The catalyst of startup ecosystems - from a Dubai meetup to the people building the AI economy.
STEP — the primary wordmark of the Dubai-born tech festival.
Photographed as a company profile portrait, Vincent Musi style: the brand, plainly lit, no theatrics.
Step is a new-media and events company built around one of the largest technology festivals in the Middle East and North Africa. It is best known for Step Conference, the annual gathering that fills Dubai Internet City with founders, investors, corporates and the tech-curious. But the event is only the visible tip. Around it sits a year-round operation of newsletters, social platforms, podcasts and an investor-matchmaking layer.
The company describes its purpose plainly: to be the catalyst of startup ecosystems by connecting their most passionate and valuable stakeholders. In practice that means engineering introductions - between a founder who needs capital and an investor who is looking for the next market, between a corporate scouting innovation and a startup that has it.
Founded by Ray Dargham in 2011, Step held its first edition in 2012 for roughly 100 people. The 2024 flagship drew more than 8,000. In 2026 the model crossed an ocean: alongside the February Dubai edition, Step opened a San Francisco chapter focused squarely on the AI economy.
We exist to be the catalyst of startup ecosystems through connecting its most passionate and valuable stakeholders.
Attendance across editions - illustrative of the growth curve from the first 2012 gathering to the 2024 flagship.
Figures per Step and public reporting. Bars scaled to the 2024 flagship; earlier editions shown to indicate trajectory, not exact ratio.
Startups and founders, venture capital and private-equity investors, corporates and enterprise partners, government and ecosystem bodies, and a broad tech-enthusiast audience across MENA and emerging markets.
In emerging markets, talent is everywhere but connection is scarce. Capital, mentorship and visibility rarely find founders on their own. Step compresses that discovery into two days and a year-round media presence.
Pitch on stage, meet matched investors through StepMatch, showcase products to buyers, book brand activations, and stay current through the Step Feed newsletter and podcasts between editions.
Step owns its own media - StepFeed and Yallafeed - so the community is engaged year-round, not only during the event. The festival is a moment; the platform is the relationship.
The annual technology festival at Dubai Internet City, spanning AI, fintech, autonomous, digital and Earth tracks.
The Riyadh-area edition extending the platform into the fast-growing Saudi startup ecosystem.
An AI and tech startup festival (Aug 26-27) bridging MENA and global founders with the people building the AI economy.
Digital media and social-news platform covering tech, business and social happenings across MENA.
Startup-investor matchmaking program and app that turns floor traffic into scheduled, relevant introductions.
The weekly Step Feed newsletter and podcast series that keep a cross-generational, tech-savvy audience engaged.
Large tech events are often government-backed spectacles measured in square metres. Step positions itself differently: as an ecosystem connector that treats the guest list as the product. Its edge is not scale for scale's sake but the density and relevance of the introductions it can make, backed by media brands that keep the audience warm between editions.
The business model reflects that. Revenue comes from event tickets, exhibitor and sponsorship packages, host-partner arrangements, brand activations, and digital media and advertising across the newsletter and social platforms. The events monetize access, visibility and matchmaking; the media monetizes attention.
Built to connect stakeholders, not just sell floor space.
StepFeed & Yallafeed give year-round reach few event brands own.
Deep roots in MENA, now a bridge toward global AI hubs.
Step is a new media company with a suite of virtual and in-person events, podcasts, and newsletters for the tech-savvy cross-generational audience in MENA and emerging markets.
Step sits between the region's giant, state-scale expos and its nimble tech-media outlets - large enough to matter, focused enough to make real introductions.
Step Group closed a $2M Series A from Wamda Capital, Equitrust, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority and global VC North Base Media - fuel for its media and events expansion.
Lebanese media-and-tech entrepreneur who started Step after college. Named to Forbes Middle East's 30 Under 30 (2018); also behind media brands StepFeed and Yallafeed.
Ray Dargham launches Step shortly after graduating from college.
The inaugural conference draws roughly 100 attendees in Dubai.
Step Group launches StepFeed and Yallafeed as tech-native media brands.
$2M raised from Wamda Capital, Equitrust, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority and North Base Media.
Festival expands into digital, AI, autonomous and fintech tracks; Dargham makes Forbes 30 Under 30.
Step runs online during COVID-19 and leans further into year-round media and community.
A climate and sustainability-focused track joins the agenda.
The Dubai flagship hits record scale and launches a dedicated AI track.
The festival expands to SF (Aug 26-27) alongside the Dubai edition (Feb 11-12).
A new-media and events company built around Step Conference, one of the largest technology festivals in the Middle East, plus media platforms like StepFeed and a suite of newsletters and podcasts.
Ray Dargham founded Step in 2011, with the first conference held in 2012. He remains Co-Founder & CEO.
Its flagship editions are in Dubai (Dubai Internet City) and Saudi Arabia, with a San Francisco edition launching in 2026.
The 2024 Dubai edition drew more than 8,000 attendees, and startups featured on its stages have collectively raised billions in funding.
Through event tickets, sponsorships and exhibitor packages, brand activations, host-partner arrangements, and digital media and advertising across its newsletter and social platforms.
WATCH — interviews & demos
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