Reem Goussous, Co-Founder at Viaka
42 speakers. 11 curated conversations. A full day bringing together founders, investors, and operators from MENA and its global diaspora.
On October 14, founders, investors, and operators from across North America, the Middle East, Europe, and beyond gathered in New York City for MENA Rising 2026.
Hosted at Cooley's offices overlooking Manhattan, the event brought together first-time founders, experienced entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and executives to explore the realities of building and investing in technology companies today.
The discussions were candid and grounded in firsthand experience, challenging assumptions and offering new perspectives on how entrepreneurship and venture capital are evolving.
The Changing Landscape of Venture Capital
The years of abundant capital, aggressive growth, and valuations driven largely by expectations have given way to a more disciplined investment environment. Investors are increasingly focused on capital efficiency, sustainable growth, and lasting competitive advantages.
Several conversations explored how founders and investors evaluate opportunities differently, what creates investor conviction, and how investment decisions are changing as AI reduces the cost and time required to build software.
If technology is becoming easier and cheaper to build, what makes a company truly defensible?
Product differentiation alone may no longer be enough. Distribution, customer relationships, proprietary insights, industry expertise, and execution are becoming increasingly important.
AI Is Changing the Rules of Entrepreneurship
AI was central to many conversations, not simply as a technology trend but as a fundamental shift in how companies are built and scaled.
Smaller teams can now accomplish what previously required significantly more people, time, and capital. Yet lower barriers to entry also intensify competition, while reliance on shared foundation models makes differentiation harder.
Discussions also examined the infrastructure underpinning the AI economy, including computing power, chips, models, and distribution. Who controls these resources, where will value accrue, and how can companies build durable businesses when critical technologies depend on external providers?
These questions are particularly relevant for MENA entrepreneurs seeking to compete globally while navigating constraints in capital, talent, and infrastructure.
Haya Odeh: The Journey Behind Replit's Success
A highlight of MENA Rising was the keynote fireside chat with Haya Odeh, co-founder and Head of Design at Replit.
The conversation went beyond Replit's recent success to explore its early years, the uncertainty and challenges of building a company, and the persistence required long before success becomes visible.
Haya reflected on the importance of product design, culture, and the challenges of rapid growth, as well as balancing entrepreneurship with family and personal life.
Her journey offered an important reminder that talent and ambition are not limited by geography, even if access to opportunities often is.
Building Companies That Last
Another recurring theme was how startups move from early traction to building sustainable, defensible businesses.
An initial advantage may come from identifying an underserved market or developing a differentiated product. Sustaining that advantage, however, requires deep customer understanding, effective distribution, trusted relationships, and the ability to adapt.
This is especially relevant in AI, where technological advantages can quickly become obsolete.
Founders and investors also discussed the trade-offs involved in scaling, including balancing growth with capital efficiency and maintaining focus while pursuing new opportunities.
Building and Scaling Across Markets
For entrepreneurs connected to MENA, expanding across geographies presents both opportunities and challenges.
Despite growing technology adoption and substantial market opportunities, the region remains fragmented across regulatory environments, procurement systems, customer expectations, and business practices.
Founders shared experiences of building in MENA, entering North American markets, and navigating cross-border expansion. The conversations highlighted the difference between having a product that can serve international customers and building the capabilities to compete globally.
Access to customers, distribution partners, experienced operators, and investors who understand different markets can be just as important as access to capital.
The Human Side of Entrepreneurship
Beyond technology and investment, some of the most memorable conversations explored the personal realities of building companies.
Speakers reflected on the uncertainty, sacrifices, and difficult decisions involved in entrepreneurship, including building alongside spouses or co-founders, maintaining relationships, and balancing business ambitions with family life.
These discussions offered an important perspective often missing from conversations focused primarily on funding rounds, valuations, and exits.
The Conversations Beyond the Stage
While the 11 sessions provided the structure for the day, much of what made MENA Rising memorable happened between them.
Founders exchanged experiences, investors connected with entrepreneurs, and operators shared lessons from companies they had helped scale. People reconnected with old colleagues and formed new relationships across geographies, industries, and generations.
These exchanges are difficult to measure, but they often shape what happens next.
Looking Ahead
MENA Rising NYC reflected both the progress and challenges facing entrepreneurs and investors connected to the region.
There is no shortage of ambition, talent, or entrepreneurial experience across MENA and its global diaspora. Yet challenges remain around capital, market fragmentation, specialized expertise, and the infrastructure required to build globally competitive companies.
AI is creating new opportunities while introducing new forms of competition and dependency. The discussions offered no simple answers, but they created space to challenge assumptions, exchange experiences, and consider what comes next.
We are grateful to all 42 speakers for sharing their insights and to everyone who traveled from around the world to participate.
A special thank you to Cooley for hosting MENA Rising NYC, and to our partners Carta, DMZ, SVB, Supportful, Pebble, Thunders, STV, and Lockton, as well as our media partner Aam Creative, for their support.
The most meaningful outcomes of gatherings like MENA Rising often emerge long after the event, through the relationships that develop, ideas that take shape, and opportunities that follow.
See you next in Toronto and in NYC next year!