According to research firm PitchBook, venture capital funding for technology startups in Europe is down 1.5 billion USD, falling from 4.3 billion USD in the second quarter of 2015 to 2.8 billion USD in the second quarter of this year. UK startups have received the most funding of all European startups, bringing in 994 million…
For a technology solution provider, breaking into a new market requires a clear-cut strategy. In the case of the hospitality market, this strategy ideally involves networking with hoteliers and showcasing solutions in a direct, hands-on manner. Sparking the interest of Hotel Directors, Purchasing Officers and General Managers is not always as simple as sending them…
Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP) recently closed its second Middle East Venture Fund at 32 million USD – and in doing so, the venture capital firm became the largest independent funder of new businesses in the Middle East. MEVP specialises in startups within the digital and tech sphere. It currently has 120 million USD worth…
The recent 3.5 billion USD investment by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) into Uber has been the topic of heated discussion since its announcement in June. The investment gave the PIF’s Managing Director, Yasir Al Rumayyan, a seat on Uber’s Board of Directors, and this aspect of the deal has been criticised by some.…
Developments in hotel technology are taking hold quickly in the Middle East, with hotel chains adapting new ways to interact with and cater to guests using cutting-edge technology. The most recent arrival on the hotel technology scene is a mobile app that allows hotels to receive feedback from guests. The app can be customised with…
With governments across the Middle East and North Africa predicted to spend 11.5 billion USD on information technology this year, competition among investors for lucrative opportunities is high. However, given the relatively underdeveloped tech sector in the Middle East, many investors in the regional are feeling the need to look abroad for promising tech startups…
2016 is shaping up to be an excellent year for the US tech sector, with US startups receiving a massive 15.3 billion USD in investment from venture capitalists in the first quarter of this year alone. This represents a 20 percent increase over the first quarter of the year, although the number of deals dropped.…
KBW Investments, which was founded and is chaired by Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia, has recently partnered with Ascorel Group, a French technology company, to launch Ascorel Middle East. Ascorel specialises in technology designed to enhance the safety and control of civil engineering machines, lifting equipment and firefighting equipment. Its products…
According to a recent projection by analyst firm Gartner, governments across the Middle East and North Africa will spend 11.5 billion USD on information technology this year – a 2 percent increase over the 2015 expenditure figure. Though 2 percent does not necessarily represent a massive boost, the figure itself is significant in that highlights…
As Middle Eastern economies continue to diversify away from oil in the wake of the oil price crash, investors in the region are also ramping up their investments into alternative energy and cleantech. HSBC Holdings Plc. estimates that 80 trillion USD in financing will be required to wean the world’s economy off fossil fuels, and…