IranDefence
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There are 80 million mobile phone users in Iran today, almost half of them with smartphones. The country also boasts a young population with 32 million people [out of approximately 78 million] between the age of 20 and 32. According to Iran's Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, by March 2017 the internet penetration rate will be at 65 percent.
When it comes to how Iranian internet users access the web, the primary tool is their mobile phones.
Young Iranians have begun to create startups with success thanks to a 4G speed connection that has grown by leaps and bounds over the past three years.
Since Iran's nuclear deal was reached between the West and Tehran, Iranians have hoped that the international sanctions would be lifted as promised. Meanwhile, investments slowly increase and come from both internal and external sources. The innovation ecosystem develops between startups, incubators and venture capitalists ready to finance new ideas.
Iranians do not have access to many of the services other countries have on the internet, including services such as Uber, Paypal, and Amazon. Therefore, startups such as Snapp and Tap30 are designed to offer Iranians the same service that Uber does in Europe; or ZarinPal, the Iranian Paypal; Digikala, the local version of Amazon; Zomaq, the new Expedia and so on.
With many young Iranians acquiring work experience in California-based Silicon Valley and making the trip back home, the government has set up "the Technology Park". At the entrance of the park, a big sign reads: "Iran Silicon Valley".
Friday is holiday in Iran and people spend the day in the city's green spaces, such as Taleghani and Ab-o-Atash, two parks recently connected by Tabiat Bridge. The bridge was designed by architect Leila Araghian. She was 26 when she started work on it. [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
Finnova incubator is located in Tehran centre, close to Vali-e-Asr, one of the main streets of the city, where many companies have their headquarters. Startups are growing fast as a new branch of Iranian economy. 'I'm used to saying that now Iran is an untapped country,' says Nasser Ghanemzadeh, director of Finnova startup. [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
Hooman Damirchi, CEO and co-founder of Tap30, a transportation service. People in Tehran use it to get a taxi. Tap30 App makes it possible to book the trip and makes it easier and cheaper. Earlier Damirchi was a student of Tap30 co-founder Milad Monshipour: 'He told me he wanted to found Tap30 and I immediately decided to follow him,' Damirchi says. [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
Finnova is one of the first startup incubators in Tehran. Around 20 new companies are located in its offices. There they can develop the 'seed' stage before entering into the open market. 'In our short story we already helped two startups to become big companies,' startup expert Nasser Ghanemzadeh says. [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
Bahar, 32, has just sold Rezapa, her first startup. With Rezapa app customers can find the best restaurant and orderf food to be delivered via Telegram. 'I decided to quit Rezapa because the planning was over and I was in need to create new ideas,' says Bahar, who is currently studying the health food sector. [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
Mohammed and Aly, 24, twin brothers, sold Cortado, their first startup, and are working on a new one. With Bamaro customers can choose the kind of coffee they want, order it with the the app, go to a cafe and find it ready for takeaway. 'There are only four competitors worldwide and we already have signed agreements with Segafredo and Caffe Mauro,' they say. [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
'Our aim is to convince foreign companies and investors to fund Iranian startups,' Nasser Ghanemzadeh says. He founded Finnova incubator when he returned from Silicon Valley a few years ago. 'I had the experience there and I wanted to share it with my countrymates.' [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
Tap30 has been funded with $2m on private equity investments. Its CEO, Milad Monshipour, was a manager in well-established Canadian companies 'when I started to notice that in my home country there are many more opportunities than there were in the past, I decided to return and create something useful for Iran.' [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
New ideas mostly focus on apps because mobiles are the most sold hardwares. Older generations are learning to use the internet on smartphones and tablets since they never used a laptop. [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
Startuppers who want to join Finnova can choose a three or six-month programme and should pay $7,000 or $10,000. Finnova provides training, mentorship and investments in return of 10-15 percent of joint stock. [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
Besides Finnova, there are seven other incubators/accelerators in Iran. The governmental one is in Pardis, a suburb of Tehran. At the entrance there is the sign 'Iran Silicon Valley'. [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2016/11/iran-silicon-valley-161130094759722.html
When it comes to how Iranian internet users access the web, the primary tool is their mobile phones.
