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Qatar Science & Technology Park Investment Director Dr. Danny Ramadan is all about the long-term game when it comes to making Qatar a hub for tech innovation.

Zenda, a UAE-based startup aiming to ease how parents in MENA pay school bills with pay-now and pay-later options, has raised US$9.4 million in an oversubscribed seed round.

Dubai-based fintech startup Stake offers a simple and accessible approach to investing in real estate properties in the UAE.

With a vision to disrupt domestic tourism and hospitality operations in Qatar, Egypt, and the MENA region through digital transformation, Turismo's goal is to offer a seamless and worthwhile experience in the region, for both residents and visitors alike.

Paul Misener, Vice President for Global Innovation Policy and Communications at Amazon, describes how his company continues to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit within the enterprise.

Founded in 2019, the edtech platform is the brainchild of Hamdi Tabbaa, Hussein Alsarabi, and Sabri Hakim.

Designed for fashionable conscious consumers, Veganologie's first collection consisted of crossbody bags, wallets, and card holders, made using vegan and sustainable materials.

Using online targeting techniques, Override's algorithm can tailor a brand's message for the people that will most likely respond to it, whether they're on the road or stuck in traffic.

Led by husband-and-wife duo Ben and Neha Samuel, Fit On Click helps corporates and residents in the UAE maintain an active lifestyle by incorporating sports and physical activity in their day-to-day lives.

The startup aims to provide its products to businesses in other Arab countries who face the same challenges that customers in Saudi face, which is the ability to analyze Arabic content in online channels.

Dibsy, a homegrown Qatar fintech enterprise, was founded on the premise of making processing online payments as simple as possible.

Foodics' acquisition is a strategic move that will help solidify its position and become the market leader in Egypt, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan, while also opening the possibilities for further M&A activities and international expansion.

hapondo is a homegrown real estate marketplace that helps connect tenants and property buyers with real estate companies in Qatar.

Dubai Startup Hub held a virtual pitching session to choose the 10 finalists of its Smartpreneur Competition 6.0.

Its new funding will be used to fuel Calo's expansion into the GCC, recruit talent in different areas, and invest more resources in executing its product roadmap.

GCC-based venture capital firm VentureSouq has announced the launch of its US$50 million venture fund to focus on fintech early-stage entities across the MENA region and Pakistan.

With its new capital, the team aims to accelerate its growth by ramping up customer acquisition, continuing to build their features, and growing the global remote team.

With the transaction, Helium Health will deploy its technology and healthcare financial solutions across the MENA region.

Enabling you to drive a car without owning one, ekar is the Middle East's first self-drive mobility startup, offering users on-demand access to a network of vehicles available for rent and leasing subscription.

"By seeding innovation into the very fabric of the UAE and creating an ecosystem that can identify, support, and nurture innovations, the UAE continues to push the boundaries of progress."

With the inflow of fresh capital, the Rebel Foods team has been reported to be exploring an initial public offering within the next two years.

As the mindful craft of pottery gains popularity in the world at large, entrepreneur Reema Abu Hassan is aiming to infuse a love for the art in Qatar through her enterprise, Clay Encounters.

Founded in 2018 by Thea Myhrvold, Getbee aims to empower brands to offer live, social personalized services and enhance a consumer's online retail experience.

"What I have learned to overcome is the feeling of frustration that is associated with those pre-conceived notions."

Takalam, which means speak in Arabic, connects individuals and entities directly with professional counselors through a private and personalized digital experience using video, audio, and instant messaging, with the option of anonymity.

With a vision to reduce food insecurity, carbon, and freshwater use in the MENA region's food sector (and hopefully, across the world), Red Sea Farms develops sustainable, saltwater-based agriculture systems.

Considered as the first investment by SoftBank in a Saudi startup, it's a commendable feat for the team and their efforts.

"FortyGuard will become a $10 billion company within five years, and $100 billion in 10 years."

Operating in KSA and UAE, Tamara offers consumers with two main products on its website and app: they get to either pay for the item they buy in 30 days, or to split payments for it into three or six instalments.

The latest instalment of Entrepreneur Middle East's #EntMELive online webinar series had key players from the MENA business ecosystem commenting on the state of the regional gig economy, as well as the steps that need to be taken in order to bolster it in the long-term.