Nazmia is a young writer passionate about making complex data and research more approachable, understandable and entertaining. She’s always been an educator at heart, taking on mentorship roles teaching creative and business writing to the scientific community. She is currently pursuing her passion at the intersection of technology and healthcare through a Masters degree in Biomedical Engineering. When she’s not in the lab pouring herself into the magic of tissue engineering and reconstruction, she’s writing and educating the world about all things biotech, healthtech, insurtech and edutech. If you're looking for practical insights with a touch of whimsy, Nazmia is the voice to follow with a fresh perspective on the ever-evolving digital and tech industry. 
Nazmia holds a BS in Biology and is currently pursuing her MS in Biomedical Engineering at the American University of Beirut. She specializes in cartilage tissue research, and uses her writing as a therapeutic escape to produce captivating pieces that take her readers on a journey with every word.

Nazmia Nassereddine

Dubai’s Digital Economy and Its Expanding Startup Ecosystem

Articles

MENAPT's 5 Most Funded Startups (Oct 2024)

October 2024 - Top 5 Most Funded Startups in MENAPT

Entrepreneurship

United Arab Emirates

The Rise of Unicorns in the UAE’s Startup Ecosystem

From Souq to Careem: The Rise of Unicorns in the UAE’s Startup Ecosystem

August 2024 - Top 5 Most Funded Startups in MENAPT

MENAPT Startups in Focus: Startup Funding Trends In August 2023 VS August 2024

UAE's Startups: The Top 10 Most Funded Startups in 2023

The Top 10 Most Funded Startups in the UAE in 2023

Startup

Staff Writer

The Top 10 Most Funded Startups in GCC in 2023

United States

The Genesis of Shazam: An Interview with CEO Chris Barton

The Full Story of Shazam: The Innovation We Didn't Know We Needed

Read the Top 5 Funded Startups in MENAPT in April 2024

April 2024 - Top 5 Funded Startups in MENAPT

Economies

Navigating MENAPT's Venture Capital Winter: February 2024 Recap

February 2024 - Top 5 Funded Startups in MENAPT

Top 5 Funded Startups in MENAPT: Venture Funding Takes a Sharp Dive from January 2023 to 2024

January 2024 - Top 5 Funded Startups in MENAPT

Press Release

Saudi Arabia

Dubai's SQUATWOLF secures up to $30M investment from ASCA Capital to fuel expansion

SQUATWOLF Secures Minority Investment from ASCA Capital to Boost Expansion Plans

Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports and Shahid partner to enhance esports gamers’ experiences in Saudi

Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports and Shahid partner to enhance esports gamers’ experiences in KSA

Crypto, Blockchain & Web3

Entrepreneur Middle East Staff

The Dubai Fintech Summit 2023 Aims To Set A Global Benchmark For How We Approach Financial Innovation

The Dubai Fintech Summit Running From May 8-9, 2023 Aims To Set A Global Benchmark For How We Approach Financial Innovation

Fintech

Bahama-based GEM Digital increases investment in UAE metaverse startup Everdome to $60 million

UAE Metaverse Startup Everdome secures $60 million investment commitment from GEM Digital

DIFC's Venture Studio: Focus on Finance and Digital Assets

DIFC Unveils Global Venture Studio Launchpad Exclusively Focused On Ubiquitous Finance And Digital Asset Technologies

Erika is Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer at Lucidity Insights. Having  spent 15 years advising Fortune 500 companies  and multinational conglomerates  from around the world on how to grow businesses in emerging markets, Erika found that data and knowledge underpinned and empowered strategic decision-making. The creation of Lucidity Insights was inspired by the idea that strategic C-suite level data and insights could empower startups and Venture Capitalists in the MENAPT region, elevating the entire regional entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

Data is not just for the Chief Executive, or the data analyst after-all. Democratizing access to quality data across the tech ecosystem will elevate every startup and every investors’ decision-making, and thus, benefit the economy, overall.

