Ending Soon! Save 33% on All Access

The Investor's View: Does Attending Ecosystem Events Improve Chances Of Investment? BECO Capital co-founder Amir Farha on whether events presence are considered when funding startups.

By Amir Farha

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?

"In short, none of the companies that we've invested in today were found through events. One can argue that the best entrepreneurs are the ones who don't have time to attend events, and are too busy working on their existing business. That said, I think events will become an interesting source of deal flow as the ecosystem matures and more entrepreneurs are looking for funding so much so that it's di cult for VCs to review all the incoming deals, and attending events allows them to separate signal from noise."

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

Amir Farha

Co-founder & Managing Partner, BECO Capital

Amir Farha is an entrepreneur, angel investor, startup advisor, and mentor. He has looked at early stage businesses from every angle, starting with a Swedish corporate VC firm based in London, followed by a stint at what was then the first seed capital fund in the MENA region, the Arab Business Angel Network (part of Dubai International Capital), before becoming an entrepreneur himself. Farha has invested in and confounded a number of local businesses, including Toolman, a property maintenance businesses; Purple PR, a boutique PR company which he successfully exited in 2012; and Tandem Partners, a startup and small business advisory firm in which he pled over 80 companies plan and grow their businesses. Farha is a co-founder of BECO Capital, and he currently sits on the board of two portfolio companies.
Growth Strategies

Unicorns Vs. Zebras: Rethinking What Counts For Entrepreneurial Success In The MENA Region

Unlike unicorns, which prioritize rapid growth and sky-high valuations, zebras focus on sustainability, profitability, and social impact.

Technology

Abu Dhabi-Based VGLNT Launches The Middle East's First Artificial Intelligence-Powered Fact-Checking Tool

As VGLNT takes the lead in combating misinformation and promoting accuracy, the UAE solidifies its position as a pioneer in shaping the future of technology and innovation on a global scale.

Starting a Business

L'Oréal TechQuest Winners From The UAE And KSA Now Eye Singapore Finale Of The L'Oréal Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program

The four startups won the TechQuest challenge by L'Oréal Middle East and Astrolabs, which was the Middle East's regional semi-finals of the wider L'Oréal Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program.

Leadership

Leading The Way: Saudi Arabia's Dr. Hayat Sindi

Saudi Arabia's Dr. Hayat Sindi on why the field of science needs female forerunners.

Entrepreneurs

Abu Dhabi-Based Femtech Startup Ovasave Is On A Mission To Help Women Achieve Their Reproductive Freedom

Ovasave is a tech platform that offers a variety of solutions for women to access seamless, integrated, and digitally-enabled fertility and egg freezing consultation services.

Leadership

He Was Born in 1949, But He Built A City For 2071: Entrepreneurial Lessons From The Dynamic Dichotomy Of The Ruler Of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

A dissection of the incredible business acumen of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai- a man who was born in 1949, but has built a metropolitan with an aesthetic of 2071.