Kuwait’s top investors to gather for 2nd edition of ArabNet confab – Meet to focus on Kuwaiti, GCC markets
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KUWAIT CITY, Oct 1: Under the patronage of HE Khaled Nasser Abdullah Al-Roudan, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, ArabNet Kuwait is back in its 2nd edition after its major success in 2016. Taking place on Oct 17-18, at the Arraya Ballroom, the conference will focus on the Kuwaiti and GCC market. ArabNet Kuwait offers a platform for stakeholders to discuss trends and developments across three major tracks — Adtech, Investment & Innovation, and Digital Commerce, bringing together over 70 speakers and 600 attendees.
The Investment & Innovation Forum
The Kuwait entrepreneurship scene has had a great year, with the acquisitions of Carriage and Masbagti making headlines. ArabNet Kuwait will feature top investors highlighting their investment strategies and market trends, meanwhile successful entrepreneurs will share best practices for fundraising, team-building and scaling. Sheikha Al Zain Al Sabah, Undersecretary of the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs — Kuwait, Waleed AlBallaa Partner at STVentures, Omar Almajdouie Founding Partner at Raed Ventures and Rashid Sultan Founder and Managing Partner at Savour Ventures are a few speakers you can expect to hear from at this forum.
The AdTech Forum
Social Media penetration in Kuwait is at 96 percent (one of the highest globally), and leading the MENA region on platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram. ArabNet Kuwait will bring to focus the best practices for content creation and distribution, as well as technologies that are reshaping marketing and the consumer journey. Speakers include some of the best in the sector such Ian Manning, Regional Head of Agencies — MENA and Pakistan at Facebook and Instagram, Nathan Hull Chief Commercial and Content Officer at Bookchoice and Neil Hardwick CEO of MEC MENA.
The Digital Commerce Forum
Digital commerce is flourishing in Kuwait, with KNET processing over $1.6b in online transactions in 2016. ArabNet Kuwait will highlight the latest trends in e-retail and e-commerce — including omnichannel and on-demand strategies, fintech and banking innovation, and including mobile banking and the future of the branch. Experts include Fadi Ghandour Executive Chairman of Wamda Group and Founder of Aramex, Abdullah Al Mutawa Co-Founder and CEO at Carriage and Walid Barakat Co-Founder of Awfar.
ArabNet plays a key role in supporting the most promising regional innovators, and matching them with the right investors through two of ArabNet’s signature competitions, Ideathon and Startup Battle. Winners will get to compete at the Startup Championship and assert their business among the best in the region. “The championship gives startups a lot of exposure to the media, potential partners, and most importantly, investors.” says Abdulla Alkhenji, co-founder of Meddy the winner of the Startup Battle Kuwait, 2016.
He added “ArabNet is one of the biggest, and most targeted to tech startups. We met with a lot of investors, and other potential partners working in the same industry, and we are still in talks with most of them regarding future collaboration and funding opportunities.”
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