Startup Scene Middle East
Startup Scene Middle East is a Cairo-based digital media platform covering MENA startup and investment news through its website, SceneNow mobile app, video channel, and podcasts, serving entrepreneurs, venture investors, and corporate innovation teams across the region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersCairo, Egypt
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Startup Scene Middle East does
Startup Scene Middle East is a digital media platform that publishes news, analysis, and multimedia content covering the startup and investment ecosystem across the Middle East and North Africa. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Cairo with a regional coverage hub in Dubai, the company operates thestartupscene.me, the SceneNow iOS/Android mobile application, Startup Scene TV (video), and a podcast portfolio (including Dawarha Sah, Startup Scene Soundbites, and Meet The Investor), reaching entrepreneurs, venture investors, and corporate innovation teams across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman.
The underlying technology is a digital content management system supporting web publishing and cross-platform social distribution, with proprietary mobile applications on iOS App Store and Google Play Store. Content production is organized around editorial verticals including Investment News, MENA Ecosystems, Startup Spotlight (In-Depth), NextGen Startups, Power Lists, Meet The Investor, Opportunities, Videos, and Podcasts. The platform also sits within a wider Scene-branded media ecosystem that includes SceneNow (with Saudi and UAE editions), Noise, Eats, Home, Styled, and Traveller, providing cross-vertical audience reach.
The business model is direct-to-consumer, freemium, and advertising-led. Content is free to readers, with no subscription or paywall; revenue is generated through display advertising, sponsored content, advertorials, sponsored opportunity listings, and ecosystem event/partnership sponsorships. The GTM motion is content-driven, relying on owned digital properties (website, app, social channels) and SEO/social reach rather than paid sales. The customer base is a long-tail of regional founders, SMB readers, and institutional investors, with corporate innovation teams as a secondary segment. No funding rounds, revenue figures, or ownership disclosures are available in the source material.
Startup Scene Middle East firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Startup Scene Middle East
- Legal name
- Startup Scene
- Website
- https://thestartupscene.me
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Startup Scene Middle East is a Cairo-based digital media platform covering MENA startup and investment news through its website, SceneNow mobile app, video channel, and podcasts, serving entrepreneurs, venture investors, and corporate innovation teams across the region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Startup Scene Middle East industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital News Media
- NAICS
- Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising (7310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Podcast Networks & Studio Platforms (MPAIADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio) (BPAFAAAF)
Keywords
Where Startup Scene Middle East is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cairo
- HQ country
- Egypt
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices2 records
Markets served
Startup Scene Middle East business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Advertising & Sponsorships: The platform monetizes through display advertising, sponsored content, and branded articles. The website features advertorials and sponsored opportunity listings.
- Community & Events: The SceneNow ecosystem includes multiple branded verticals (SceneNow Saudi, UAE, Noise, Eats, Home, Styled, Traveller) suggesting potential for event sponsorships and community partnerships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free access for readers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Startup Scene Middle East product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Startup Scene Middle East operates a digital media and content platform covering the MENA startup and investment ecosystem. It publishes daily news articles, investment updates, startup spotlights, ecosystem coverage, opportunities, video content via Startup Scene TV, and podcasts (Dawarha Sah, Startup Soundbites, Meet The Investor), distributed through its website, the SceneNow mobile app, and social media channels for free reader access.
Product overview
Startup Scene Middle East is a media and content platform covering the MENA startup and investment ecosystem. The company operates a unified content platform consisting of a website (thestartupscene.me) and the SceneNow mobile application, which together deliver news, analysis, and multimedia content across categories including investment news, MENA ecosystems, startup spotlights, NextGen startups, and opportunities. The platform also produces original video content through Startup Scene TV and audio content through its podcast series, serving entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem participants across the Middle East and North Africa region.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SceneNow App: Mobile application for accessing startup news and content
Products and services
- Startup Scene Website (thestartupscene.me) The primary digital publishing platform delivering daily investment news, MENA ecosystem coverage, startup spotlights, NextGen startup features, and multimedia content (videos and podcasts) covering the Middle East and North Africa startup landscape, available free to readers.
- SceneNow Mobile Application A mobile application available on iOS and Android platforms that provides free access to startup and investment news, ecosystem updates, and multimedia content from the MENA startup scene for entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem participants.
- Startup Scene TV A video content channel featuring original interviews, startup spotlights, and investor profile series such as StartupScene Soundbites, Meet The Investor, and Walk Like a Boss, hosted on YouTube and embedded on the Startup Scene platform for free audience access.
