Startups won't stop: UAE ecosystem set for livelier 2019
Ankit Sharma
<p>The UAE's startup ecosystem is poised to become more buoyant as 2019 unfolds with more appetite for seed funding as well as for larger funds at the Series B level. The sector closed 2018 on a very positive note and is now gearing up for more action in 2019 with more exits in the offing.</p> <p>The UAE has proved to remain the most active startup ecosystem in 2018, according to Magnitt's 2018 Mena Venture Investment Report. The nation maintained its dominance thanks to continued government support, corporate venture interest and growing investor appetite for startups. The report states that 30 per cent of all transactions were made into UAE-headquartered startups in 2018, while also accounting for 70 per cent of total funding.</p> <p>ecip Ozyucel, cloud and enterprise group lead at Microsoft Gulf, said: "The UAE startup ecosystem is at the forefront to create a sustainable environment for innovation. Significant contribution to the economy from sectors such as e-commerce and fintech is growing exponentially, providing numerous opportunities for ideas to transform into businesses and further position them on a global platform."</p> <p>Egypt was the fastest-growing ecosystem in 2018, receiving the second-highest number of deals at 22 per cent of all deals, up 7 per cent from 2017. Lebanon, ranked third by the number of transactions with 10 per cent, saw the highest fall in deal flow compared to 2017, with a 4 per cent drop.</p> <p>Source:-https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/corporate/startups-wont-stop-uae-ecosystem-set-for-livelier-2019</p>