Samantha Evans

Managing Director, MENA

We are a team of entrepreneurs, data scientists, and economic development experts, committed to using technology and innovation as tools to democratize opportunities and drive economic growth. Our goal is to empower entrepreneurs across all regions, helping them thrive while fostering broader economic development.

Sam leads Startup Genome across the MENA region, partnering with innovation agencies and governments to drive the development of world-leading innovation hubs. With over 15 years of experience in economic development and globalization for tech companies, she has advised top global tech companies on scaling into new markets. Sam has designed export and attraction strategies for governments and built international accelerator programs in the U.S., U.K., EU, Asia, and the Middle East. Previously, she served as Director of International at Tech Nation, scaling the organization overseas for the first time into four Asian markets. Sam is a founding director of GBx and GBxAsia and a regular speaker at global technology conferences.

Noteworthy speaking engagements

Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival 2025

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Sam moderated a high-impact session at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival 2025, bringing together founders, innovators, and ecosystem leaders to explore the next decade of the UAE’s entrepreneurship landscape.

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LEAP 2025

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Sam took the stage for “The Role of National Government in Building World-Class Ecosystems” session, where she shared how national strategy, policy, and partnerships can accelerate ecosystem performance.

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Investopia 2025

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Sam moderated the "How Do Governments Balance Regulation With the Agility Needed to Drive Innovation?" session, discussing policy choices that help ecosystems scale without slowing momentum.

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Startup Bahrain Pitch 2025

Bahrain

Sam spoke at the session “How the Next Global Wave—AI-Native Startups—Will Shape Where Jobs, Investment, and Global Category Leaders Emerge,” offering a data-driven view on how AI is redefining competitive advantage across startup ecosystems.

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Expand North Star 2025

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Sam participated in a fireside chat at Expand North Star 2025 in Dubai — part of the world’s largest startup and investor connector event co-located with GITEX Global — where she shared insights on building and scaling innovation ecosystems with founders, investors, and global tech leaders.

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Web Summit 2025

Lisbon, Portugal

Sam presented at Web Summit, joining one of the world’s leading global tech stages to share Startup Genome’s insights on building competitive, high-growth startup ecosystems and the forces shaping where the next generation of global companies will emerge.

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