Startup Rising: The Entrepreneurial Revolution Remaking the Middle East

by Christopher M. Schroeder, Marc Andreessen (Introduction)

Startup Rising presents a surprising look at the surge of entrepreneurship that accompanied the uprisings in the Middle East, and why it's the new best place for Western investment and opportunity.Despite the world's elation at the Arab Spring, shockingly little has changed politically in the Middle East; even frontliners Egypt and Tunisia continue to suffer repression, fixed elections, and bombings, while Syria descends into civil war. But in the midst of it all, a quieter revolution has begun to emerge, one that might ultimately do more to change the face of the entrepreneurship.As a seasoned angel investor in emerging markets, Christopher M. Schroeder was curious but skeptical about the future of investing in the Arab world. Travelling to Dubai, Cairo, Amman, Beirut, Istanbul, and even Damascus, he saw thousands of talented, successful, and intrepid entrepreneurs, all willing to face cultural, legal, and societal impediments inherent to their worlds. Equally important, he saw major private equity firms, venture capitalists, and tech companies like Google, Intel, Cisco, Yahoo, LinkedIn, and PayPal making significant bets, despite the uncertainty in the region.With Startup Rising, he marries his own observations with the predictions of these tech giants to offer a surprising and timely look at the second stealth revolution in the Middle East-one that promises to reinvent it as a center of innovation and progress.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Economics, Middle East, Entrepreneurship, Startup, Technology

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 13, 2013

About the author

Christopher M. Schroeder is a Washington D.C. and New York City based entrepreneur and venture investor. He co-founded HealthCentral.com, one of the nation's largest social and content platforms in health and wellness, backed by Sequoia Capital, Polaris Ventures, The Carlyle Group, Allen & Company and IAC Corporation. The company was sold to the health media publisher, Remedy Health, in January 2012 where Schroeder remained a board advisor.

Previously he was CEO of washingtonpost.newsweek interactive and LegiSlate.com, the b2b interactive platform on US and state legislation and regulation that he sold in 2000. He currently is an active investor in and advisor to top US venture capital funds and over a dozen consumer-facing social/media startups. He has had a career in finance and served in President George HW Bush's White House and Department of State on the staffs of James A. Baker, III and Robert B. Zoellick.

Schroeder was invited to speak and mentor at the Celebration of Entrepreneurship in Dubai in 2010, one of the first major gathering of tech startups in the Middle East, and it began his journey that became Startup Rising. In thirteen subsequent trips to the region, interviewing over 150 entrepreneurs, investors and global tech leaders, he has written extensively about startups and technology in emerging growth markets for The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Fortune, AllThingsD, TechCrunch, Pando Daily, Harvard Business Review, Business Insider among other publications. He speaks regularly around the globe, and sits on the board of advisors of The American University of Cairo School of Business, the Jordanian incubator Oasis500, the Middle East online entrepreneur information platform and network wamda.com. He was named one of LinkedIn top 50 Influencers.

Schroeder is also on the Board of Directors of the American Council on Germany, The Dean's Board of the American University School of International Service, and member of the French American Foundation and Council on Foreign Relations. He graduated with honors from The Harvard Business School, and magna cum laude from Harvard College. Schroeder is married and has three children.

Reviews

[Ibrahim Altamimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

كتاب استعرض فيه الباحث عبر كثير من المقابلات والاستقراء في تجارب ريادي الاعمال في المنطقة العربية باحث في الصعوبات التي واجهتهم وكيف تخطوها لتصبح مثالا للتميز قصص لشركات مثل أرامكس ونيمشي وn2v وغيرها في بلدان كالاردن ومصر والإمارات
الكتاب ملهم ومن النوع الثقيل في مادته ومعلوماته

[Muhammad Arrabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I work in the IT scene in the Middle East since 2010, and I met Chris while he was writing the book.

At the time I met Chris, I wasn't sure what to make of him. However, I really like the book. It is well researched, and it tried to be real - not based on over simplification or anecdotes. Even the last chapter, title "religion and entrepreneurship", I was very skeptical when I reached it, but was genuinely impressed by the seriousness and depth he discussed it.

