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5 Lists Every Entrepreneur Needs

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5 Lists Every Entrepreneur Needs

As a first-time entrepreneur or small business owner trying to make ends meet with a tight budget, things can get overwhelming.

Normally you are expected to keep up with your customers, constantly update social media pages, publish scheduled blog posts, create a yearly marketing plan, manage expenses, attend different networking events, discuss future plans with your team, run errands, spend time with your family, and actually have an active social life. I mean there are only 24 hours in a day, right?!

See Also: 6 Personalities of Successful Founders

That’s why you will find yourself constantly looking for the latest productivity hacks and time-management tips and tricks that can help you save time and stay on top of your to-do list. Thus, without further ado, here are 5 lists I personally use to get more done in the most efficient way possible that can hopefully help you in the day to day management and planning of your startup’s activities.

1. List of Investors 

It’s always the right decision to create a list of current and potential investors regardless of your startup’s life-cycle and whether you currently need to raise money or not? Because this can help you easily identify the right candidates for your company, for example if you have a media production company it will help you connect with investors who are interested in this particular sector. Also, it will make it easier for you to remember which investor to shoot for when you are asking for a specific advice/favor.

2. List of Partners 

We all attend a handful of networking events on a weekly basis and get to meet so many amazing entrepreneurs working on different ideas in diverse sectors and we might just bump into the perfect partner for a future campaign or project. Keeping all these contacts in a separate partners’ list will definitely make connecting with the right companies/institutions a piece of cake whether you are looking for strategic, community or media partners.

3. List of Fellow Entrepreneurs 

This list is certainly your biggest business asset especially if you invested time and effort into building mutually beneficial relationships. Because each and every one of these people can be your go-to person for valuable advice on strategic business decisions, they can be key partners in future initiatives, and they can introduce you to potential investors, journalists, high profile executives and other key players.

4. List of Journalists 

Creating a list of current and potential journalist friends is very crucial for your startup’s growth especially if you want to tell the world about your latest products, projects and campaigns, key company events and partnerships. This will help you connect and stay in touch with the most relevant journalists in your industry.

5. List of Cross-Functional Skills 

Although this is not a popular entrepreneurial practice but, compiling a list of all the graphic designers, web/app developers, social media gurus, accountants, lawyers and other key startup team players can do wonders. This list will help you identify and stay in touch with awesome talent that might be a great fit with your startup’s culture in the future and also, helps in making referrals to opportunities in your friends’ companies.

Share with us any other lists come across your mind, and we will update the article with your name on it.

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Startups

Rising from Debt: Al Nashmiah Farms’ Battle to Empower Indebted Women

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Rising from Debt: Al Nashmiah Farms' Battle to Empower Indebted Women

Al Nashmiah Farms, committed to aiding women burdened by debt and facing the threat of incarceration, offers a novel solution for them to earn their way to freedom. Under the leadership of Razan Harb, motivated by her family’s financial struggles, the farm has become a pivotal force in rescuing those ensnared in the debt trap, providing them with employment and a sense of purpose.

Harb, observing the plight of many women who took loans in hopes of improving their families’ fortunes, only to be overwhelmed by unfortunate circumstances, economic downturns, and oppressive taxes, has established a farm that serves as both a source of employment and a supplier of high-quality produce to major markets.

The farm’s operations include the provision of household essentials, emphasizing the importance of quality through methods such as nitrogen sterilization and the use of healthy packaging. Additionally, Harb has initiated work-from-home opportunities, enabling women to engage in the packing of vegetables and fruits for market and direct sales, thereby offering a sustainable model for economic independence and recovery from debt.

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News

GoDaddy’s Global Markets VP Predicts Egypt’s E-commerce to Hit $9.88 Billion by 2028

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GoDaddy's Global Markets VP Predicts Egypt's E-commerce to Hit $9.88 Billion by 2028

Selina Bieber, the Senior Director of Global Markets at GoDaddy, has predicted a significant increase in Egypt’s e-commerce revenue. By 2028, it could reach $9.88 billion.

Godaddy is forming strategic partnerships and launching initiatives to help local entrepreneurs. These efforts align with Egypt’s digital transformation goals and its Vision 2030.

In an interview with the Arabic financial news “Amwal Al Ghad,” Bieber spoke about GoDaddy’s plans and how they match Egypt’s 2023 strategy. She highlighted the company’s aim to provide effective, easy-to-use digital tools and services. By 2024, GoDaddy wants to serve more customers in Egypt by making its digital tools more widespread.

