Get All Access for $5/mo

The Investor's View: Does Attending Ecosystem Events Improve Chances Of Investment Walid Tahabsem, founder and CEO of ITG, and co-founder and board member of Oasis500 on the importance of events for entrepreneurs.

By Walid Tahabsem

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Shutterstock

How many ecosystem events have you attended this year as an entrepreneur hoping to meet a potential investor? Startups tell us that one of the primary reasons they choose to go to MENA region events is to improve their chances of funding. We asked investors based in the Middle East, from angels to VCs, to talk back and give us their views on whether startups attending events were better positioned to garner investor interest.

THE Q When assessing startups for potential investment, do you consider how often they attend events in the ecosystem?

"What is important [for investors] is the quality of the entrepreneurs and their ability to drive their ideas forward to achieve success. Part of that is their knowledge and ability to understand and work within the ecosystem, which is very important in evaluating any startup. Attending events and being part of places like ArabNet, STEP, RiseUp, MITEF etc. is one way of getting that knowledge. That said, we have to remember that some entrepreneurs have it by instinct -but those are not many- and therefore each and every entrepreneur should evaluate themselves honestly to decide how much of that knowledge they lack, and accordingly decide on how much they need to be involved in such places. Mentors should play a big role in the evaluation and selection process."

Related: The Investor's View: Does Attending Ecosystem Events Improve Chances Of Investment

Walid Tahabsem

Founder & CEO, ITG and co-founder & Board Member, Oasis500

Walid Tahabsem is a Jordanian tech entrepreneur who founded Integrated Technology Group (ITG) back in 1989. Today, as ITG’s President and CEO, he leads one of the most successful IT companies offering quality end-to-end products and services for the education and public sectors in more than 20 countries worldwide.

Walid is also the co-founder and a board member of Oasis500, the region’s premier education and counselor-driven seed investment program. He also serves on the Board of Endeavor, Prince Hamzah Bin Al Hussein School Board of Trustees, and Jordan’s ICT Advisory Council. Walid has been an active member of a number of key national boards, councils and associations including; Jordan’s National Agenda, Jordan’s Board of Education, Jordan University for Science and Technology (JUST) Advisory Council, German Jordan University (GJU) Advisory Council, Information Technology Association of Jordan (INT@J) Board, and Jordan’s Youth Development Program INJAZ.

He is an active member of Saudi Al-Aghar Thinktank, a non-profit, independent Think-Tank aiming to transform Saudi Arabia into a Knowledge Society. He was recently awarded with the Order of Independence, by His Majesty King Abdullah II Bin Al Hussein, which makes him the first Jordanian honored in this category.

 

 

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Marketing

5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Presentation

Are you tired of enduring dull presentations? Over the years, I have compiled a list of common presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Here are my top five tips.

Leadership

The Corporate Titan: Dalya Al Muthanna, President and CEO, GE Gulf

For a woman entrepreneur or as senior management at a multinational corporation, in largely male dominated industries, it's important to remember that you are opening doors for more women to achieve, and that you're setting an example for others as a female leader of commerce.

Growing a Business

Bulletproof Terms for Every Contract

These 23 must-include terms will help prevent an attack on any contract you establish.

Growth Strategies

Strong Foundations: Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group CEO, Arada

Building on seven years of Arada Group's exponential growth, its Group CEO Ahmed Alkhoshaibi details the UAE master developer's global agenda.

Science & Technology

5 Rule-Bending AI Hacks to Make Your Mornings More Productive and Profitable

By 2025, AI will transform productivity by streamlining workflows and cutting costs. Major companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are leading the way, advancing AI into "Phase 3," where tools act as digital assistants. Discover 5 AI hacks to boost efficiency and redefine your daily routine.