MENA) Angel Investors Summit at Ritz Carlton Hotel, Bahrain on November 22, 23. More than 40 start-ups are expected to attend the event. 

The summit aims to provide a strategic platform to facilitate angel investors and high-potential, innovative entrepreneurs from the MENA region. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to present their business ideas, exchange deal-flow, learn best practices and raise awareness related to angel investment in the region.

Commenting on the announcement, Tenmou CEO Hasan Haider, “We, at Tenmou, are committed to build a robust support eco-system and position Bahrain as the entrepreneurial hub for the MENA region. Our strategic partnership with the Economic Development Board has helped us to further develop this cooperation between angel investors and venture capitalists over the years.”

“We have witnessed several deals being signed and start-ups connect with leading industry leaders and angel investors from around the world. This year again, we have a strong line-up of high-potential entrepreneurs who will be able to unleash the potential of angel investors and challenge them to make tangible, measurable commitments to support their endeavours,” he added. 

Last year, over 300 angel investors and entrepreneurs from the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and the US Silicon Valley participated in the MENA Summit. 

Regional agreements worth more than US$4 million were signed as a result of the summit last year.

EDB CE Khalid Al Rumaihi said the MENA region, and the GCC in particular, offers globally unique opportunities for investment in the technology sector. 

“It has a young, growing, technologically adept and affluent population which is an essential driver for the rapid growth in demand for mobile data, applications and services and startups in particular will have a big role to play in the future growth of the economy.

“The summit allow us to continue to have conversations with some of the best startups in the Kingdom, and to learn about the challenges and opportunities they experience in order to ensure that they have the tools to thrive in their environment and build an ecosystem that is supportive for future innovation,” the EDB chief added.