February marked a groundbreaking month for MENA’s startup landscape, with an impressive $494 million raised across 58 deals—almost five times more than last year’s total for the same month. While Saudi Arabia dominated with $250.3 million accrued over 25 deals, the UAE and Egypt followed suit with $203.5 million and $27.5 million respectively.
Debt Financing Dips In February
Unlike January, where debt financing took the bulk of investments, February saw it drop to just 15% of total funding. The exclusion of debt reveals a staggering 371% increase in investment activity, highlighting a promising shift in financial dynamics.
Fintech emerged as the leading sector, delivering $274 million over 15 deals. Insurtech and logistics took the next spots, with $55 million and $28.5 million respectively. This upswing showcases both sustained interest and escalating financial backing for key tech industries.
Regional Contributions and Gender Disparities
B2B models attracted the most attention in February, garnering $191.6 million through 33 transactions. However, gender disparities remain, as startups led by male founders bagged 87% of the total investment. Despite the progress, this underlines the need for more equitable funding allocations.
The Warehouse is hosting 707Conf today, the first business-to-business conference created specifically for Cyprus’ event industry. Running from 15:00 to 22:00, the one-day event brings agencies, venues, contractors and technical crews together with the client brands that hire them, all within an aviation-themed format featuring boarding passes instead of badges, a “Ground Crew” of service partners and a “Flight Alliance” of client brands.
Tickets (€14) are sold through SoldOut Ticketbox. The event is produced by The Warehouse’s own team, led by founder Ilya.
The Agenda
15:00 — Boarding. Doors open, registration, exhibition zone live all day.
15:30 — Takeoff. Opening remarks.
15:45 — Clients, Unfiltered. A plenary panel bringing together six client-side brands to discuss what actually makes them choose, or drop, an agency or venue.
16:30 — Love at First Pitch. A speed-dating format pairing suppliers directly with client brands for fast, structured introductions.
17:15 — Discussion Club: Occupational Hazards. A moderated roundtable on the industry’s real operating risks, led by Varvara Rumiantseva.
18:00 — Masterclass. A hands-on session led by Alex Barin.
18:40 — Debrief. Closing reflections and key takeaways from the day.
19:00 — Night Flight. The conference moves into the evening at The Warehouse’s W Bar, where live artists will bring the day to a close.
Exhibition booths will remain open throughout the event, giving Ground Crew partners and exhibitors the opportunity to connect directly with attendees.
A Word From The Founder
“Cyprus has never had a day dedicated entirely to the people who make the events industry happen. This isn’t another client-facing showcase. It’s a space where agencies, venues and production teams can exchange ideas, build relationships and do business with one another. That’s what 707Conf is about.
We’re not asking anyone to pitch to us. Instead, we’re bringing suppliers and the brands that hire them together, on the same schedule, creating opportunities for conversations that usually happen behind the scenes to take place out in the open,”
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