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Doers Summit Expands To Dubai, Connecting Global Ecosystems

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 17, 2025

The Doers Company and Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) have signed a strategic agreement to host the first Middle East edition of Doers Summit at Dubai Silicon Oasis in November 2025, connecting Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and beyond.

Doers Summit Expands To Dubai, Connecting Global Ecosystems

A signing ceremony was held in Dubai, attended by His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Executive Chairman of DIEZ, and Demetris Skourides, Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation & Technology at the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, underscoring government-level support for cross-border entrepreneurship and innovation.

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“Hosting this renowned Summit with The Doers Company aligns with Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33 and our commitment to positioning Dubai as a global leader in economic and digital growth,” said Badr Buhannad, Deputy Director General of Dubai Silicon Oasis.

The Dubai edition aims to bring together over 3,000 participants, including startups, venture capital funds, and ecosystem leaders, catalysing cross-border collaboration and capital access while maintaining the Doers Summit’s experience-led format of high-impact networking, curated content, and actionable deal-making.

Reflect Festival Becomes Doers Summit: A Unified Vision for Global Doers

This expansion to Dubai comes at a pivotal moment for The Doers Company, as it unifies all its flagship events under a single global brand.

Since its inception in 2018, Reflect Festival has grown from a local gathering in Limassol into one of Europe’s leading technology and entrepreneurship events, welcoming over 50,000 founders, investors, and operators across Limassol, Athens, and city meetups throughout Europe. Now, Reflect Festival evolves into Doers Summit, aligning a vision to create a single, global gathering of doers that fosters meaningful connections and builds ecosystems where it matters most.

“Reflect Festival was close to many of us, but evolving it into Doers Summit was about clarity of purpose,” says Stylianos Lambrou, Co-founder and CEO of The Doers Company. “Now, we are building a global gathering that creates the partnerships and opportunities shaping what’s next.”

The move to Dubai marks a natural progression, connecting Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and beyond while maintaining the experience-led approach that defines Doers Summit: curated content, high-impact networking, and real-world deal-making.

“This is more than scaling an event, it’s scaling a movement,” adds Dusan Duffek, Co-founder and Managing Partner at The Doers Company. “We’re creating moments of convergence where regions connect, ideas collide, and real deals happen.”

With Dubai, Athens, and Limassol now under the unified Doers Summit banner, The Doers Company is laying the groundwork for a truly global ecosystem where doers can continue to learn, connect, and build what’s next, together.

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Shein Targets $25 Billion Valuation In Hong Kong IPO As Growth Slows

by News Editor

August 17, 2026

Shein is reportedly targeting a valuation of around $25 billion in its planned Hong Kong IPO, a sharp decline from the nearly $100 billion valuation the online fashion retailer achieved in a 2022 fundraising round.

Two people familiar with the plans said the company was likely to target about $25 billion, while another source put the expected range at $25 billion to $28 billion based on the proposed price band.

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IPO Valuation Falls Sharply

Shein plans to sell up to 8% of its shares in the offering, according to a person familiar with the plans. At a $25 billion valuation, that would translate into an IPO of as much as $2 billion.

The latest target is also below the $30 billion to $40 billion valuation the company was seeking earlier this month as it began meeting with potential investors.

Founded in China in 2012 and now headquartered in Singapore, Shein sells low-cost clothing to consumers in about 160 countries. The company is expected to launch its long-awaited Hong Kong IPO later this week.

Trade Restrictions Weigh On Growth

Shein’s valuation has come under pressure as major markets tighten rules affecting low-cost e-commerce shipments. The European Union, for example, has moved to impose additional fees on cheap parcels from platforms such as Shein and Temu. EU Tightens Rules On Low-Cost E-Commerce Parcels

In the U.S., the removal of an import duty exemption for small packages has also affected the company. Shein reported a $99 million quarterly loss in the first quarter of 2026 as sales growth slowed, while a one-time accounting charge further weighed on its results. Shein Reports First-Quarter Loss Ahead Of IPO

Investors Question Shein’s Growth Prospects

The steep reduction in valuation reflects growing concerns over slower growth, higher trade costs, regulatory pressure and stronger competition across global e-commerce.

Some investors who reviewed Shein’s recent financial statements or attended IPO presentations told Reuters they were skeptical that the company could return to the growth rates that supported its $98.2 billion valuation in 2022. Shein’s Slowing Growth Tests Investor Appetite

A lower IPO valuation could also affect Shein’s existing investors. Under the terms of its IPO filing, the company may have to issue additional shares to certain pre-IPO investors if its valuation falls below agreed thresholds.