Further, Business History in the Middle East is very poorly documented. There's very little objective research or case studies let alone books written even about the big successes in the region. This makes Chris's book all the more interesting and informative.

While I do not agree with everything he says (who does with any book - mainly on what is needed to grow entrepreneurship in the region), the book is a great read and I highly recommend it. I recommend it for both local entrepreneurs and foreigners interested in the region.

[Michael Armao · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christopher Schroeder has written a very good primer to understanding the startup scene within the Middle East. The key to appreciating this book is realizing that the author is not trying to boil the proverbial ocean. He limits the scope to a few key countries within the region and graciously acknowledges other works for coverage not included within Startup Rising, e.g., the Israeli technology scene. Scope issues aside, Mr. Schroeder does cover a number of areas that any investor or business contemplating entry into the region should note. Too many to list within this review, I found some of the most thought provoking conclusions to be: the pressing need for entrepreneurs to supply job opportunities as traditional industry falters; the increase in online spending--despite historical aversion to credit card usage; the growing opportunities in mobile technology, solar energy and social networks; and the concept of "disconnected development" where the impact of individual projects, in aggregate, lead to transformation of the technology ecosystem.

Of course anyone looking at the region cannot ignore the geopolitical instability, as the recent ouster of the Morsi government in Egypt exemplifies. In response, Mr. Schroeder astutely points out that through the focus on technology, entrepreneurs and investors in the region can withstand any current and future upheaval. The anecdotal examples of perseverance given within the book are truly inspiring.

To close, I would encourage anyone who has an interest in emerging and frontier markets to read Startup Rising. It will force you to rethink your stance and enable you to begin understanding opportunities in the Middle East.

Michael Armao
Washington, DC
13 August 2013

Startup Rising: The Entrepreneurial Revolution Remaking the Middle East

[Karim Merhej · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an interesting and unconventional book dealing with a specific aspect of the Middle East region: the startup scene. Published in early 2013 (at a time when the euphoria and optimism around the Arab uprisings of 2011 was beginning to wane) and written by Christopher Schroeder, an American venture capitalist and investor, the book provides a lot of nice insights and anecdotes about startups in the region. The author conducted several field trips to the region and had in-depth interviews with many entrepreneurs who are profiled. Many of them have truly fascinating backgrounds and are successful at what they do, and reading about their lives, their hopes, dreams and perseverance is a joy.

The book is targeted at a Western audience, especially individuals who are not very knowledgeable about the region and who may have a lot of prejudices and believe in racist and orientalist stereotypes. The author hopes to dispel many myths by highlighting how Arab entrepreneurs, investors and educators (from Jordan, Lebanon, the UAE, Syria, Egypt etc.) are working hard on launching and investing in startups (especially in the tech sector), building networks, mentoring one another etc. The author has good intentions, and clearly wants nothing but the best for the entrepreneurs and individuals he profiles, and hopes that Westerners would have a better view and understanding of the region after reading the book.

Ultimately however, the main argument of the book - that an entrepreneurial revolution is happening in the Arab region and that it will drastically change the region for the better - falls flat. The author ignores or downplays the socioeconomic and political obstacles to such a 'revolution' and seems to miss or ignore the class dynamics of the whole 'startup' scene: namely that people from the upper echelons of society are more likely to become "entrepreneurs" because they have the privilege of doing so (their parents could afford to send them to good universities at home or abroad; some have dual citizenship; they speak multiple languages fluently; they have easy access to capital and can afford to make 'mistakes' etc.). In hindsight, it is easy to criticize this book, especially given how desultory and bleak the socioeconomic conditions in the Arab region appear, and how the entrepreneurs have not managed to 'solve' such crises. However, even back in 2013, such a critique should have been obvious: entrepreneurs and startups are not the solution to rampant youth unemployment, poverty and inequalities. Redistribution of resources, good governance and proper public services (especially in health and education), are the solution.