Erika has worked with data to develop comprehensive business success stories and strategies for her entire professional career. She is a thought leader in growth strategies in fast-moving emerging markets, with a focus on Middle Eastern and Asian Markets. She is an expert on the startup ecosystems in the Middle East, and a thought leader on entrepreneurship, disruptive technologies and sustainability. She has worked with both government and corporates clients, across over 30 different industry verticals and in over 40 countries. She is best described as a data-curious strategic thinker and advisor, who also happens to be an  enthusiastic storyteller and writer.

Erika graduated from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business with an Executive MBA (MSx), and also holds degrees from McGill University (B.Sc Neuroscience) and the University of Cambridge (Sustainability in Business). She speaks English and Japanese, is conversational in French, and speaks survival Arabic. In her spare time, she is an avid globe trotter, having travelled to over 70 countries, and counts scuba-diving, free-diving and yoga among her favourite activities. She is a self-described wellness-junkie and adventure enthusiast. She is also a dog mum.

Co-Founder & Chief Content Officer

Erika Masako Welch

Special Report: What Dubai’s Startups and Tech-preneurs have to say about Dubai’s Ambitions to Become the Digital Economy Capital of the World

What Dubai’s Startups and Tech-preneurs have to say about Dubai’s Ambitions to Become the Digital Economy Capital of the World

We are a team of passionate Researchers, Data Junkies, and Story-Tellers that believe there is not enough quality business insights and compelling data analysis available in the marketplace, told in the formats users want. We want to give an insider's look into the industries, businesses and economies that are changing the world today, so our users can become inspired, empowered and equipped to run their businesses as best they can.

Lucidity Insights Research Team

Infobytes

MENA Ecosystems 2024

Top MENA Ecosystems in 2024

MENA PE Activity & Deal Count by Sector (2014 - H1 2024)

MENA PE Activity & Share of Deal Count (by Sector in 2014 - H1 2024)

MENAPT Funding Rounds Oct 2024 vs Oct 2023

MENAPT Funding Rounds October 2024 vs October 2023

UAE Unicorns: Homegrown and Relocated

UAE's Startup Ecosystem Unicorns: Homegrown and Relocated

Over Half of MENA Startups are in UAE

Over Half of MENA Startups Call UAE Home

UAE's Top 10 Most Funded Startups in H1 2024

The Top 10 Most Funded Startups in UAE (H1 2024)

The Top 10 Most Funded Startups in the UAE (2023)

GCC Startup Boom: Top 10 Most Funded Startups in 2023

Top 10 Most Funded Startups in GCC (2023)

MENA Startup Ecosystem Insights: The Funding Rounds Comparison from May 2024 vs May 2023 in MENAPT Countries

MENA Startup Ecosystem Insights: How MENAPT Funding Rounds Changed from May 2023 to May 2024

GCC Initial Public Offering Activities from 2021-Q1 2024

GCC IPO Activity from 2021-Q1 2024

Q1 IPO Activities in GCC Countries from 2019 to 2024

GCC Q1 IPO Activity by Country (2019-2024)

April 2024: MENAPT Region's Investment Landscape Transformed by Megarounds

MENAPT Funding Rounds April 2024 vs April 2023

Box Office: MENA vs Global Cinema Market Outlook from 2019 to 2024

MENA vs Global Cinema Market Outlook 2019-2024

Entertainment

Global

MENAPT Funding Rounds Total Deal Value ($USm) & Deal Count - Feb 24 vs. Feb 23

Eight Worse Performing Currencies in the Middle East since January 2022

Top 8 Countries Suffering from Currency Devaluation in MENAPT (since Jan 2022)

% of Transitions to Industries, Top 10 During March 2020 to August 2021

UAE Monthly Linkedin Hiring Rate by Industry

Self Employment and Digital Content Management Roles Have Tripled in Size

The Percentage Share of Skills Added by Skill Group Category from 2015 to 2020 in the UAE

% Share of Skills Added by Skill Group Category by Year (UAE)

