Out of 5,542 startups accepted into Y Combinator—the accelerator behind Airbnb, Stripe, Dropbox, DoorDash, and Reddit—only 33 came from the MENA region. That number says a lot. It highlights ambition, but it also reveals a gap we can’t ignore.
In December, Founder Connects is launching a new YouTube series: “Y Combinator: Arab Voices.” The series dives deep into the stories, struggles, and breakthroughs of YC alumni from the Arab world—founders who beat the odds and made it into what many call “the Harvard of startup accelerators.”
But this isn’t just a show. It’s a movement.
Beyond the Application — A Call to Action for the Ecosystem
The goal of Arab Voices isn’t to glorify a few success stories—it’s to decode what truly moves the needle for founders across the region. What gets you noticed by Y Combinator? What mistakes do most founders make? And perhaps most importantly, what can **ecosystem players—accelerators, incubators, investors, universities, and policymakers—**do to help more regional startups compete globally?
When you talk to MENA YC alumni, you quickly see a pattern: talent isn’t the problem. Access is.
Access to mentorship. Access to early funding. Access to networks that can open the right doors.
Arab Voices aims to bridge that gap—by amplifying the stories, strategies, and mindset shifts that helped MENA founders succeed on a global stage.
A Platform for Founders, by Founders
The first episode was recorded this week—featuring YC MENA alumni who joined Founder Connects members live for a candid Q&A session. The energy in the (virtual) room was electric. Founders shared what they wish they knew before applying, how they refined their pitch, and how YC changed their companies forever.
The full series will drop in December on Founder Connects’ YouTube channel.
Each episode will spotlight a different theme—fundraising lessons, product-market fit, growth playbooks, and the emotional reality of building from MENA for the world.
Why It Matters Now
As the MENA startup scene matures, more founders are thinking globally from day one. YC remains one of the strongest springboards to reach Silicon Valley networks, capital, and validation.
Yet, if only 0.6% of YC’s portfolio comes from MENA, we have work to do.
Arab Voices is about turning that statistic into momentum—showing that the next generation of Arab founders can not only get in, but lead.
Editor’s Note — From the Startups MENA Team
At Startups MENA, we believe stories like Y Combinator: Arab Voices matter because they shape how founders see themselves—and what they believe is possible.
The MENA region is rich with talent, resilience, and ambition, but systemic visibility and access remain our biggest barriers.
This series is more than inspiration—it’s a blueprint for collective growth.
We encourage founders, accelerators, and ecosystem leaders to tune in, take notes, and take action. The next generation of YC founders from the Arab world is already here—they just need the right signal to be seen don’t forget to check out https://www.founderconnects.com/
