Built in İzmir

Built in İzmir

MENA Access & Cross-Border Growth Summit

MENA Access & Cross-Border Growth Summit

About

In partnership with YABİSAK, and in collaboration with ENSİA and İş Bankası Entrepreneurship Branch


Venture Vibe Built in İzmir 2026, taking place on April 28 at İzQ Entrepreneurship Center, is an international platform designed to build sustainable business bridges between Türkiye and the MENA region.

Organized in partnership with YABİSAK (Software and Informatics Industrialists Cluster Association) and in collaboration with ENSİA (Energy Industrialists & Business People Association) and İş Bankası Entrepreneurship Branch, the summit brings together entrepreneurs, SMEs, large corporations, investors, and public sector representatives to explore global expansion, international market access, investment processes, B2B growth, and cross-border collaboration.

Speakers actively engaged in investment, entrepreneurship, and ecosystem development from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Lebanon will share first-hand insights into regional dynamics, regulatory environments, investor expectations, and market entry strategies.

Venture Vibe Built in İzmir 2026 is not just a conference; it is a structured access platform focused on creating tangible business connections through curated and pre-scheduled B2B meetings.

Why Attend?

• Gain direct insights into MENA’s investment and growth dynamics from key decision-makers
• Learn practical market-entry strategies for Saudi Arabia and Qatar
• Understand how to become investment-ready from a Dubai-based VC perspective
• Participate in curated, pre-matched B2B meetings
• Establish trust-based first connections for cross-border partnerships

Focus Areas

• International growth
• GCC and MENA markets
• Investment and access to capital
• Public–private collaboration
• Soft-landing and company structuring strategies



Speakers

Ursula El Hage

Director, Career Services & Entrepreneurship Center @ USJ | Lebanon

Ursula El Hage leads entrepreneurship and ecosystem development initiatives at Saint Joseph University of Beirut. She is actively involved in connecting academia, startups, and international partners, supporting innovation-driven growth and cross-border collaboration.

Ursula El Hage

Director, Career Services & Entrepreneurship Center @ USJ | Lebanon

Ursula El Hage leads entrepreneurship and ecosystem development initiatives at Saint Joseph University of Beirut. She is actively involved in connecting academia, startups, and international partners, supporting innovation-driven growth and cross-border collaboration.

Basem Abu Dagga

VC & PE | EdTech Venture Studio Fund | UAE

Basem Abu Dagga is an investor and ecosystem builder with experience across venture capital and private equity in education, healthcare, and real estate. Based in the UAE, he actively supports companies scaling into GCC markets and advises founders on investment readiness, market positioning, and cross-border structuring.

Basem Abu Dagga

VC & PE | EdTech Venture Studio Fund | UAE

Basem Abu Dagga is an investor and ecosystem builder with experience across venture capital and private equity in education, healthcare, and real estate. Based in the UAE, he actively supports companies scaling into GCC markets and advises founders on investment readiness, market positioning, and cross-border structuring.

Saudi Arabia Representative – TBC

Saudi Arabia Representative – TBC

Senior ecosystem or investment representative contributing insights on Vision 2030, regulatory frameworks, capital access, and market entry strategies within Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia Representative – TBC

Saudi Arabia Representative – TBC

Senior ecosystem or investment representative contributing insights on Vision 2030, regulatory frameworks, capital access, and market entry strategies within Saudi Arabia.

Qatar Representative – TBC

Qatar Representative – TBC

Ecosystem leader or investment representative sharing perspectives on Qatar’s National Vision, public-private collaboration models, and opportunities for international companies entering the Qatari market.

Qatar Representative – TBC

Qatar Representative – TBC

Ecosystem leader or investment representative sharing perspectives on Qatar’s National Vision, public-private collaboration models, and opportunities for international companies entering the Qatari market.

Ursula El Hage

Director, Career Services & Entrepreneurship Center @ USJ | Lebanon

Ursula El Hage leads entrepreneurship and ecosystem development initiatives at Saint Joseph University of Beirut. She is actively involved in connecting academia, startups, and international partners, supporting innovation-driven growth and cross-border collaboration.

Ursula El Hage

Director, Career Services & Entrepreneurship Center @ USJ | Lebanon

Ursula El Hage leads entrepreneurship and ecosystem development initiatives at Saint Joseph University of Beirut. She is actively involved in connecting academia, startups, and international partners, supporting innovation-driven growth and cross-border collaboration.

