How Silicon MENA works
What it is, why it’s worth your time, and how to get started.
What it is
Silicon MENA is a professional network for the people building technology across the Middle East and North Africa: founders, engineers, product people, designers, data people, operators and investors.
The difference is who writes your profile. On most networks you describe yourself. Here, the people you’ve worked with vouch for you with cosigns: short, specific notes that carry their name.
It’s also a map of the region’s tech scene: 730 startups across 14 markets, 309 investors and the funding rounds behind Saudi startups, the fintechs on the official registers, news and jobs.
Why use it
- Credibility you can’t write yourself. Anyone can call themselves a great engineer. A cosign from the person who managed you says it for you, with their name on it.
- Find people through people you trust. Hiring, raising or looking for a partner? See who has vouched for whom, and what they saw them do.
- Private signals. Tell someone you’d hire them, fund them or meet them. Only they see it, and when the interest is mutual we tell you both.
- Get found for your work. Founders, hiring managers and investors look for people by what they’re known for, not by job titles alone.
How to use it
- Apply to join. It’s free and takes two minutes. We review every application and get back to you soon; in the meantime you can browse everything and build your profile.
- Set up your profile. Your headline, your companies, a photo and up to three things you’re known for. If someone added you before you joined, claim that profile and keep its cosigns.
- Cosign two or three people you’ve worked with. Be specific: “Rebuilt our payments stack in four months” says more than “great engineer”. The cosign guidelines have more examples.
- Ask for cosigns. Share your profile with colleagues and ask them to write a line about your work. Each cosign shows on your profile with their name.
- Use the network. Search people and companies, follow lists and rankings, send signals, follow Ecosystem Watch, and post or apply for jobs.
Good to know
- Cosigns are public and carry the writer’s name. Signals are private.
- Membership is reviewed to keep the network high-signal. People who join with a member’s invite link are approved straight away.
- It’s free. There are more answers in the FAQ.