In case you weren’t around for all the buzz and bustle that took place at STEP 2016, here’s what you missed:

Early 2017 was momentous for the STEP group, largely because it managed to close a whopping $2 million series A investment from a number of regional investors. STEP successfully “identified a growing gap between Arab millennials and the mainstream media, and saw the need to bridge this with a dynamic media platform,” said Ray Dargham, cofounder and CEO of the STEP Group.

Building on last year’s success, STEP Conference 2017 will feature major new additions to the already wide array of activities including the unprecedented STEP Music festival, featuring independent regional talents. In partnership with Anghami, STEP Music hopes bring regional musicians, artists, music leaders and producers onto the main stage and into the spotlight.

This year’s conference will be taking place from April 5 to 7 at the Dubai International Marine Club  - where it’s been happening over the past four years.

Thousands from all across the globe flock to this conference every year to witness and be a part of the trend-setting event that highlights contemporary issues, new global perspectives, inspiring stories and ideas, and sheds light on both the  successes and failures of almost every industry in the region and globally.

Some of the panelists will be familiar faces for the region, including Wamda Capital’s Fadi Ghandour, Christopher Schroeder, Sultan Al Qassemi from Barjeel Art Foundation, and Mudassir Sheikha from Careem. Others include members of the media from BBC, AJ+, and Buzzfeed; comedians, representatives of tech giants like Facebook and Snapchat, and of course - entrepreneurs themselves.

Moreover, Wamda will have its own share of the fun. We will be running the ‘Startup Basecamp’, a showcasing venue in partnership with STEP, where around 400 regional startups will exhibit their products and services to a crowd of some of influential stakeholders, investors, industry experts, and other aspiring entrepreneurs. If you’re an early-stage startup apply here to have the following perks at the events: a 1x1 branded booth to exhibit, 2 tickets for the price of 1 (valued at $299), access to all stages and activities, and a spot to enter the pitching competition (the first 60 startups to apply will get to pitch, so hurry up!) You won’t want to miss it.

The conference will also host a number of workshops and one-on-one mentorship sessions, as well as a pitching competition.

Find out more details about the conference here and make sure to buy your tickets from here.

Stay in the loop: #STEP2017