The company is working closely with the Egyptian government, especially the Ministry of Planning. They are offering training programs to improve the digital skills of startups and existing businesses. GoDaddy’s services in Egypt include domain registration, web hosting, e-commerce solutions, and digital marketing tools.

Recent surveys support Bieber’s positive outlook for e-commerce in Egypt. They show a clear trend towards digital strategies among small businesses. Many are realizing the importance of having an online presence for their growth and success.

As GoDaddy continues its partnerships and supports government digital initiatives, its influence on Egypt’s digital landscape is growing. The company is committed to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint. It aims not just for business growth but also to contribute to a sustainable and thriving digital economy in Egypt.

The 2028 projection indicates a vast potential for e-commerce, with GoDaddy playing a key role in this digital evolution.

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Apps

Saudi Fintech ‘Lendo’ Raises $28M in Series B Funding

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Lendo Secures $28M in Series B Funding Led by Sanabil Investments, Eyes IPO

Lendo, a Saudi Arabia-based shariah-compliant debt crowdfunding marketplace, has raised SAR 105 million ($28 million) in Series B funding led by Sanabil Investments, a wholly-owned company by the Public Investment Fund (“PIF”). The round saw participation from Shorooq Partners, AB Ventures and other investors.

Lendo is a Shariah-compliant, debt crowdfunding marketplace that helps pre-finance outstanding invoices for businesses in Saudi Arabia. The platform is a community of creditworthy borrowers and sophisticated investors looking for alternative investments. The platform is licensed by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). Lendo will use the funds to support its fast-growing customer base in Saudi Arabia which has grown 3X year-on-year, introduce more innovative financing products, and accelerate market expansion plans.

“With this funding round, we are going to expand into new markets, support new and current customers, and launch new Shariah-compliant products, all the while continuing to innovate the marketplace for digital lending. We are going to make financial services more accessible, affordable, and inclusive for everyone. I am excited to see what the future holds for our company,” said Osama Alraee, CEO, and co-founder of Lendo, who also disclosed its plans for an IPO within the next few years.

Alraee has also expressed his gratitude to SAMA (Saudi Central Bank), Fintech Saudi, MCIT, Misk, and Monshaat for their unwavering support, emphasizing the pivotal role they have played in advancing financial inclusivity and fostering innovation in partnership with Lendo to reshape the financial landscape. Their dedicated efforts in advancing financial inclusivity and fostering innovation have been invaluable to us. We greatly appreciate their partnership in our mission to transform the financial landscape

Commenting on the announcement, Sanabil Investments said: “Lendo is a leading fintech company that is transforming the financial services industry in their specialist area of Shariah-compliant digital lending for SMEs. The Lendo team, especially the founders, Osama and Mohamed, have achieved a significant amount in a relatively short period, and we are eager to join their journey of increasing access to flexible financial solutions in Saudi Arabia and the region at large.”

“The growing demand for alternative, agile, and accessible lending solutions presents a significant opportunity. At Lendo, we are well-positioned to lead the charge in promoting financial inclusion not only in Saudi Arabia but also beyond. By fueling SME growth, we aim to contribute to the realization of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic goals and to create a ripple effect of opportunity throughout the MENA region,” said Mohamed Jawabri, COO, and co-Founder of Lendo.

Lendo previously raised a SAR 27 million Series A funding round ($7.2 million) in 2021 led by Derayah Ventures with participation from Seedra Ventures and other investors, bringing the fintech’s total funding to SAR 132 million ($35.2 million).

Since the inception of Dec 2019, Saudi fintech Lendo has processed more than 2,500 financing transactions on its platform, providing over SAR 1 billion ($300 million) in financing to SMEs and generating SAR 140 million ($37 million) returns for investors.

The Small and Medium Enterprise financing landscape in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) presents a substantial market opportunity as limited financial access continues to restrict the growth of the region’s businesses, with commercial banks hesitant to issue loans to SMEs at scale, resulting in a high percentage of declined financing requests annually. According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the SME financing gap is estimated at SAR 19.5 trillion ($5.2 trillion) every year in developing countries.

Lendo’s debt crowdfunding platform aims to bridge the financing gap for SMEs, which aligns with the Saudi Vision 2030 to significantly expand SME lending from 4% in 2018 to 20% by 2030.

The total value of debt crowdfunding in Saudi Arabia surged from 1.4 million SAR in 2019 to SAR 771 million in 2022, marking a remarkable 430% growth, according to SAMA’s annual fintech report 2022.

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