MENA startups can sharpen investment pitches by proving customer demand and researching competitors, says Tech Invest Com's Attar

Tech Invest Com's Attar highlights critical strategies for MENA startups to improve their investment pitches, stressing the importance of demonstrating customer demand and conducting thorough competitor research. He notes that many founders approach investors without adequate preparation, which can undermine their credibility.¹

Attar states, “You have to prove to the market that what you’re building is actually much needed,” suggesting that evidence such as contracts, a customer pipeline, and tests of a minimum viable product are essential. He warns against the common mistake of claiming a lack of competitors, which can indicate insufficient market research. “Coming in with the blindness of ‘no one’s like us’ is the worst thing you can do,” he adds.²⁵⁶

The venture capital landscape in the MENA region is challenging, with only 214 venture transactions completed in the first half of 2026, a 41 percent year-on-year decline to the lowest level since at least 2022, according to MAGNiTT. Funding has also become more concentrated, with the 10 largest transactions accounting for 58 percent of the $1.35 billion invested during this period.³⁴⁷

Attar emphasizes that startups should not view funding as the starting point for building their companies. Instead, they should focus on reducing adoption barriers and demonstrating that customers recognize the problem and are willing to engage with the proposed solution. “Many of the startups feel that ‘I’m going to stay until funding comes,’ and that’s the worst thing you can do,” he cautions.