- Startup Scene Podcasts Original podcast content covering MENA startup ecosystem topics, entrepreneurship discussions, and interviews with founders and investors, including the Dawarha Sah podcast series featuring founders, investors, and business leaders.
Quantifiable outcome
- Daily coverage of MENA startup ecosystem spanning multiple markets and content formats
Companies that use Startup Scene Middle East
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Startup Scene Middle East technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Startup Scene Middle East partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- SceneNow Ecosystem (scenenow.com)coreSister brand under the SceneNow media ecosystem covering lifestyle and business content. SceneNow has regional editions including SceneNow Saudi and SceneNow UAE.
- Scene Ecosystem BrandscoreRelated Scene branded platforms including Noise (scenenoise.com), Eats (sceneeats.com), Home (scenehome.com), Styled (scenestyled.com), and Traveller (scenetraveller.com) forming a comprehensive regional media ecosystem.
- Cairo ZoomminorInstagram presence (@thecairozoom) providing additional content channel for Egyptian ecosystem coverage.
- NVIDIAflagshipNVIDIA partnered with RiseUp, A15, and BitRoot to bring the NVIDIA Inception startup program and SIGNALS sessions to Egypt. Startup Scene covered this landmark event at the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Startup Scene Middle East competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MAGNiTT: MENA startup data platform providing deal-flow tracking, investor directories, and ecosystem analytics; competes for the same investor and founder audience with a data/research layer.
- Wamda: MENA-focused startup and entrepreneurship media platform covering investments, founder interviews, and ecosystem news; closest direct competitor in regional startup news.
Emerging players
- StartupBlink: Global startup ecosystem mapping and rankings platform with MENA data; adjacent comparison as a data-driven ecosystem intelligence provider serving similar investor and policymaker audiences.
- StepFeed: Digital media platform covering Middle East lifestyle, culture, and startups; targets a similar millennial/digital-native audience with regional editorial content.
Broad incumbents
- The National: Abu Dhabi-based English-language news outlet covering UAE and regional business, technology, and startups; competes for premium readers and corporate advertisers in MENA.
- Gulf Business: Long-standing regional business publication covering GCC markets with news, features, and analysis; incumbent in regional business advertising and audience.
- Arabian Business: Established regional business media covering MENA markets with a broader business/finance focus; competes for advertising budgets from regional brands and corporate clients.
- Arab News: Major regional English-language daily covering Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region with business and startup sections; broader competitor for digital advertising and ecosystem news readership.
- Inc. Arabia: Regional edition of Inc. magazine covering startups, entrepreneurship, and business growth across MENA; comparable in audience (founders, SMEs) and advertising model.
Others
- TechCrunch: Global startup and technology news platform; representative of international tech media expanding coverage into MENA, serving as aspirational category benchmark and emerging competitive threat.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Startup Scene Middle East social profiles
Digital presenceStartup Scene Middle East financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Startup Scene Middle East leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Startup Scene Middle East funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Startup Scene Middle East M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Startup Scene Middle East
What does Startup Scene Middle East do?
Startup Scene Middle East operates a digital media and content platform covering the MENA startup and investment ecosystem. It publishes daily news articles, investment updates, startup spotlights, ecosystem coverage, opportunities, video content via Startup Scene TV, and podcasts (Dawarha Sah, Startup Soundbites, Meet The Investor), distributed through its website, the SceneNow mobile app, and social media channels for free reader access.
Is Startup Scene Middle East a public or private company?
Startup Scene Middle East is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Startup Scene Middle East founded?
Startup Scene Middle East was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Startup Scene Middle East based?
Startup Scene Middle East is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, in the Africa region.
How does Startup Scene Middle East make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Advertising & Sponsorships are the primary driver. The others are community & Events.
Who are Startup Scene Middle East's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MAGNiTT and Wamda. Emerging players are StartupBlink and StepFeed. Broad incumbents are The National, Gulf Business, Arabian Business, Arab News and Inc. Arabia. TechCrunch is listed as an others.
Does Startup Scene Middle East have an API?
No public API is recorded for Startup Scene Middle East.
What industry is Startup Scene Middle East in?
Startup Scene Middle East's product category is Digital News Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIADAC, Podcast Networks & Studio Platforms, with a secondary code of BPAFAAAF, Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio). Its NAICS code is 516 and its SIC code is 7310.