Boom in MENA parenting and family startups defies pandemic pressures

Boom in MENA parenting and family startups defies pandemic pressures

CAIRO: Entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa region has been growing rapidly over the past decade, with a record $1 billion in funding pumped into local startups in 2020 alone, according to MAGiTT’s MENA Venture Investment Report. This growth is creating opportunities for more niche ventures to flourish, particularly in the family and parenting spheres. Five such startups share their insights, offering a glimpse into the reasons for their success. As a PR professional, Shamim Kassibawi knows the value of market research. She did plenty of it and tested her concept before launching Play:Date in 2017. This app helps parents connect their children with like-minded friends. “We’ve really taken the time to prove our concept,” Kassibawi said. “We’re three years old. The average startup at this point would be booming, but because we’ve been testing and perfecting it, we’re ready to use investment money the right way.” Simona Agolini also relies on being customer and data-centric. She is the CEO and co-founder of QiDZ, an online marketplace for children’s activities in the UAE and Egypt. “We speak with customers on a daily and weekly basis. We have data analytics, and we customize based on what customers are telling