In vs Out Ratio by Skill Groups of Talent (Jan’20 Onwards)

Sehteq’s Growth Story in Overcoming Licensing Challenges to Become a Leading Player in the Industry

Sehteq’s Growth Story: Customer Acquisition and Revenues

Most Funded Startups in the MENA Region During 2020 (in US$ Millions)

Most Funded Startups in MENA Region, 2020 (in US$ MN)

The Zbooni Milestone Timeline Since Its Establishment

Zbooni Milestone Timeline

Dubai-Based Kitopi's Investments Until FY 2022

Kitopi Investments Until FY 2022

The Growth Story and Milestones of Dubai-Based Kitopi

Kitopi’s Growth Story and Milestones

Category Sales Growth from February to March 2020 Percent Growth (%)

Category Sales Growth Feb - Mar 2020 Percent Growth (%)

2021 Zbooni SME Survey: Popularity for Online Shopping Merchants to Grow Sales

Deliverect Investments until FY 2022

Deliverect Analytics 2019-2022

Talabat’s Growth Story and Milestones

Binance by the Numbers

Binance Products

The Startup Studio Model

Binance’s Exchange by Volume

City Comparison - Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2020

Labor Freedom - 2021

Labor Freedom in 2021

Number Of Days To Start A Business - 2020

Ease Of Doing Business Ranking - 2020

Ease of Doing Business Ranking Progress - Since 2008

Unlocking UAE's Potential: 2022 Ranking Across Factors

2022 Ranking Across Factors

United Arab Emirates: Overall Digital Competitiveness Rankings & Factors

Explore the IMD’s Digital Competitiveness Rankings for UAE From 2018-2022

IMD’s Digital Competitiveness Rankings: Uae’s Rank From 2018-2022

Key Strategies, Drivers and Stakeholders Behind Dubai’s Digital Economy

Discover Dubai's Key Strategic Focus Areas for the Future of Digital Economy

Dubai's Key Strategic Focus Areas for the Future of Digital Economy

Number Of Transactions Across Each Sector With Top Eight Sectors by Volume of Transactions

Number of Transactions: Each Sector with Top Eight Sectors by Volume

Explore the Total Deal Size in the UAE from 2018 to 2022

Total Deal Size in UAE (2018-2022)

VC Funding in UAE by Amount and Number of Deals

VC Funding in UAE by Deal Type (% of Total Number of Deals)

VC Funding in UAE by Deal Type

Top Industries by Total Funding in UAE, 2022

Discover the Top Industries by Number of Deals in the UAE in 2022

Top Industries by Number of Deals in UAE, 2022

Most Funded Dubai-Based Startups to Date

The Monthly Hiring Rates in the UAE from 2019 to 2021

Monthly Hiring Rates in the UAE (2019-2021)

Monthly Hiring Rates by Country in December 2021

Inflow of Talent per 10K Members since January 2020 and Onwards

Inflow of Talent per 10K Members since Jan 2020

% Share of Remote Jobs Out of All Jobs in the UAE

Middle East is the Next Digital Frontier, to reach $780 Billion by 2030

UBS Claims Middle East is Next Digital Frontier

UAE's Digital Skills and Workforce Gender Distribution

Digital Skills and Workforce Gender Distribution in the UAE

Special Reports

Dubai Green Future: Powered by Renewable Energy 2024 Report

Dubai’s Green Future: Powered by Renewable Energy

Sustainability & ClimateTech

Top Blockchain Innovations in 2024 | Lucidity Insights

Special Report: Innovations in Blockchain

To Your Doorstep: The Future of Food Delivery in Saudi Arabia

The Future of Food Delivery in Saudi Arabia

FoodTech

Egypt

Special Report: Investing in Egypt’s Startup Ecosystem in 2024

Investing in Egypt’s Startup Ecosystem

Special Report "The Business of Impact Investing in 2023"

The Business of Impact Investing in 2023

Special Report: "Exploring MENA Healthtech Business"

