A Call for the Ecosystem to Help Me Find Out the Average Age of Successful Entrepreneurs in the MENA Region

I began my entrepreneurial journey at 20, as a student studying Communication Technology Engineering, working on my first startup. Back then, I always wanted things to move fast and dreamed of becoming a millionaire in no time. When I graduated and moved to Dubai to start my second startup Search in MENA.com, I felt I had made a big move by being on top of entrepreneurs who received funding from Dubai government’s Dubai Silicon Oasis . I also reached the top of startups that successfully completed public crowdfunding on Eureeca, and this list is still ongoing today. I was confident that I was on the path to becoming one of those Silicon Valley-like success stories.

But by the time I turned 30, the big vision I had for myself hadn’t materialized. While I had small successes along the way, I wasn't quite reaching the heights I had envisioned. This frustrated me, and I couldn’t help but feel like time was running out.

In 2015, I decided to do a "shy analysis" of my entrepreneurial network and the successful founders around me. What I discovered was both surprising and reassuring: the average age of successful entrepreneurs was 45 years old. This realization gave me a sense of relief. It meant I still had 15 years ahead to achieve my big goals, and it allowed me to slow down, think more strategically, and give myself the time to reach that big success.

Fast forward to 2024, and with advancements in AI and the power of social media, I believe we can take this analysis further. Together, these tools can help us answer a critical question: What is the average age of successful entrepreneurs in the MENA region?

Based on data from the U.S., the average age of successful entrepreneurs is around 42 to 45 years. This is much older than the popular image of 20-something tech prodigies. [Research with Javier Miranda of the U.S. Census Bureau and Pierre Azoulay of MIT ]

However, I hypothesize that in the MENA region, this average age may be even higher. Experience, connections, and industry knowledge often play a critical role in the success of entrepreneurs, and this is particularly true in our region.

Here’s how you can contribute:

• Comment and verify the data I’m bringing to ensure its accuracy and completeness.

• Share this post with your network to help me reach as many people as possible who can contribute to this analysis.

• Tag successful entrepreneurs that you know in the comments to include them in this analysis.

• Subscribe to my newsletter to be able to get the update result subscribe here

Criteria for Selecting Founders:

Below, I’ve outlined what I believe to be the key success criteria for entrepreneurs:

1. Series A or Higher Funding

2. Notable Exits or Acquisitions

3. Industry Leadership

4. The startup is still operating

Here is the list: Average Age of Successful Entrepreneurs

1. Fadi Ghandour - Aramex - Age at Founding: 29 (founded in 1982) - Age at Success: 44 (IPO in 1997) - Current Age: 71

2. Rabea Ataya - Bayt.com - Age at Founding: 34 (founded in 2000) - Age at Success: 40 (Success in 2006) - Current Age: Data not available

3. Mohammed Jaffar - talabat - Age at Founding: 24 (founded in 2004) - Age at Success: 34 (Acquisition in 2015) - Current Age: Data not available

4. Ronaldo Mouchawar - Souq.com - Age at Founding: 36 (founded in 2005) - Age at Success: 48 (Acquired by Amazon in 2017) - Current Age: 55

5. Michael Lahyani - Property Finder - Age at Founding: 30 (founded in 2007) - Age at Success: 39 (Property Finder became a market leader in 2016) - Current Age: 46

6. Rami Alqawasmi - Mawdoo3.com - Age at Founding: Data not available (founded in 2010) - Age at Success: Data not available - Current Age: Data not available

Here is the list: Average Age of Successful Entrepreneurs

Here is the list: Average Age of Successful Entrepreneurs

A Personal Strategy to Speed Up Success

While the average age of success might be higher than I originally thought, I’ve found a way to accelerate the process—by participating in and building multiple ventures simultaneously.

BE Venture Partners has allowed me to diversify my efforts and achieve faster success. It’s a strategy I plan to continue using as I work toward my goals.

Now, a funny thought: I’m still 39 years old, and if the average age of success is still 45, I think I still have 6 years to make it! 😄

But in all seriousness, I hope this article provides insights to all entrepreneurs on the reality of success—and how much time it can take. Success doesn’t happen overnight, but with the right mindset, patience, and strategy, it’s achievable.

Let’s work together to refine this analysis and show the true timeline of success in our region.

In this article is the first data draft I collected and analyzed, which requires verification from the crowd.

Here is the list: Average Age of Successful Entrepreneurs