Diversity in tech: The importance of female leadership in MENA's startup ecosystem in 2023

Despite progress in recent years, Arab women remain underrepresented in the tech industry, particularly in leadership positions. This lack of diversity not only limits opportunities for women but also hinders innovation and growth in the industry.

According to a report by Wilson Center, only 23% of startup founders in the MENA region are women. These statistics highlight the need for increased support and opportunities for women in tech, especially in leadership roles.

In the MENA region, female entrepreneurship is on the rise, with more women starting their own businesses and taking on leadership roles. However, there is still a long way to go to achieve gender parity in the tech industry. A report by the World Economic Forum in 2022 found that it will take 132 years to close the global gender pay gap at the current rate of progress.

Anastasia Denisova, the CEO of Realiste MENA, believes that promoting and supporting female leadership is essential for creating a more diverse and inclusive startup ecosystem. She claims that by providing mentorship, training, and networking opportunities for women in tech, we can help break down barriers and create a more level playing field.

Realiste is a proptech startup based in Dubai and driven by artificial intelligence to make the real estate market more efficient and transparent for investors. Under Anastasia's leadership, Realiste MENA has integrated with 27 real estate developers in Dubai, attracted more than 50,000 users, and increased monthly revenue in Dubai from zero to $1M by the end of 2022.

“Diversity is not just a buzzword – it’s essential for innovation and growth,” said Anastasia Denisova. “We are committed to promoting diversity in all its forms, and we believe that supporting female leadership is a key part of this effort.”

In 2022, a report by Citigroup found that increasing female representation in the tech industry could add $2 trillion to global GDP. This data demonstrates that there is a need for more initiatives to encourage and support girls and women in pursuing careers in tech. Together, we can build a more inclusive and innovative startup ecosystem that benefits everyone.

 

About Realiste:

Realiste is a proptech startup that develops AI-based products for real estate investments. The company uses cutting-edge technology to provide investors with valuable insights and data-driven solutions for making smarter investment decisions. In 2022, it was recognized as the leading artificial intelligence company in the UAE.

Realiste is committed to driving innovation and growth in the real estate industry, and is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in the tech sector.

The company’s goal is to build the first real estate exchange that can help to identify the most profitable options in the market, allow purchase online within seconds directly from developers, and manage all the purchased assets in one place.

The company’s headquarters are located in Dubai. Overall, Realiste covers over 20 cities, including London, New York, Riyadh, and Bangkok. By the end of 2023, the team aims to expand Realiste to more than 30 cities globally, partnering with local businesses that share the company’s vision and have an in-depth understanding of their markets.

The revenue in Dubai’s company stands at $1M, and the team aims to reach $30M by the end of 2023.