According to Wamda, investment in women-founded startups in the MENA region has dropped to $34.6 million, or 1.2 percent of the total raised across 52 deals in 2021. However, there is hope for the growing number of female startup founders seeking venture capital, though there is still a long way to go.
Support should also extend beyond the initial funding rounds, as competition increases with the startup stage.” There is still much to be done, but the future appears bright because all ecosystem players have recognised the funding gap for female founders,” says Medea Nocentini, co-founder of C3 and COO of Global Ventures. “There is still much to be done,” she says, “but the future appears bright because all ecosystem players have recognised the funding gap for female founders.” Nocentini also discusses key challenges in the MENA startup ecosystem, sectors that require increased investment, and the criteria for investing in startups in this interview.
