DUBAI (ALETIHAD)

The 1 Billion Followers Summit, the world’s first and largest event dedicated to shaping the content creator economy, announced the launch of a training program and a mentorship program for the 1 Billion Pitches competition, the first of its kind globally. 

The 1 Billion Followers Summit, organised by the New Media Academy from 11 -13 January 2025,  aims through this program to support shortlisted startups and entrepreneurs with groundbreaking content-focused projects. These finalists will pitch their ideas to a panel of leading experts and investors for a chance to secure funding.

Led by global experts, including prominent investors and leaders from top consulting and investment firms, the training program features virtual sessions during December, preceding the Summit with the aim of preparing startup owners for the competition. 

The mentorship program, on the other hand, follows a partnership between the Summit and BeyondCapital, a venture capital firm that supports entrepreneurs, VC managers, and pioneering investors within the entrepreneurial and investment ecosystem. BeyondCapital will lead this program during the Summit, offering face-to-face guidance and mentorship to startup teams. 

BeyondCapital, established in October 2017, is a pioneering investment company dedicated to strengthening the entrepreneurial landscape. It serves as a critical enabler for startups by connecting them to capital, mentorship, and strategic networks. To date, BeyondCapital has built a robust portfolio comprising 42 companies, showcasing its impact on fostering innovation and supporting the transition to a knowledge-based economy.

BeyondCapital 

BeyondCapital applies a diverse set of investment approaches, including direct investment in projects such as Arabic language learning app Adam Wa Mishmish, all-in-one free video editing platform Bith TV, comprehensive guide for Arab moms 360 Moms, clean and healthy snacks business The MedShed and Arabic reading and writing learning app Kenda Kids.

The firm also offers support to startups by providing access to resources, mentoring and networking opportunities, alongside financial grants. Among the projects and startups that benefited from such support are the podcast platform Sowt, data analysis and impact measurement platform Whyise, integrated education platform Abwaab and audio content app Wajeez.

Central to BeyondCapital’s operations is its innovative three-pillar approach, designed to address the key challenges faced by entrepreneurs at various stages of their journey.

BCAN is one of BeyondCapital’s flagship initiatives, addressing a critical void in the startup ecosystem. By facilitating early-stage investments, BCAN empowers entrepreneurs to validate their business models and scale operations while fostering a culture of angel investing in the region.

A platform for compelling pitches

Alia AlHammadi, CEO of the New Media Academy stated that the 1 Billion Pitches competition provides an ideal platform for content creators and startups to achieve their goals and navigate the entrepreneurial landscape.”

She noted that the partnership with BeyondCapital empowers participants with the expertise needed to thrive in the content industry, furthering the Summit's mission of advancing digital media and cultivating a highly skilled creator base,” she added.

AlHammadi emphasised that the comprehensive training and mentorship programs equips startups, entrepreneurs, and content creators to deliver compelling pitches that showcase their competitive advantages and inspire investor confidence.

Exceptional program

Tamer Al-Salah, Managing Director at BeyondCapital said: “The partnership with the 1 Billion Followers Summit supports our objective of fostering the entrepreneurial ecosystem, driving investment in knowledge-based startups, and empowering the next generation of high-growth companies in digital media and content creation.”

He noted how such mentorship and training programs provide entrepreneurs, content creators, and startups with expert guidance from leading investors, enabling them to adapt to market changes, develop financial acumen and realistically identify revenue streams.

Al-Salah added: “BeyondCapital prioritises investing in high-growth startups in emerging markets, with a particular focus on financing, to stimulate economic growth and support innovative projects with positive community impact.”

Four tracks


The training program comprises four main tracks: Strategy, Product, Growth, and Fundraising. Two lectures, each up to an hour long, will be dedicated to each track.

The program prepares participants in the 1 Billion Pitches competition for investment rounds and fundraising, attracting ideal investors and stimulating early-stage investment in knowledge-based startups. It enhances creator and entrepreneur skills, fosters innovation, and equips them to manage risk and adapt to market changes, ultimately building trust with investors and facilitating access to funding.

