Two years ago, we were sprinting through Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Istanbul, not to catch a flight, but to make a self-imposed newsletter deadline.
There was no audience waiting. A few friends and family had been persuaded to subscribe, more out of kindness than curiosity. Most had no connection to the region, and few had any reason to care about startups, venture capital, or technology here.
That has changed.
Nearly 5,000 of you now read this twice a week. It’s both humbling and energising. We try to write with the same goal each time: to surface what’s happening in the region, provide the context that helps make sense of it, and occasionally, spark an idea worth pursuing.
It still feels early. December will mark an important step for us – the culmination of months of work on something new that we’re looking forward to sharing. We think you’ll enjoy it.
In place of a deep dive this week, we thought it might be useful to share a recap of our most-read pieces from the past year. Most of you weren’t here when they were first published, and some of them remain as relevant now as when we wrote them.
To mark FWDstart turning two, we’re also offering a 30% discount on premium subscriptions until next week. These subscriptions make the work possible. They allow us to go deeper, to stay independent, and to keep building something that lasts.
Thank you for reading. The best is still ahead.
Jamie & Zoë
Most read deep-dives of the past 12 months
To celebrate FWDstart turning two, we’re offering a limited-time 30% off all plans 👇
As a premium subscriber you’ll get access to new analysis and case studies published weekly, unlock all past deep-dives (60+ pieces), exclusive interviews with leading MENA-based founders and VCs, and our exclusive MENA founder and VC playbooks.
Plus, you’ll be supporting an independent regional tech publication that actually gives a sh*t!
