What do you think is the biggest challenge for Arab online startups? [Poll]
A new poll has gone live on StartUpArabia, you can find it on the first sidebar on the right or vote straight from this post.
This poll asks:
What do you think is the biggest challenge for Arab online startups?
What do you think stands in the way of their success? What is holding them back? What are the biggest issues they have to deal with to move forward?
What do you think? If you think it’s something that’s not listed below, you can choose other and input the point you have in mind.
Feel free to further expand on your response in the comments section of this post.
4 Responses to “What do you think is the biggest challenge for Arab online startups? [Poll]”
Hisham Sadek on Jun 23, 2008 | Reply
I think It’s related to both Immature advertising market and Trust arab startups .. In general not just for startups, Users trust what’s coming out from Non-Arabic areas ..
And If they had the trust , User’s won’t use it in the right way ..
dan on Jun 23, 2008 | Reply
I certainly think that low internet penetration combined with a lack of original and/or unique and/or regionally-focused startups certainly impacts the other factors.
In the absence of a large potential user base with a very savvy tech user base, startups choose the quick-to-market model of taking remote best practices…I don’t blame them. The region needs traction and users to grow…but I can’t wait to see more globally-recognized Middle Eastern online properties.
globalorama on Jun 23, 2008 | Reply
While visiting Silicon Oasis in Dubai, the Head of the organization informed us that the Arab market is way behind in appreciating Tech Start Ups. He mentioned how much money Arabs can make in Real Estate and that there is really no clear incentive in funding techies. Silicon Oasis is a state of the Art complex with all amenities provided. However, Arabs would rather put their money into The tallest Building and the largest resort type of investment. Aside from Silicon Oasis, I visited Knowledge City and found out that it was really run as an office building. There is a long waiting list to get in but no real encouragement for technology companies to work on their ideas. Aside from funding, which I voted for in the poll above, the Arab mentality in general is still too immature to think of web 2.0 or the next hardware piece as a viable investment the same way in Silicon Valley think of them.
Sabeur on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
Funding is the clear set back.