Raising Funds and Building Credibility with Obediah Ayton

In this episode of In The ARENA, Obediah Ayton joins me to share his expertise and insights into raising funds for startups, the impact of social media on business, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Key Podcast Topics:

• Categories of investors in the Middle East

• Building credibility in the UAE

• Private Equity and Venture Capital

Obediah Ayton’s Biography:

Obediah Ayton is an entrepreneur who began his journey in the UAE in 2018. He has successfully built his own business and operates a portfolio of companies under a holding group called Dhabi Hold Co.

Mr. Ayton invests in startups across the Middle East region while also establishing joint ventures in diverse sectors such as Fintech, Wealth Management, Agriculture, and Software. His passion extends to climate, technology, and animal welfare.

With over 80,000 followers on LinkedIn, Mr. Ayton is regarded as a thought leader in Middle East Family Offices.

Podcast Highlights:

00:00 - Introduction
03:44 - Obediah’s first 2 businesses in Dubai
07:03 - The attitude of the wealthy
10:55 - Getting funded by Mark Bezos
16:20 - “A cardboard box changed my life”
21:27 - The impact of social media
36:49 - Categories of investors in the Middle East
39:44 - The real agenda of western superpowers
41:46 - Private equity and venture capital companies
45:03 - Geo-politics and the Middle East
53:12 - Building credibility in the UAE
55:00 - “You will never please everyone”
1:02:30 - The future is in the Middle East
1:05:38 - Society teaches you to expect failure
1:08:40 - “I prefer people that grow slowly”
1:13:38 - Overcommunication is essential

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