April Edition: Innovation and entrepreneurship have been the corner stone of all developed economies. In the past few years, we have been withnessing an encouraging level of focus within the Muslim world emerging economies on such efforts.
DinarStandard's April 2008 issue looks at some recent nuggets of this blooming innovative, entrepreneurial business environment.
Our lead feature is on Naseeb.com, a Pakistan based Muslim social networking venture tapping into the growing online Muslim population and has secured funding from prominent Silicon Valley VC's (also included is a list of top Muslim social//matrimonial websites). Given the termendous potential of the global Muslim market - we are introducing a dedicated section - the Muslim Lifestyle Market (SM) - to provide you with regular trends analysis/ stories on various products and services targeting the muslim lifestyle.
Given the potential role of cash rich Oil producing Gulf countries in supporting new venture and entrepreneurship, we summarize key insights from this years Gulf Venture Capital Association meeting in Riyadh. What stands out is given a boom in Private Equity investments, the risk appetite for investors funding startups is still limited. According to the GVCA, of the $4.8 billion private equity raised in 2006, only 9% went to venture capital.
However, many impressive world leading innovation initiatives are being undertaken in the region. Guest controbutor, Mr. Bilal Zuberi, PhD writes about Abu Dhabi's ambitious Masdar City project which aims to be the World's First Zero-Carbon, Zero-Waste, Car-Free City.
In profiling personalities, we review international journalist Riz Khan's biography of one of the most successful international investors today - Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. We have also introduced a new series on Women in Management. Keeping with the entrepreneuship theme, we profile Iman Kouvalis, President and Owner of Optimize It. and Na'ima B. Roberts, Managing Director and Editor of SISTERS Magazine.
In the issue, we also look at how Saudi Aramco and ADNOC fared in a recent global benchmarking Sustainable Oil Companies report. Finally, key strategic aspects of one of the most prominent Indonesian conglomerate Astra International are also reviewed.
This is Alhamdulillah our largest edition thus far. We hope this Issue has given you some new insights and ideas on innovating and being entrepreneurial in your own business environments.
I hail the April issue. There are clues that Muslim on the track to better development. I believe Muslim can do as developed nations done. But I would like to suggest that Muslim nation must be stress on agricultures development and food processing. That because all Human need food, this is basic things. Some crops also could be used as substance in industry. So raise crops can lead to industry as well.
In financial, I hope Muslim do not invest in US or UK stock market. It is better for Muslim to wait until collapse US/UK companies, so you can buy them and bring to Muslim world. Acquire companies that mean acquire technologies. It is better as well to establish company to develop agricultures in Africa or raise livestock there or other parts of Muslim world.
Posted by: Mumby | April 23, 2008 at 04:36 PM