From The Investor Desk: VentureSouq’s Sonia Weymuller On What MENA Founders Should Prioritize Amid Market Shifts
“The companies that endure are those designed to survive shocks... Growth still matters, but resilience is what allows you to keep growing if and when the market tightens.”
When markets grow uncertain, conversations in the business realm often turn quickly to capital and metrics. But amid the uncertainty that has characterized the MENA region in the recent past, Sonia Weymuller, co-founder and General Partner at UAE-based venture capital firm VentureSouq, says that the current moment is raising a different set of considerations across her firm’s portfolio.
“The most immediate impact we have witnessed at VentureSouq has not been operational; it has been human,” Weymuller tells Inc. Arabia. “On top of the normal immense pressures of building businesses driven by technologies that are rapidly evolving, our founders and their teams are now navigating serious geopolitical uncertainty. The mental and emotional toll of these compounding factors (amongst others) is something we pay close attention to.”
Sonia Weymuller, co-founder and General Partner, VentureSouq. Image supplied.
However, Weymuller highlighted that the GCC has long maintained stability and continuity in the face of regional uncertainty, and that spirit has been reflected in the founders and businesses that her firm works with here. Having witnessed first-hand qualities like composure and resilience shine through in founders during these uncertain times, here are her notes for other entrepreneurs in an all-new edition of From The Investor Desk:
1. Lead with calm, transparency, and empathy.
“Uncertain moments are when conscious leadership matters most. Founders who communicate transparently with their teams, customers, and stakeholders about strategy, priorities, and risks are the ones who build trust and focus in such times. Clear communication, thoughtful decision-making, and genuine care for your people help build the resilience that companies need to navigate any volatility."
2. Build for resilience, not just growth.
“The companies that endure are those designed to survive shocks. Continue to focus on the fundamentals: clear unit economics, disciplined burn, and products that solve tangible operational pain points for customers. Growth still matters, but resilience is what allows you to keep growing if and when the market tightens."
3. Control what you can control.
“Market cycles, global dynamics, and capital flows will inevitably fluctuate. What founders can control is execution: product quality, customer relationships, hiring discipline, and operational efficiency.”