Growth

The Growth track will be led by Andy Gaies, Chief Operating Officer at LIT Videobooks. Gaies has extensive experience in consulting and content development, having held leadership positions at major companies including The Boston Consulting Group, Audible, and Blinkist. His roles have spanned legal consulting, business growth, and content strategy.

Prior to LIT Videobooks, he served as Chief Content Officer at Audible and Chief Growth Officer at Blinkist. He also held positions at Amazon and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP. Mr. Gaies holds degrees from Princeton University and Harvard Law School.

Gaies will lead two lectures under this track: “From Startup to Success: Building the Foundation for Growth” on 9 December, and “Maximizing Impact: Growth Tactics for the Next Big Leap” on 10 December.

Fundraising

This track is led by Issa Aghabi, Founder and Managing Director of Access Bridge Ventures, which is a leading early-stage MENA-focused VC fund.

With over 20 years of experience, Aghabi was a founding member of the first MENA VC fund and MENA's first Venture Builder. He previously headed IFC’s MENA VC practice and twofour54’s investments. His track record includes 90+ investments, managing $150M+ in MENA VCs, launching the UAE’s first accelerator, and supporting two IPOs. He holds an MBA from Cass Business School and a bachelor's from Concordia University.

Aghabi will lead two lectures on fundraising: “The Investor Playbook: What Startups Need to Know” on 11 December and “Closing the Deal: Tactics for Successful Fundraising” on 13 December.

Product

Alex Alwan, CEO of Product360, which is a leading product management consultancy and training firm, will deliver the lectures on ‘Product’.

Alwan is also a Lead Product Management Instructor at The Product School and former Director of Product Strategy at Fox Corporation, where he led product strategy and optimisation for Fox Now, Fox Nation, and Fox Sports. He has a proven track record of driving product development and growth across web, mobile, and OTT platforms.

Prior to Fox, he held product management roles at Airbrake and Spark Networks.

Alwan’s two lectures under this track are “Product Strategy: GEM Framework, Setting Business Objectives, Market Analysis, Teams Alignment, and Outcomes Measurement” on 16 December and “Intro to Customer Centricity: Customer Needs Identification, Customer Journey, Data Analysis for Customer Insights, and Customer Personas Development” on 17 December.

Strategy

The Strategy track will be led by Dr. Bilal Baloch, Partner at leading venture capital fund Shorooq, and Co-Founder and Board Member of Enquire AI, an AI-powered software company. Dr. Baloch is also a Non-Resident Visiting Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania's CASI.

Previously, he served as Lecturer and Regional Director at the Lauder Institute, Wharton School. He has published scholarly work, presented at international conferences, and provided commentary for publications including The Guardian and The Washington Post.

Dr. Baloch holds degrees from the London School of Economics, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and a doctorate in political science from Oxford University. He also serves on the boards of multiple technology startups.

Dr. Baloch will be delivering two lectures about strategy: “The Art of Strategy: Building a Winning Business Strategy” on 18 December and “From Plan to Execution: Turning Strategy into Results” on 30 December.

25 startups

On 26 November, the 1 Billion Followers Summit shortlisted 25 startups and entrepreneurs for the 1 Billion Pitches competition.

Ten finalists will advance to the final round, where two winners will be selected to receive funding and support.

Shortlisted projects

The list of shortlisted projects included 10 from the UAE: Atlaseek, PenSell, Division, Halo AI, EPL World, Shooty, Ta Marboota, Voral Media, ReadCoin and Majarah.

The list also included 4 projects from the UK – SoSquared, Lobster Money, Livelogue, Unreel Network – and 3 from the USA: Bump, HelloCreator and Stashem.

Two projects from South Korea made it to the list; Ad-Shield and Eugenius, as well as one project from the following countries: The Middle Frame from Jordan, the Arabic Archive Project from Egypt, Tubelator from Pakistan, Trugetherness from Singapore, Hubee from Brazil and Verix from India.

With a goal of reaching over a billion people worldwide, the 1 Billion Followers Summit brings together top global social media influencers across all online platforms. The summit explores how new media can drive positive societal change and fuel sustainable economic growth for nations.