Untold stories of high-tech entrepreneurs revealed in Startup Arabia book

A book that shares the untold stories of high-tech entrepreneurs in the Middle East has been launched.

Startup Arabia: Stories and Advice from Top Tech Entrepreneurs in the Arab World by Amir Hegazi boasts a collection of interviews with the region’s most influential business names including the force behind e-commerce giants Jabbar Group, Souq and Maktoob, Samih Toukan, as well as the founder of ride-hailing app Careem, Mudassir Sheikha.

Others include the founder of streaming service Starz Play, Maaz Sheikh, and the creator of online shopping destination Mumzworld, Mona Ataya.

The book aims to share the early days and struggles of the entrepreneurs and the startups they created, exploring the ways in which they formed their initial ideas, as well as the challenges they encountered and overcame along the way.

Hegazi hopes the lessons shared in Startup Arabia will benefit the next generation of Middle East entrepreneurs not only in business, but also in creating a more developed and sustainable ecosystem in the region.

“Their stories offer more than business lessons; they represent an insightful case study of how technology and innovation can affect long-standing social barriers, paving the way for a better and more promising future. They also share what they believe is required to ensure continued development of a startup ecosystem in the region,” he said.

“Ultimately, Startup Arabia provides an eye-opening, refreshing look at the entrepreneurial journey and a much-needed call to action to aspiring entrepreneurs across the region to help shape the future of the Arab world,” he added.

Amir Hegazi is himself an entrepreneur, with over 15 years of tech, e-commerce and digital media experience, including at Souq.com. He is the managing partner of intoMENA Group, a consulting firm that helps global firms conduct business in the MENA region. He is based between Dubai and Los Angeles.

Startup Arabia is available online at Amazon.