ArabNet Digital Summit 2013: What We Know So Far...

The region’s largest gathering of digital executives and entrepreneurs is only weeks away. This year’s Digital Summit will take place in one of the region’s most vibrant economies, Dubai, where it will look back at the biggest developments in the regional web and mobile landscape and look ahead to another year of exciting opportunities and trends.

In addition to panel discussions, talks, and workshops, this time we’re adding exciting new formats such as the Digital Showcase, which will provide up-and-coming digital enterprises with the opportunity to connect with major clients and strategic partners, and the Roundtables, consisting of in-depth discussions by some of the region’s top digital leaders in investment, ecommerce, and media.

We thought that this would be a good time to give you a sneak peek at what’s coming this June...

Hsoub Launches its Affiliate Marketing Network

The local online advertising space keeps picking up steam. After several major announcements from regional players Hsoub and ikoo, Hsoub is back again today announcing the launch of its new Affiliate Network.

The network allows publishers to publish and distribute offers and promotional material by advertisers on blogs, forums, or through social networks or email messages. The publishers, aka affiliates, earn money from each purchase, conversion and from new customer referred to the advertiser’s website.

Newly Created Incubator Venture Lab Runs its First Competition for Entrepreneurs, Deadline in 3 Days

The Venture Lab Challenge, VL Challenge for short, is a startup competition launched by the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Program (EIP) at AUC School of Business, in cooperation with Intel. Prized include 100 000 EGP in seed funding and fast tracking winners to Intel’s MENA challenge 2013, and, as a top prize, incubation at the AUC Venture Lab, newly created business incubator at the heart of the AUC New Cairo campus. The deadline to apply is May 18^th, so you’ve got 3 days left to submit.

During the competition, entrepreneurs will complete their prototype, receive mentoring from faculty and experienced entrepreneurs, compete for prizes, and acquire the needed exposure to launch successful businesses. At the end of the competition, teams will have an opportunity to pitch and present their products to potential investors and key industry experts.

Eureeca: Global Crowdinvesting Platform Launches Today, Focuses on Growth and Small & Medium Businesses

Eureeca, a global crowdinvesting platform for growth companies and small & medium businesses, launched today with funding proposals from a number of regional businesses live on its website.

Founded by experienced entrepreneurs and former investment bankers, Chris Thomas and Sam Quawasmi, the service operates as a marketplace for both businesses looking for funding and crowdinvestors seeking new investment prospects.

The platform is aimed at both regular folks as well as professional investors Cofounder Chris Thomas explains. It “empowers a larger number of people to invest in and facilitate the growth of promising businesses they believe in.”