Basem Abu Dagga

VC & PE | EdTech Venture Studio Fund | UAE

Basem Abu Dagga is an investor and ecosystem builder with experience across venture capital and private equity in education, healthcare, and real estate. Based in the UAE, he actively supports companies scaling into GCC markets and advises founders on investment readiness, market positioning, and cross-border structuring.

Basem Abu Dagga

VC & PE | EdTech Venture Studio Fund | UAE

Basem Abu Dagga is an investor and ecosystem builder with experience across venture capital and private equity in education, healthcare, and real estate. Based in the UAE, he actively supports companies scaling into GCC markets and advises founders on investment readiness, market positioning, and cross-border structuring.

Saudi Arabia Representative – TBC

Saudi Arabia Representative – TBC

Senior ecosystem or investment representative contributing insights on Vision 2030, regulatory frameworks, capital access, and market entry strategies within Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia Representative – TBC

Saudi Arabia Representative – TBC

Senior ecosystem or investment representative contributing insights on Vision 2030, regulatory frameworks, capital access, and market entry strategies within Saudi Arabia.

Qatar Representative – TBC

Qatar Representative – TBC

Ecosystem leader or investment representative sharing perspectives on Qatar’s National Vision, public-private collaboration models, and opportunities for international companies entering the Qatari market.

Qatar Representative – TBC

Qatar Representative – TBC

Ecosystem leader or investment representative sharing perspectives on Qatar’s National Vision, public-private collaboration models, and opportunities for international companies entering the Qatari market.

Ursula El Hage

Director, Career Services & Entrepreneurship Center @ USJ | Lebanon

Ursula El Hage leads entrepreneurship and ecosystem development initiatives at Saint Joseph University of Beirut. She is actively involved in connecting academia, startups, and international partners, supporting innovation-driven growth and cross-border collaboration.

Basem Abu Dagga

VC & PE | EdTech Venture Studio Fund | UAE

Basem Abu Dagga is an investor and ecosystem builder with experience across venture capital and private equity in education, healthcare, and real estate. Based in the UAE, he actively supports companies scaling into GCC markets and advises founders on investment readiness, market positioning, and cross-border structuring.

Saudi Arabia Representative – TBC

Saudi Arabia Representative – TBC

Senior ecosystem or investment representative contributing insights on Vision 2030, regulatory frameworks, capital access, and market entry strategies within Saudi Arabia.

Qatar Representative – TBC

Qatar Representative – TBC

Ecosystem leader or investment representative sharing perspectives on Qatar’s National Vision, public-private collaboration models, and opportunities for international companies entering the Qatari market.

Program

09.30 - 10.00

Registration & Welcome Coffee


10.00 - 10.20

Opening Remarks

10.20 - 11.00

Why MENA is the Next Growth Corridor for Turkish Companies

Keynote Address
Speakers:

• Basem Abu Dagga – VC & PE @ EdTech Venture Studio Fund | UAE

• Ursula El Hage – Director, Career Services & Entrepreneurship Center @ USJ | Lebanon

11.00 - 11.50

Saudi Arabia & Qatar: Market Entry Realities

High-Level Panel
Moderator: TBA

Panelists:

• Saudi Arabia Representative – TBA

• Qatar Representative – TBA

11.50 - 12.10

Audience Q&A

12.10 - 13.10

Networking Lunch

13.10 - 16.30

13.10 - 16.30

Curated B2B & Investor Meetings (Pre-Scheduled)

Structured, pre-matched one-to-one meetings with international delegates, investors, and ecosystem representatives.

16.30 - 17.15

16.30 - 17.15

Global Success Stories: From İzmir to the World

Selected high-growth startups and SMEs from İzmir sharing their international expansion journeys, lessons learned, and market-entry strategies.

Featured Companies – TBC

17.15 - 17:30

Closing & Next Steps

Sponsors

Why Become a Partner?

• Direct access to international investors and ecosystem leaders
• Visibility among growth-stage companies seeking cross-border expansion
• Brand positioning within a global access platform
• Participation in curated B2B sessions
• Long-term engagement opportunities through Venture Vibe’s global network

Partner With Venture Vibe İzmir 2026

Venture Vibe İzmir 2026 offers strategic partners the opportunity to position themselves at the center of a high-level international business corridor between Türkiye and the MENA region.

The summit brings together decision-makers, investors, scale-ups, SMEs, ecosystem leaders, and public sector representatives in a structured environment focused on real business outcomes.

Customized partnership packages are available upon request. Reach info@venturevibe.tech for details

Register

TBA