Young Iranians have begun to create startups with success thanks to a 4G speed connection that has grown by leaps and bounds over the past three years.
Since Iran's nuclear deal was reached between the West and Tehran, Iranians have hoped that the international sanctions would be lifted as promised. Meanwhile, investments slowly increase and come from both internal and external sources. The innovation ecosystem develops between startups, incubators and venture capitalists ready to finance new ideas.
Iranians do not have access to many of the services other countries have on the internet, including services such as Uber, Paypal, and Amazon. Therefore, startups such as Snapp and Tap30 are designed to offer Iranians the same service that Uber does in Europe; or ZarinPal, the Iranian Paypal; Digikala, the local version of Amazon; Zomaq, the new Expedia and so on.
With many young Iranians acquiring work experience in California-based Silicon Valley and making the trip back home, the government has set up "the Technology Park". At the entrance of the park, a big sign reads: "Iran Silicon Valley".
Friday is holiday in Iran and people spend the day in the city's green spaces, such as Taleghani and Ab-o-Atash, two parks recently connected by Tabiat Bridge. The bridge was designed by architect Leila Araghian. She was 26 when she started work on it. [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
Finnova incubator is located in Tehran centre, close to Vali-e-Asr, one of the main streets of the city, where many companies have their headquarters. Startups are growing fast as a new branch of Iranian economy. 'I'm used to saying that now Iran is an untapped country,' says Nasser Ghanemzadeh, director of Finnova startup. [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
Hooman Damirchi, CEO and co-founder of Tap30, a transportation service. People in Tehran use it to get a taxi. Tap30 App makes it possible to book the trip and makes it easier and cheaper. Earlier Damirchi was a student of Tap30 co-founder Milad Monshipour: 'He told me he wanted to found Tap30 and I immediately decided to follow him,' Damirchi says. [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
Finnova is one of the first startup incubators in Tehran. Around 20 new companies are located in its offices. There they can develop the 'seed' stage before entering into the open market. 'In our short story we already helped two startups to become big companies,' startup expert Nasser Ghanemzadeh says. [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
Bahar, 32, has just sold Rezapa, her first startup. With Rezapa app customers can find the best restaurant and orderf food to be delivered via Telegram. 'I decided to quit Rezapa because the planning was over and I was in need to create new ideas,' says Bahar, who is currently studying the health food sector. [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
Mohammed and Aly, 24, twin brothers, sold Cortado, their first startup, and are working on a new one. With Bamaro customers can choose the kind of coffee they want, order it with the the app, go to a cafe and find it ready for takeaway. 'There are only four competitors worldwide and we already have signed agreements with Segafredo and Caffe Mauro,' they say. [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
'Our aim is to convince foreign companies and investors to fund Iranian startups,' Nasser Ghanemzadeh says. He founded Finnova incubator when he returned from Silicon Valley a few years ago. 'I had the experience there and I wanted to share it with my countrymates.' [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
Tap30 has been funded with $2m on private equity investments. Its CEO, Milad Monshipour, was a manager in well-established Canadian companies 'when I started to notice that in my home country there are many more opportunities than there were in the past, I decided to return and create something useful for Iran.' [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
New ideas mostly focus on apps because mobiles are the most sold hardwares. Older generations are learning to use the internet on smartphones and tablets since they never used a laptop. [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
Startuppers who want to join Finnova can choose a three or six-month programme and should pay $7,000 or $10,000. Finnova provides training, mentorship and investments in return of 10-15 percent of joint stock. [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
Besides Finnova, there are seven other incubators/accelerators in Iran. The governmental one is in Pardis, a suburb of Tehran. At the entrance there is the sign 'Iran Silicon Valley'. [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2016/11/iran-silicon-valley-161130094759722.html