[Eng.sultan · Rating 3 out of 5]

كتاب (نهضة الشركات الناشئة: ثورة ريادة الأعمال في الشرق الأوسط)
المؤلف: كريستوفر شرودر
عدد الصفحات 308
-----------------------
يتحدث الكاتب شرودر عن الوضع الاستثماري للشركات الناشئة في الشرق الأوسط من خلال مقابلة ما يقارب 150 ريادي في المنطقة معظمهم من الشباب الذي يحكون قصص نجاحاتهم والتحديات التي كانت موجودة أمامهم خلال مسيرتهم الريادية،، وبنفس الوقت ينبه العالم الغربي للطاقة الكامنة والفرص الموجودة في المنطقة اذا ما أرادوا الاستثمار بالمنطقة.
كتاب يحمل قصص ملهمة في بعضها، ومحفزة للشباب لإستخدام التكنولوجيا في خلق فرص استثمارية ضخمة في بيئتهم، رغم العراقيل التي قد توجد من خلال السلطة والمجتمع كالواسطات وتأخر الرخص و القيود التجارية وغيرها، فرغم كل ذلك يرى الكاتب أن هناك قصص نجاح تستحق أن تُروى ليتبعها نجاحات أخرى في المنطقة خاصة بعد أحداث ما يسمى بالربيع العربي.

كتاب جيد للمهتمين بالموضوع وقد يلهم البعض لصنع بداية استثمارية جديدة، تقييمي للكتاب :3/5

[حسين الخباز · Rating 3 out of 5]

الكتاب يفتح لقارئه الأمل بالقدرة على أن يكون رياديا أكثر مما كان يتصور من قبل، فهو يمر سريعا على مجموعة كبيرة من المشروعات الريادية التي نشأت مؤخرا في الشرق الأوسط، ويحكي تجارب روادها، وبعض التحديات التي واجهتهم.

ما جعلني أعطي الكتاب تقييما أقل من الخمس نجوم هو عدم ذكر تفاصيل كافية من تجارب الشركات الناشئة واكتفاء الكاتب بذكر أمور سريعة وقد تعتبر سطحية أحيانا عن تلك المشروعات الناشئة.

[Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good insights into the MENA ecosystem, now a few years out there are certainly a few trends that have already been realized and others that may take more time. Chris manages to speak to and highlight the key people in the ecosystem and is one of the most knowledgeable people to look at entrepreneurship in the region so it's a great read if you're curious to learn more.

[Ian Hathaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris is one of the deepest, and most original thinkers on the subject of entrepreneurship and its rise around the globe. More than that, he's a doer--with hard-earned knowledge of many markets around the world, Chris has a unique perspective that is hard to match.

[Mahmoud Rashad · Rating 4 out of 5]

الكتاب دسم بالمعلومات ومفيد للغايه يحوي تجارب وخبرات رواد الأعمال في الوطن العربي وتحليل العقبات والصعوبات التي تواجههم سواء بسبب تقييد الحكومات و مستوي التعليم ..ولكن في النهايه هو ينبئ بمستقبل مشرق لرياديو الأعمال العرب والشركات الناشئة

[Richard FitzGerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the effort made to understand the region

The problem with choosing companies and people as the main thesis in 2010 or so that if they are not around now, most aren't, when reading in 2023 it kind of dispels the point of the book

[Hayden Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great introduction to the startup scene in the Arab World. Very interesting and helpful.

[Mohmed Esam · Rating 3 out of 5]

زاويه اخري لريادة الاعمال

[Alaa Bit Hashim · Rating 3 out of 5]

"If I have one hope for Startup Rising, it is that it will inspre people to rethink our conceptions about the Middle East and engage." - Christopher M. Schroeder

"Startup Rising: The Entrepreneurial Revolution Remaking the Middle East" by Christopher M. Schroeder, is a non-fiction business book of 256 pages that would not take much time to read due to it's simplicity and the way it is composed of stories of different people from different backgrounds with different experiences, keeping you continuously focused and inclined to reading more and more in the most effortless manner.

This book is a research on entrepreneurship in the middle east under the influence of the Arab Spring, how the geopolitical factors of that time may have effected the eco-system, startups and entrepreneurs, and how the youth of the region are the main character in this entrepreneurship rising, just as they were in the arab spring and the political changes within the region. Therefore, the information given might not be "new" information to those living in the region and already paying attention to the eco system but it might help in giving a different perspective and some inspirational and motivational success stories.

As for outsiders who get their information from mass-media, this book will be an eye-opener, introducing them to the endless potentials and possibilities of investment in the Middle East.

