Sunshine, a tax-free environment, and luxuries are some of the reasons to move to Dubai. As more people seem interested in making Dubai their permanent address now, the startup scene in Dubai and the MENA region is surely booming. Dubai aligns itself with the expectations and demands of new business ventures as its startup sector is brimming with investors who are eager to introduce new services to the global market.

Sunshine, a tax-free environment, and luxuries are some of the reasons to move to Dubai. As more people seem interested in making Dubai their permanent address now, the startup scene in Dubai and the MENA region is surely booming. Dubai aligns itself with the expectations and demands of new business ventures as its startup sector is brimming with investors who are eager to introduce new services to the global market.

In an indepth conversation with CEO Insights magazine, Paurush shares with us his professional journey and the various lessons he has gathered along the way. Here are some excerpts from the conversation.

Brief us about your professional background and experiences. What inspired you to establish Stallions Capital?
After graduating from B-School in 2004, I worked extensively with financial companies in the Digital Marketing vertical. At that time, digital marketing was just about taking off. After years of working with established brands, I took the plunge into the startup scene by becoming a mentor to a one of its kind AI startups, Realizing the potential that the MENA region offered for businesses & startups, alike I moved to Dubai in early 2020 and launched Stallions Capital in 2021. At Stallions Capitals, we assist startups across the MENA region to raise funds by connecting them with our network of VC partners. Many times, founders have good ideas and innovative solutions that should be able to find a market, but they don't have funds or time to raise funds. I realized this by working closely with the founders and startups and that is where Stallions Capital comes into the picture.

What is the motivation that fuels your daily routine? What made you consider Dubai as a base for Stallions Capital?
I like to connect with startup founders & hear them out. The passion with which each of them talks about their product before it even hits the market, to fundraising and the launch of the product, Stallions Capital stays with them at every step. A key motivational factor is when I see the founder of the startup receive funds. It is a moment of great joy. I am strictly against the concept of an elevator pitch or hearing an idea in 15-mins as it is close to impossible to do justice to an idea in such a short duration.

Dubai is one of the finest business hubs globally & offers varied opportunities and it is only possible because of

the nation's stellar leadership. Dubai seemed like a natural shift because it provides actual ease of doing business, brilliant infrastructure, a mix of nationalities and talents, and the highest level of safety. I strongly believe that Dubai is the gateway to the world.

What does Stallion Capitals look for in a startup to evaluate its potential to receive funds from the market?
At Stallions Capital, we follow a simple 3-step process to assess a startup from a fundraising perspective Founder profile & past work experience Does the previous experience of the founders & their plan match? , Synergy between members of the founding team and the third important criterion is the stage at which the startup is when they come to us as there is a different strategy for each stage

I Strongly Believe That Dubai Is The Gateway To The World

Stallion Capitals offers a range of services to startups. We guide them, mentor them, advise them and make them ready for investment so that they can reach fruition, all this and more at zero cost

Approaching the Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA region), what challenges did you have to face as an entrepreneur and a business leader?
The word challenges would be wrong for me to use as it has been a super smooth journey as I received a lot of assistance from governing and regulatory bodies throughout my journey here. The Dubai government is the most startup friendly government and I say that with the highest level of conviction and the initiatives they undertake to make startups feel comfortable are unmatched. The region is the bedrock of innovation across sectors because of the policies envisioned and implemented by the rulers of Dubai. Innovations & new-age startups across areas such as Cryptocurrency, Web 3.0, Metaverse, and many others proudly call Dubai, Home.

What opportunities do you see Stallions Capital venturing into? Is there a future roadmap that you would like to see accomplished?
As of today, we have our hands full at Stallions Capital and are enjoying every bit of it, we are strategically very well positioned as the MENA region has really taken off upwards in the startup arena. This region has startups that sell luxury products costing upwards of $100k and on the other hand, the region has FinTechs that provide loans that are as low as $200, it is this potent mix that makes it the most interesting market globally.

What books have you read in the recent past?
None, I do not read nor do I hear podcasts

Paurush Sonkar, Founder & CEO, Stallions Capital
Paurush Sonkar, Founder & CEO, Stallions Capital
Paurush Sonkar graduated from B-School in 2004. He has worked in digital marketing with leading financial companies for nearly 15 years before he was attracted to the world of startups and moved to Dubai in 2020 to establish Stallions Capital. Stallions Capital has a successful track record of helping startups from the MENA region raise funds from venture capitalists and global investors.

Hobbies- Cycling, Golf and long walks with his Dog
Favorite cuisine- Levantine