san-francisco-tech
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Armeen Mazda Took the Long Way to Modern Software
For more than two decades, Appeon's CEO has argued that modernization should preserve what already works. His career is a case study in patient infrastructure, customer-led roadmaps, and the quiet economics of helping old software move forward.
Step
Step is a new-media and events company that runs one of the largest technology festivals in the Middle East and North Africa. Founded by Ray Dargham in 2011, it stages the annual Step Conference in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, publishes tech newsletters and social platforms like StepFeed, and connects founders, investors and builders. From a first edition of roughly 100 people, it has grown to draw more than 8,000 attendees, with startups featured on its stages collectively raising billions in funding. In 2026 the company extended its model to San Francisco with an AI-focused edition.