This inaugural State of Investments in Iraq report aims to further deepen and expand our collective understanding of the perspectives, priorities and concerns of both startup founders and investors. Drawing on insights gathered from surveys of startup founders and various investor or founder roundtable discussions, this report endeavors not only to assess past efforts in facilitating startup growth through investment, but also to propose actionable solutions. By addressing these challenges head-on, we aspire to foster an environment where promising startups can access the necessary funding to flourish, create new jobs and contribute to Iraq’s prosperity. This report will be updated annually to capture current perspectives, challenges and opportunities for catalyzing startup investment in Iraq.
The State of Investments in Iraq 2023
To write this report, our team conducted long-term and in-depth discussions and sent out multiple surveys to business Founders all around Iraq to understand their experiences first-hand. Many roundtables were held with members of the ecosystem and the findings were all accumulated to provide a proper perspective on the current state of investment in the country.
This report aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of Iraq's startup ecosystem through a structured methodology and targeted research. The report is divided into four chapters:
Chapter 1: Methodology and Contextual Background
Chapter 2: Results of the Startup Founder Survey
Chapter 3: Key Findings from Roundtables
Chapter 4: Discussion and Potential Next Steps
The report serves as a strategic guide for stakeholders seeking to understand and enhance the startup landscape in Iraq.