Silicon Valley may be notorious for its boys’ club culture, but the Middle East’s start-up scene is booming thanks to the efforts of female entrepreneurs and scientists. What social and economic factors are leading these women into tech? And how can gender equality benefit their home countries?
Elissa Freiha is the founder of female-led investment fund Womena.
Ghada Eltanawy is the founder and CEO of e-commerce site La Reina.
Pip Usher is a journalist by trade, writing fashion and culture pieces for Vogue.com, Kinfolk and more. She was based in Beirut for three years and has traveled the Middle East extensively.