AMMAN — The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship opened the Demo Day of the Jordan x 2080 Accelerator Programme, implemented in cooperation with the Ministry under the Youth, Technology and Jobs (YTJ) project.

 

As part of the YTJ initiative, the Jordan x 2080 Accelerator supported 15 promising Jordanian startups, which showcased their progress during the event held on Monday.

 

The Demo Day celebrated the achievements of participating entrepreneurs and provided a platform to strengthen cooperation and partnerships across Jordan’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

 

The programme is designed to develop startups’ business models, enhance their market readiness, improve their investment preparedness, and connect founders with investors and private-sector partners.

 

During the event, a panel discussion titled with "Beyond Boarders: Growth opportunities for Jordanian Startups" brought together CEOs, founders and investors from the United States and Saudi Arabia, including Timur Daudpota, Founding Partner at 2080 Ventures; Ahmed Eid, Entrepretur and Investor; and Salman Butt, Founder and Investor.

 

Panel discussion

 

Timur Daudpota outlined the programme’s impact during a briefing to investors and stakeholders, noting that all 15 participating startups are now pitching their ideas, with investment opportunities available.

 

He reported strong performance indicators, including a 200 per cent increase in revenues across the cohort, alongside a 200 per cent rise in customer bases.

 

According to Daudpota, four startups secured grants during the programme, while five others signed new partnership agreements. He added that further results, representing an estimated additional 20 per cent of progress, will be announced at a later stage.

 

Daudpota emphasised that the initiative is ongoing and will not conclude with the current cohort. The programme will continue for a further six months to provide sustained support to participating startups.

 

Ahmed Eid offered insights into how Jordanian startups can successfully enter foreign markets, stressing that preparation, validation and local presence are critical to success.

 

Speaking from an investor’s perspective, Eid said a founder’s strategy should be shaped by their objective. While global expansion models may suffice for those seeking market accesses, fundraising requires careful consideration of the targeted investor.

 

Eid said that Saudi investors with global portfolios are generally open to backing Jordanian startups. However, investors focused on domestic ventures typically require clear local traction.

 

Salman Butt pointed out that in some cases, a physical presence in the Kingdom, often necessitating the establishment of a legal entity in Saudi Arabia before investment discussions can advance.

 

He also underlined the importance of demonstrating early success, noting that validation builds credibility.

Butt urged founders to prove that their products work not only in Jordan but also in Saudi Arabia, enabling them to present investors with a compelling growth narrative and well-tested market assumptions.

 

Addressing common misconceptions,

He warned that many founders overestimate the importance of product features alone.

 

Butt added that local presence often outweighs product sophistication, explaining that startups with fewer features but strong local relationships, partnerships and ecosystem integration can outperform more advanced competitors that lack on-the-ground operations.