Business leaders and high-impact entrepreneurs to share insights in Dubai for Endeavor UAE's first Scale-up UAE event

- Invaluable opportunity to help entrepreneurs shift mindset from start-up to scale-up
- Speed Networking Session will offer 20 entrepreneurs invaluable opportunity to pitch their business to key international investors

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 21st February 2016: A stellar lineup of industry leaders are confirmed to attend the first ‘Scale-up UAE’, a one-day event focused on shifting the mindset of regional entrepreneurs from start-up to high-impact scale-up. Highlighting the increasingly important role the private sector plays in generating sustained employment and economic growth in the region, the event brings together a network of highly experienced entrepreneurs, mentors and investors from the UAE, Middle East and abroad, for a series of expert-led interactive panel discussions on issues faced by entrepreneurs at every stage of scaling their business.

Organized by Endeavor UAE – the local affiliate of the non-profit organization helping high-impact entrepreneurs around the globe – Scale-Up UAE takes place on Tuesday, 1st March at the Four Seasons Hotel Dubai, and is open to interested entrepreneurs through online pre-registration.

Panelists include a broad and dynamic mix of high profile business leaders and entrepreneurs including Patrick Chalhoub, Co-CEO of Chalhoub Group; Souheil Hajjar, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) Trust; Rabea Ataya, CEO of Bayt.com; Ihsan Jawad, Partner at MEVP & formerly co-founder of Zawya; Karl Magnus, co-founder of Careem; Khaled Talhouni, Managing Partner at Wamda Capital; Noor Sweid, Managing Partner at Leap Ventures; Dany Farha, Managing Partner at BECO Capital; Charif Mzayek, CEO at Alissar Flowers; and Ronaldo Mouchawar, CEO of Souq.com who will offer diverse perspectives and insights into the business opportunities and challenges of scaling up in the MENA region.  Highlights will also include interactive sessions with Endeavor UAE entrepreneurs Idriss Al Rifai of Fetchr, Michael Lahyani of Propertyfinder.ae and Mona Ataya of Mumzworld, who have successfully navigated MENA’s equity and capital markets and overcome region-specific challenges to scale up.

“There is much support for start-ups within the region, but too often those who have progressed beyond the initial stages of success and are ready to scale-up, are overlooked. These are some of the most important entrepreneurs in any market, thanks to their high propensity for job creation and sustained economic growth. Scale-Up UAE is an exciting and exceptional opportunity for entrepreneurs to learn from and interact directly with captains of industry and inspiring role models who’ve achieved success through scale,” said Noor Shawwa, Managing Director, Endeavor UAE.

Of particular importance to entrepreneurs with growing businesses, ‘The Money’ panel discussion will offer an in depth look at closing successful funding rounds at all stages and from all perspectives.  Attendees will hear first-hand from regional entrepreneurs the common pitfalls and mistakes encountered, how to identify a good investor match that adds value beyond capital, and what constitutes a smart investor.

Other sessions include:

• ‘The Mindset’ highlighting the main changes from start-up to scale-up and the different priorities, challenges and opportunities that evolve as businesses grow
• ‘The People’ focusing on human capital and how best to attract, retain and optimize a team to take the company to the next level
• ‘Accessing Markets’ and the unique challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the Middle East while scaling-up across geographies
• ‘The Support’ discussing what factors help “move the needle” to enable scale-up entrepreneurs to thrive, from large corporates and governments to mentoring.

An invaluable opportunity is also being presented to 20 entrepreneurs to secure a place in a Speed Networking Session.  The session offers each successful candidate the chance to pitch their business to a number of highly regarded investors in one-on-one investment matchmaking sessions. Confirmed regional investors include Khaled Talhouni, Wamda Capital; Noor Sweid, Leap Ventures; Issa Aghabi, twofour54 and Samih Toukan, Jabbar Internet Group, who will also be joined by international investors Vivian Baring, DMGT International; Roni Elchahal, General Atlantic Partners; Pedro Vargas David, Alpac Capital; Jan Nyholm, Mountain Partners; Phil Wickham and Jeff Harbach, Kauffman Fellows Program (KFP); Raj Gollamudi, Intel Capital; Ruzgar Barisik, IFC Venture Capital Fund and Basem Salfiti, Hummingbird Ventures.

Scale-Up UAE will run concurrently with the 62nd International Selection Panel (ISP) of Endeavor Global, also taking place in Dubai from 1-3 March. The largest ISP in the history of the organization, a record 52 entrepreneurs from 18 countries will undergo an intensive selection process in Dubai conducted by a panel of international board members and mentors.  Successful candidates are selected by unanimous vote to join the new class of Endeavor Entrepreneurs. Endeavor UAE will have five entrepreneurs from three prospective companies taking part in the ISP, hoping to extend the affiliate’s total count to 20 entrepreneurs from 15 companies if all are successful.