In this book, Mr. Christopher M. Schroeder covers a number of areas that any investor or business contemplating entry or starting up in the region should note, starting from the geopolitical factor, to religion as well as the women empowerment and participation factor.

The way Mr. Schroeder tackled the "Religion" factor in his book is very interesting, as I find it less prejudiced and based on the facts that he gathered from his visits tot he Middle East and the interviews he had with entrepreneurs from the region.

Mr. Schroeder did a remarkable job weaving through the journeys of many startups across different cities and countries in the Middle East, providing diversity in his examples, showing that young entrepreneurs are leading a technological revolution in addition to their political revulsion of the Arab Spring. Mr. Schroeder sheds light on the actual ecosystem of innovation that is emerging across the region and it is bigger than just the use of Social Media.

This movement, led by young people and notably involving large numbers of women, stands to redefine the culture and economy of their nations.

Mr. Schroeder as a serial entrepreneur himself, was nothing less than a coherent writer and highly informed guide on this tour of the region and it's burgeoning tech sector.

If you are an investor who is interested in investing opportunities in the Middle East, or if you are an entrepreneur or an entrepreneur-in-the-making- then this book is for you.

[Gokhan Polat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read for anyone interested in the world of tech startups in the Middle East. The author writes about young Arab entrepreneurs in Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt who through their opportunity to change the fabric of society with technology, could run faster than the old guards of 'stability and power' to disrupt markets.

A blend of Arab diaspora returning home to seek change, dissatisfied youth of the Arab Spring and the untapped potential of a 290 million population (50% under age 15) were ingredients for the creation of the most succesful tech companies in the region.

This book has many anecdotes from entrepreneurs about maneuvering the cultural, political and religious factors that affect your company in a never ending road for survival, where the next change in laws and even your own success can get you in trouble.

In the West, we take your right to 'carry out your ideas to their full potential' for granted. There are hundreds and thousands of young men and women from every part of the Middle East who are making a lot of progress against these challenges, embodying the entrepreneurial spirit and able see success within reach. Yalla!

[T HH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I won this book in a First Reads contest.

As someone interested in the Middle East and the effects of the Arab Spring on the region, I found this book engaging and optimistic. It's an inspiring collection of anecdotes and discussions of how the future economy in the Middle East will be grown from the bottom up, instead of from the top down, "wasta"-driven framework of the past.

My only quibble with the book was that for all the author's warnings about the West treating the Middle East as one locale when it's really different countries and cultures within each, he sometimes does just that. I wish he would have spent more time exploring each country's unique entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Overall, an informative book, well worth reading if you're interested in either politics in the Middle East or international economics.

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading this incredible book about the forces of youth, technology and entrepreneurship that are reshaping the future of the Middle East. So inspiring! Required reading for all those interested in the new growth economies of our ever-shrinking world. The entrepreneurial ecosystems taking root in the region may surprise you. More importantly, they hold a potential answer to the looming question of high youth unemployment in the Middle East. The author looks at how some of this frustration at unequal opportunity is being increasingly channeled into creative enterprise, through the leveling power of technology. Young women entrepreneurs are also playing an important role in this quiet revolution. This is a story of another Middle East and one that needs to be told.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ordinarily I wouldn't read a book like this. I'm so glad I had put my name in (and won) this book through First Reads! I wanted to learn more about the tech industry and about the Middle East. I'm not especially knowledgeable about either and wanted to educate myself about both before giving an opinion when out socially. The author gives examples of how these enterpreneurs are able to 'get out there' and overcome hurdles, then pass forward their knowledge to those following them. I've already recommended this book to a few people! A definite read for those just wanting to get 'in the know' about what's going on in this part of the world!

[Dick Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Schroeder has written an amazing book, which adds a significant additional perspective on the Middle East. He combines geopolitical, religious, and regulatory context with inspiring stories of entrepreneurs starting significant businesses. At a time when most of our media information about the region focuses on instability and conflict, Chris explains how the real 'uprising' is the power of technology and entrepreneurship. Startup Rising is a breath of fresh air and full of concrete examples of innovators building companies to address global and local markets, creating jobs, and transforming the Middle East.

