We recently had the privilege of participating in a unique and inspiring event that took us to the vibrant cities of Doha, Qatar, and Muscat, Oman. This adventure began when the Qatari Development Bank (QDB) invited us – eban and Gateway Ventures – to conduct a four-day workshop on Angel Investing in Doha.
Doha: Bridging Europe and the Middle East
In Doha, we encountered a market that was particularly exciting for us. As one of the pioneers in Europe, Gateway’s goal is to build a strong bridge between Europe and the Middle East. The hospitality in Qatar was extraordinary. One of the highlights was an evening tour with a local, which took us to the world’s most expensive shopping mall – an architectural masterpiece, carved from a single mountain in Italy.
Muscat: Positive Feedback and Royal Encounters
After our successful stay in Doha, we headed to Muscat, Oman. Here, we were invited by the SME Authority to conduct a two-day program for Business Angels from the region. The response was overwhelmingly positive, as reflected in a newspaper article and a TV segment in the Omani media.
A special highlight was a startup event attended by the Sultan of Oman himself. This gave us the opportunity to directly interact with startups and ecosystem players from Oman, who had their own booths and were present as exhibitors.
An Unforgettable Experience
This journey was more than just a business trip; it was an experience that enriched us both professionally and personally. It was inspiring to see how different cultures can come together through the common goal of promoting innovation and entrepreneurship.
