Please Introduce Yourself
I am Furkat Kasimov, a tech entrepreneur and venture studio founder. For over twenty years, I have been building, scaling, and advising technology companies, with a particular focus on the application layer of artificial intelligence. Currently, I run AppLayerAI.com, a venture studio based in London, where we develop AI-native platforms tailored for marketing, finance, and e-commerce.
What Are You Most Interested In When It Comes To the MENA Startup and Business Scene In 2026?
I am continually struck by the staggering pace of regional growth, which fuels my high optimism for the exceptional talent emerging here. When I first visited Dubai in 1996, I stayed at what is now the Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort, it was the only hotel in the Marina.
Witnessing the transformation from those early days into today’s booming tech and financial ecosystem is incredible. That sheer velocity of development gives me immense confidence in the bright future these startups will have. In 2026 specifically, I am highly interested in how founders are practically applying AI to solve localized challenges, turning the region into a proving ground for globally scalable technologies.
What Are You Most Looking Forward To Seeing from This Year’s MENA40 Entrants?
I am looking forward to seeing founders who look beyond the underlying technology and focus heavily on solving real business problems. The MENA region possesses a vast pool of incredible, diverse talent, and I am highly optimistic about seeing that talent applied to practical, revenue-generating solutions. I want to see entrants who have figured out how to integrate complex tools seamlessly into their products, ensuring the technology feels invisible while the value to the end user is undeniable.
What Can Entrants Do To Stand Out from the Crowd?
Stand out by demonstrating a deep understanding of your end user’s needs. Many startups build great technology but struggle with market positioning. Show me that you know exactly how to acquire customers efficiently and optimize your conversion rates. Clear, concrete metrics and a highly focused application of your core technology will always cut through the noise better than abstract, buzzword-heavy visions.
Any Advice for the Entrants?
Keep your pitch clear, direct, and grounded in reality. Avoid the temptation to overcomplicate your narrative; instead, focus on the specific problem you are solving and the human element behind it. Building a successful startup is an exercise in applied psychology just as much as it is in engineering. Understand your audience, execute with precision, and lean into the unprecedented growth momentum the MENA region offers right now.
