Over the summer, Zain Daya, joined Silicon Foundry as Principal based out of our Dubai office. Zain has spent her early career working with high-impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets and the venture capital space across the MENA region. Get to know Zain, her experience, passions, and the growth opportunities she sees with her role at SiF.
You have a diverse background. You grew up in Lebanon and Saudi, went to University in the US and are now working in Dubai. Can you share how these experiences have shaped your professional journey?
Growing up in Saudi Arabia, living in Lebanon, studying in the US and the UK, and now working in Dubai – has profoundly shaped both my personal and professional journey. Every place has offered a unique lens through which I’ve viewed the world, enriching my understanding of different cultures, business practices, and global perspectives. It’s allowed me to navigate complex environments with ease and approach challenges with a broad outlook. Ultimately, this exposure has been instrumental in shaping my career and professional mindset.
Of course, these experiences exposed me to not only the nuances of the localities but set me up in an internationalized educational environment, teaching me to appreciate diversity and think globally from an early age. My journey was marked by positive contrasts, personal growth, and new opportunities. My time in the US at Northeastern University was like a crash course in innovative thinking and entrepreneurship. The transition to Boston provided openings to engage with a wide range of peers and explore a variety of professional environments. It gave me unique insights into international business and dynamics, which I later applied to my career aspirations. The ability to bridge different perspectives became an asset in my academic and professional journey.
Studying at Imperial College London added another layer of depth into who I am. I fostered a deep appreciation for diverse viewpoints and cultivated a forward-thinking approach that embraces risk-taking and creativity. I had the opportunity to engage in collaborations that taught me the importance of adaptability. Now, working in Dubai, I get to bring all these experiences together. Dubai’s dynamic environment and its position as a global business hub has provided me with countless opportunities to connect with brilliant minds. Every step of this journey has been about connecting the dots between people, ideas, and opportunities, and it’s shaped me into a more curious, versatile and adaptable professional.
Generally, I always find it’s an interesting thing to hear someone say, “You have a diverse background.” Sometimes people mean it in terms of having lived in and experienced different places, and that’s certainly been valuable for me. But I like to think of it as having built my network of people across time and space and made my world all the bigger and more nourishing. It’s meant not only learning new things to broaden my horizons, but also knowing I have people across the globe that I can call my peers, friends, acquaintances, and some even like family.
How and why did you land as a Principal at Silicon Foundry?
I first came across Silicon Foundry through my engagements with the Kearney team in Riyadh and Dubai. I was interested to learn more about the work Silicon Foundry is doing in the region and from there was reached out to explore the prospect of working with the company. After that, landing at Silicon Foundry felt like a natural next step in my journey. My previous experience gave me a deep dive into the world of venture capital. It allowed me to gain access to the well-established markets as well as a handful of C-suite level executives and technology investors across different sectors in the MENA region. When the opportunity at Silicon Foundry came up, it felt like the perfect match. Silicon Foundry’s unique positioning and focus on helping firms navigate complex technology landscapes and make informed decisions about investments and partnerships, resonated perfectly with my passion and my know-how in the region. I am thrilled to be part of a team that’s all about pushing boundaries and supporting the next wave of tech disruptors.
What are you most excited about in your role and working with DIFC?
What truly excites me about this role is the chance to work across various innovation fields and verticals, build meaningful relationships to serve corporates as their ‘co-pilot’ in guiding, informing, and advising them, and to continue making a tangible impact by connecting people and companies. I’m especially enthusiastic to collaborate with a diverse team of experts who are pushing the envelope in their fields. The chance to work closely with these pioneers, explore innovation strategies, and help bring transformative ideas to life is incredibly motivating.
Additionally, being part of Silicon Foundry means I get to leverage my experience and work on exciting projects that can make a real difference. From supporting growth journeys, every day presents a new challenge and a new opportunity to make an impact. There’s a vibrant and forward-thinking culture here that I’m truly excited to be a part of.
With over 7 years of experience with high-impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets and the venture capital space across the MENA region, what do you consider the most significant trends or opportunities currently evolving in this region?
The MENA region is buzzing with exciting trends right now! One major trend is the rise of fintech solutions, which are transforming how people manage their finances and interact with banking services. Fintech startups are emerging to address the region’s banking gaps; focusing on digital payments, lending platforms, and financial inclusion as consumers and businesses are looking for more accessible financial services. The rapid growth of e-commerce is also creating opportunities for startups in logistics as businesses seek to optimize their coverage and last mile delivery options through their platforms. We’ve seen a surge of this just recently in Lebanon post 2019 to meet very real needs, as well as across other parts of the region. It’s incredible to see how startups are using technology to make services more accessible and efficient.
Another area that’s catching my eye is health-tech. The demand for innovating healthcare services and solutions is rising, especially post-pandemic. There is a huge opportunity to improve patient care and streamline healthcare systems. Startups offering telemedicine, health monitoring apps, and digitized health records are well-positioned in this market. It’s inspiring to see innovations that can make a real difference in people’s lives.
As urbanization accelerates, there is a focus on building smart cities. Startups that leverage IoT technologies for transportation and urban planning can find significant opportunities. With the increasing emphasis on sustainability and environmental responsibility, startups in renewable energy, tackling waste management, and sustainable agriculture are solving for the growing demand for eco-friendly solutions.
Governments are actively promoting entrepreneurship and innovation through funding initiatives, incubators, and support programs. Aimed at diversifying economies, the region is making significant strides in boosting tourism, enhancing infrastructure, promoting cultural heritage, and building ecosystems through emerging technologies. These initiatives are expected to transform the technology and innovation landscape in the region through a combination of strategic initiatives, partnerships and investments.
What sectors and markets are you personally passionate about?
I’m particularly passionate about sectors where technology meets social impact. You’ll find this aligns with the technology trends in the region I just mentioned. There’s no doubt true innovation is born out of necessity, to not just live better, but be better. Managing capital more efficiently, being able to improve on healthcare, making our air a little cleaner, all make us more whole as people, and as communities. What’s not to love?
