Organization · Event Organizer
Step
Step is a Dubai-based organization that fosters startup ecosystems through events and networking opportunities, primarily in the MENA region. It organizes conferences and festivals aimed at early-stage startups, connecting founders, investors, and industry leaders.
Overview
What Step does
What Step is
Step is a Dubai-based organization that fosters startup ecosystems through events and networking opportunities, primarily in the MENA region. It organizes conferences and festivals aimed at early-stage startups, connecting founders, investors, and industry leaders.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports community and event host and publisher capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Event Organizer
- Founded
- Founded in 2010
- Approximate age
- About 16 years
- Structured capabilities
- Community · Event host · Publisher
- Last reviewed
- April 2, 2026
Official channels
Find Step elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Step as a community
Community overview
Step is an organization that focuses on fostering startup ecosystems through events and networking opportunities. Founded in 2010 and based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Step aims to connect startup founders, investors, and industry leaders to facilitate growth and innovation in the tech sector.
Community focus
Step organizes startup events, including conferences and festivals, that cater to various sectors within the technology and business landscape. The organization focuses on early-stage startups and aims to support them through networking, mentorship, and exposure to potential investors. Step operates primarily in the MENA region and has plans for events in San Francisco and Dubai.
Member value
Members benefit from networking opportunities, mentorship, and exposure to potential investors through various events organized by Step.
Membership
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Schedule
- rolling-admissions
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
- Next recorded event
- February 19, 2025
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Investors · Operators
- Benefits
- network-access and mentorship
- Program types
- community
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Regions
- MENAUnited States
Community activity
Events and activity
Step hosts several key events, including Step SF 2026, a conference focused on the AI economy, and Step Dubai 2026, a significant tech festival scheduled for February 19-20, 2025, featuring a diverse lineup of speakers and activities aimed at startups and tech enthusiasts.
Notable members
Key team members include Amjad Masad from Replit, Elie Habib from Anghami, Andrew Gazdecki from Microacquire, and G.V. Ravishankar from Peak XV Partners.
Capability profile
Step as an event host
Event focus
Step organizes startup events, including conferences and festivals, that cater to various sectors within the technology and business landscape. The organization focuses on early-stage startups and aims to support them through networking, mentorship, and exposure to potential investors.
Format narrative
Step hosts several key events, including conferences and festivals that feature a diverse lineup of speakers and activities aimed at startups and tech enthusiasts.
Participant value
Step aims to connect startup founders, investors, and industry leaders to facilitate growth and innovation in the tech sector.
Format and cadence
- Event types
- conference and summit
- Modality
- in-person
- Startups can present
- Yes
Availability
- Registration state
- Not currently accepting
- Next recorded event
- February 19, 2025
- Next event location
- Dubai
Audience and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Audience
- Founders · Investors · Operators
- Sectors
- Artificial Intelligence
- Regions
- MENAUnited States
Speakers and past editions
Speakers
Notable speakers include Amjad Masad from Replit, Elie Habib from Anghami, Andrew Gazdecki from Microacquire, and G.V. Ravishankar from Peak XV Partners.
Past editions
Step has a history of engaging with a wide range of tech leaders and innovators through its events.
Capability profile
Step as a publisher
Editorial focus
Step is dedicated to connecting startup founders, investors, and industry leaders to facilitate growth and innovation in the tech sector. The organization organizes various startup events, including conferences and festivals, primarily focusing on early-stage startups and providing them with networking, mentorship, and exposure to potential investors.
Audience value
Step provides valuable networking opportunities, mentorship, and exposure to potential investors for early-stage startups, helping them grow and innovate in the tech sector.
Format and cadence
- Content formats
- newsletter and podcast
- Primary platform
- Substack
- Cadence
- weekly
Availability
- Guest pitch state
- Not currently accepting
Audience and focus
- Audience
- Founders · Investors · Operators
- Regions
- MENAUnited States
Flagship work and coverage
Flagship properties
Step organizes notable events such as Step SF 2026, a conference focused on the AI economy, and Step Dubai 2026, a major tech and startup festival scheduled for February 19-20, 2025.
Notable coverage
Step has hosted numerous notable speakers and participants from successful companies and startups, engaging with a wide range of tech leaders and innovators.
Common questions
What to know about Step
Upseed classifies Step under the Event Organizer organization type. Its current public profile includes community, event host, and publisher capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
April 2, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.