From Silence to 10000 Voices: Mostafa Shahat Builds MENA
“I wasn’t surrounded by founders, operators, builders, or people who believed in creating things from nothing. I needed that energy. I needed that space. And instead of waiting for it to appear, I decided to try to build it.”
Three years ago, Mostafa Shahat was a freelancer bouncing between projects, feeling the exact same isolation that many of us feel.
He wasn't looking for a networking event; he was looking for a home.
Today, Mostafa serves as the Founders Live MENA Regional Leader, having spearheaded our expansion from a single nervous launch in Egypt to a thriving, multi-city ecosystem spanning Cairo, Alexandria, Mansoura, Dubai, and Riyadh.
But the road between "then" and "now" wasn't paved with easy wins. It was paved with grit, financial uncertainty, and the relentless support of key partners who believed in the vision before the metrics existed.
In this deeply moving 2025 recap, Mostafa peels back the curtain on what it actually takes to build a community. He moves beyond the logos and the metrics to thank the specific humans—the volunteers, the sponsors, local city leaders, and more—who carried this vision when the weight was heavy.
This isn't just a year-in-review; it is a masterclass in gratitude and a raw look at the soul of the Middle East’s startup ecosystem.
Read his amazing story on Substack
Special thanks to city leaders Ahmed Hesham (Mansoura), Youstina Abdelmeseh (Alexandria), Hisham Koshak (Riyadh), and Karim Elemam (Dubai), the sponsors, hosts, and of course, the amazing volunteers (some pictured below)!
“What we’re building through Founders Live in MENA is bigger than events or stages. It’s about keeping the door open when access is hard. It’s about creating rooms where founders, operators, and leaders can speak honestly, listen properly, and feel part of something real.”
