This is the first session of the GoSolo series of entrepreneurial workshops. This was held in Dubai and was focused on defining entrepreneurship, highlighting the challenges faced by entrepreneurs today and provided an overview of the startup and SME ecosystem in the Arab world.

3. The goal is to educate entrepreneurs on how to start and grow their new business

4. Each session will include a presentation from an entrepreneur and will cover various topics related to launching a business

6. the team amir farha Amir started his career in London at CLS Capital Partners, a venture capital firm targeting opportunities in TMT and clean energy sectors in Sweden and the UK. After almost 3 years in the UK, Amir relocated to Dubai, where he worked at the Arab Business Angel Network (ABAN) and was responsible for screening, analyzing and developing business plans, sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities, coordinating due diligence, negotiating and executing transactions. Amir holds a BSc (Hons) in Computer Information Systems and an MSc in Management from the University of Bath in England. Amir has also completed executive courses at London Business School. rabih brair Rabih began his professional career at Andersen in Montreal where he worked in both corporate finance and audit. After obtaining his CPA, Rabih returned to Dubai and continued his audit career at PwC. He then joined the FMCG sector holding a number of positions in finance at Mars. Throughout his 5 year tenure at Mars, his responsibilities progressed from regional financial planning and budget control to become the Finance Manager for Mars’ UAE operations encompassing accounting, planning, credit control and senior management team responsibilities. Rabih holds a B.Comm in Accounting from Concordia University in Montreal Canada and a CPA from the State of Delaware. The team is supported by an experiencedadvisory boardof sophisticated investors and entrepreneurs

7. “tandemstrives to nurture innovation, entrepreneurship and SMEs through quality strategic services.”

9. efficiency & growth strategy

10. turnaround & exit strategy

11. CFO packages

12. competence development services

13. supplementary services

14. fundraising

15. deal sourcing & screening

16. due diligence & execution

17. portfolio & investment monitoring

18. exit planning & execution

19. venture capital

22. starting up a business

23. agenda introduction to tandem and the team what is entrepreneurship? what does it take to be an entrepreneur? entrepreneurship in the region the role of startups & sme’s in our economy the uae ecosystem q & a session with an entrepreneur future workshops

25. Started a business in their garage with $8,000 savings + $4,000 loan

26. Focused on innovation, quality, social and environment responsibility

27. “We know our cows by name”

28. Sold to Unilever for $326 millionBen Cohen & Jerry Greenfield

30. Dishonorably discharged from Navy and served 18 months in detention

31. Bought an ice cream van for GBP 450, expanded and sold the business for GBP 28,000

32. Founded nursing home business and sold for GBP 26m

33. Largest owner of health clubs in the UK

34. “I’m out!”Duncan Bannatyne

35. being an entrepreneur Random Guy

37. Developed a proprietary e-commerce platform, bringing real online shopping to Dubai

38. Overcame financial difficulty

39. Partially acquired by regional logistics giantSaeid Hejazi

41. Took first ever Arab company to NASDAQ in 1997

42. Co-founded Maktoob.com in 1999

43. Co-founded Ruwwad Development

44. Leader in entrepreneurial thinking

45. Active angel investorFadi Ghandour

47. Co-founded Maktoob.com in 1999

48. Launched CashU, prepaid internet payment card

49. Sold Maktoob.com to Yahoo! For $100m

50. Currently heads Jabbar Internet Group, including souq.com, arabsport.com

51. Active angel investorSamih Toukan

52. being an entrepreneur a "never, ever, ever quit" attitude strong predisposition to be your own boss high energy fiercely competitive ability to learn from failures ability to inspire and energize others creative and determined willingness to risk money and security self belief may devote a disproportionate time to your business passionate and self motivated

53. agenda introduction to tandem and the team what is entrepreneurship? what does it take to be an entrepreneur? entrepreneurship in the region the role of startups & sme’s in our economy the uae ecosystem q & a session with an entrepreneur future workshops

55. agencies

56. franchises

57. construction

58. real estate

59. imported innovation

60. proven models adapted to the region

61. beginnings of social entrepreneurship

62. real, unique innovation?

64. Lack of track record

65. Lack of talent and education

66. Expensive to start a business

67. Funding challenges

68. Government bureaucracy

69. Support services are practically non-existent

70. Size of the market

71. Access to the region

72. Slow moving competition

73. Many opportunities in emerging sectors

76. 98.5% of Dubai firms are SMEs – MBRE

77. 25% growth in the SME sector in Dubai – Mashreq Bank

78. 99% of Lebanon’s GDP is from SMEs – Standard Chartered Bank

79. 80% of Egypt’s GDP is from SMEs – Standard Chartered Bank

80. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid believes that there is a need to create 75m to 80m new jobs over the next 20 years in the Arab world and diversify the local economy

83. taxes/incentives

84. laws

85. regulations

86. taxes/incentives

87. laws

88. regulations

89. taxes/incentives

90. laws

91. economy

92. population

93. companies

94. individualistic

95. fear of failure

96. track record

97. economy

98. population

99. companies

100. individualistic

101. fear of failure

102. track record

103. economy

104. population

105. companies

106. individualistic

107. fear of failure

108. track record

109. universities

110. corporate r&d

111. open innovation

112. labour pool

113. education

114. network

115. universities

116. corporate r&d

117. open innovation

118. labour pool

119. education

120. network

121. universities

122. corporate r&d

123. open innovation

124. debt

125. equity

126. other options

127. debt

128. equity

129. other options

130. debt

131. equity

132. other options

133. physical

134. services

135. physical

136. services

137. physical

139. Provide loans to startups

140. Target UAE nationals

141. Provide support services

142. There is a growing number of angel investors and venture capital funds opening in the region:

143. Middle East Venture Capital Partners

144. IV Holdings

145. Twofour54 (Ibtikar)

146. Abraaj SME investment management platform

147. Business plan competitions are present in the region, including:

148. MIT Business Plan Competition

149. MENA 100 Business Plan Competition

151. agenda introduction to tandem and the team what is entrepreneurship? what does it take to be an entrepreneur? entrepreneurship in the region the role of startups & sme’s in our economy the uae ecosystem q & a session with an entrepreneur future workshops

153. Legal structures

154. Fundraising

155. Funding support

156. Pitching to Investors

157. Behind the numbers

158. Successful models and entrepreneurs

159. Marketing on a budgetANY SUGGESTIONS?

160. thank you www.tandem.ae