Apco Worldwide has launched ignite, an integrated communication offering for startups, entrepreneurs and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The agency explains this unit will facilitate market entry, drive business growth and help open investment opportunities for the growing number of new businesses in Dubai
“It is a proud moment for us at Apco Worldwide as we roll out ignite, our latest innovative offering for Dubai,” said Mamoon Sbeih, president of APCO in the MENA region.
He explained that the growing number of startups and entrepreneurs in Dubai, and their need for PR and digital, creative, storytelling, insights support at accessible rates had created a market gap. “ignite is our response to this widening gap in the market,” he said. The offering will be available, via an application process, to up to 10 organizations or individuals per year.
ignite will be led by Rakhee Raval Shepherd, the account director at Apco, who already manages a portfolio of companies including entrepreneurs, startups and SMEs across the UAE in Dubai.
ignite’s launch comes at a time when the startup ecosystem continues to gain momentum in the Middle East region, registering a record year of funding in 2018 with USD 893 million invested in 366 startup deals, according to Magnitt’s 2018 MENA Venture Investment Report.
Closer to home, the UAE Cabinet’s latest visa and investment policies have made the country more welcoming to entrepreneurs seeking to set up new ventures.
“With the current landscape continually evolving for startups and entrepreneurs, we have closely studied and identified the communication challenges they face,” said Ms Shepherd, adding, “We believe that by creating a model specifically designed for individual businesses, we will bring value to an area that is still in its nascent stage of growth. We are keen to work with the leaders of tomorrow to help envision and build a future together.”