[Anne Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Schroeder gives a plethora of stories that will shock you about the movement towards entrepreneurship in the Middle East. However, it seems like he makes a thesis and then just gives example after example that don't necessarily build on each other to make a larger conclusive statement. Despite a lack of cohesion, the book will leave you with a fundamentally different view of the Middle East and its potential for growth.

Three Stars: Awesome stories, but a poor structure leaves you with great stories and a lack of a true sense of of the points the author is trying to make.

[Safar]

كتاب يغرق في تفاصيل ريادة الأعمال في منطقة الشرق الأوسط ويتحدث مع رياديين كثر عن المصاعب والعقبات التي وقفت في طريقهم ... تم تأليف الكتاب خلال فترة الربيع العربي لذلك ألمح المؤلف بأن ثورة الشركات الناشئة وجيل الرياديين هي أحدى ثمار الثورات العربية إن لم تكن أهم من الثورات نفسها،يملك المؤلف نظرة تفائلية عن الشرق الأوسط ويعتقد أن سيكون سيليكون ڤالي جديد وهي نظرة مُستغربة من شخص أمريكي.! .. لكن مايعزز ثقتة في الرياديين هنا هو طبيعة عملة التي في الأساس تدور حول ريادة الأعمال وبناء الشركات .. لذلك ستجد الكتاب لذيذ ومشوق وعلى شكل حوار بين الرياديين أنفسهم ... أنصح به.

[Jim Hornthal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schroeder has done the work, spent the time in the region, and has written an enlightened and informative book providing insights and inspiring anecdotes of the next generation of successful entrepreneurs. Chris shows that the 21st Century 'uprising' comes from leveraging the power of technology and entrepreneurship, and supports the thesis that one concrete way to create economic opportunity in the Middle East is to focus on the ability of emerging companies and their leaders to create jobs and new wealth in the region.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book offers a very different view of what is happening in the Middle East - one not covered by the mainstream media. Schroeder paints a the picture via compelling stories of entrepreneurs throughout the region (with a focus on Arab countries, rather than Israel). Stories of entrepreneurial perseverance are always compelling - even more so here given the macro and micro challenges these entrepreneurs face.

[Husam Yaghi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might be biased because I'm a friend of Chris. The truth is: before knowing Chris, I got a copy of his book from my teen entrepreneur sons who got their first copy from the icon of entrepreneurship in the Middle East, Fadi Ghandour. I read this book in 2 days from cover to cover. Then few months later I got a copy of the same book in Arabic. Chris was generous with his coverage & details with plenty of real life examples.

[Jihane Hakimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good narrative about entrepreneurship & startups in the Middle East, and their dynamics during 2010- 2012. much have changes since then,however: technology is changing the startups ecosystem every day, therefore, another narrative of what happened during the last two years since the publication of the book is very much desirable.
very entertaining.

[Arash Narchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's very inspiring to read the stories of entrepreneurs building great things with a desire to improve the Arab World. Schroeder is a seasoned executive who asks great questions in his well written book here. Countless stories that highlight the tech startup word in the Middle East make this a very engaging book you can't put down.

[Omar Al Busaidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris has provided an excellent insight on entrepreneurship in the Middle East , I hate giving away too much details but all I will say is that if you're in the Middle East or not , this is one of the books that you just have to read because given all the negative image portrayed by main stream media , this book doesn't only refute it but also gives you hope that the best is yet to come

[Jonathan Biddle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent book for an overview of the entrepreneurial movement in the Middle East. However, it is essentially a journalistic account of various conversations and experiences the author had with not a whole lot of depth. It fulfills its informative purpose, though, and is useful in that respect.

[Matt Bucklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in the start up world and the Middle East, you will find this book interesting. There are many inspiring stories of young Middle Eastern entrepreneurs starting companies against the greatest obstacles.

[Wael Amin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the untold story of the nascent startup ecosystems of the Middle East. Its a testament that entrepreneurial spirit is sweeping the region, across country, gender and religious borders. I have seen no other source that examines this with as deep an insight.

[Loulou El Khazen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Startup Rising recognises innovators, entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders in a series of inspiring stories about determination, grit, optimism and success. It is a series of beautiful stories from a region plagued by a negative narrative, it breaks the mould.