The Business of Healthtech in MENA

HealthTech

Special Report: "Sustainable International Trade for a Resilient Future"

Sustainable International Trade for a Resilient Future

Special Report: The State of the Electric Vehicle Revolution 2023

The State of the Electric Vehicle Revolution 2023

Mobility

Special Report: Foodtech in MENA, How Innovation is Transforming the Culinary Landscape

The Growing Business of Foodtech

Special Report: "Opportunities in Web3"

Opportunities in Web3

Dubai's Venture Capital Ecosystem | Special Report

Dubai's Venture Capital Ecosystem

The Future of Fintech in Africa

Diriyah and Saudi's the Giga Projects | Special Report

Diriyah and the Giga Projects: Defining the New Saudi Arabia

Tourism

The Evolution of the KSA Startup Ecosystem: A Deep Dive into Growth and Innovation (2010-2022)

The Evolution of Saudi Arabia Startup Ecosystem 2010-2022

Dubai's Digital Economy and Startup Ecosystem | Special Report

MENA's M&A Landscape 2017-2022: A Comprehensive Review

The Middle East & North Africa’s M&A Landscape 2017-2022

Sustainable Innovations and Startups in the MENA Region

Innovations In International Trade

Inside Egypt Startup Ecosystem | Special Report

Egypt's Burgeoning Start-Up Ecosystem

Dubai’s Digital Economy Capital Roadmap | Special Report

Dubai’s Roadmap to Becoming the Digital Economy Capital of the World

Spotlights

Chalhoub Group’s Venture Studio: Nurturing the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs In-House

Ashok is a storyteller who uses numbers as his medium. He loves to crunch data, analyze it, and investigate deeper questions until the stories begin to emerge on their own. Ashok comes from a finance and consulting background, having worked in the strategy consulting and private equity fields across the Middle East and Emerging Asia for over 15 years, prior to becoming a business writer. When it comes to tech stories, Ashok has a penchant for startups in the fintech, B2B SaaS, AI and ML spaces. He loves writing about Venture Capital, M&A and the general investor landscape of startup ecosystems.
Ashok holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, as well as a diploma in Finance. He speaks English and Hindi fluently.

Researcher

Ashok Raman

LinkedIn Report: Dubai’s Digitalizing Workforce

Dubai’s Digitalizing Workforce

How Dubai’s First Insurtech Startup Reimagined Health Insurance to Achieve $47 Million in Revenues in 3 Years

How Dubai’s First Insurtech Startup, Sehteq, Reimagined Health Insurance to Achieve $47 Million in Revenues in 3 Years

Zbooni: How Dubai’s Homegrown Startup Has Introduced Connected Commerce to the Region

Zbooni: How Dubai’s Homegrown Startup Has Introduced cCommerce to the Region

Anamika  is a change maker with 15+ years of management consulting, project management, event management and research experience. Having worked for Accenture for over a decade, she began her career overseeing change management and digital learning and development programs across Fortune 500 clients globally. 
Today, Anamika works with select clients on large-scale change programs, and writes whenever she can. As a life-long learner, and lover of writing, she found herself becoming an excellent interviewer, story-teller and speaker. She is passionate about giving voice to startups, projects and new technologies that are nearing break-through. She is curious about the intersection between technology, human behaviour and wellness, and is often most intrigued by startups that help people live better and happier lives.  
Anamika received her BA in Economics and Chinese Studies from the University of Nottingham. She is London born and bred, and splits her time between London and Dubai. She is a certified HIIT instructor, NLP coach and world traveler with a love of experimental cooking.

Anamika Patel

Kitopi's Growth Story: Dubai’s Latest Foodtech Unicorn

Kitopi, Dubai’s Latest Foodtech Unicorn

InstaShop Growth Story: the One-Stop-Shop Fuelled by Dubaians’ Culture of Convenience

InstaShop, the One-Stop-Shop Fuelled by Dubaians’ Culture of Convenience

Dubai’s Digital Economy and Its Expanding Startup Ecosystem

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