For international AI startups
Enter MENA with a partner on the ground
Setting up locally is expensive and slow. We give you regional reach, a clear plan and a single contract partner, so your team stays focused on customers at home.
The reach gap
You built the product. MENA needs a way in.
MENA buyers rarely buy from vendors they have never met. Building that access yourself takes a local entity, local relationships and years. Here is what changes with Danato.
Who we look for
We accept companies that have
- A ready software product (some hardware is fine if part of the solution)
- At least one successful proof of concept with a real customer
- A specific business problem solved with AI
- Little customisation needed for each new customer
- Clear data handling and hosting options
- Headquarters outside MENA and no established MENA presence yet
We usually decline when
- There is no product-market fit or no customers yet
- Each deployment needs heavy custom engineering
- The product cannot meet MENA data-protection rules
- The company is already well established in the region
- The team cannot support pilots with local buyers
What you get
A MENA market-entry plan
Target sectors, countries, partners and pricing, written for your product.
Introductions to the right buyers
Presentations to integrators, distributors and enterprise teams after we qualify you.
One partner for contracts and payments
Regional contracting and collections, with payment passed to you after it is received.
Compliance screening
A review of your data handling against the main MENA data-protection rules.
Shared event presence
We represent you at regional events so you do not need to travel for each one.
Support beyond the first deal
Help with pilots, renewals and expansion to more countries.
What we ask in return
We are a partner, not a service you rent. Terms are agreed individually after we have spoken, and we explain everything on the first call.
In general: a one-time signing fee for a defined go-to-market package, a share of the sales we help close, and equity or warrants for the effort we put in. We ask for regional exclusivity in return for clear performance commitments.
- Accurate information about your product, customers and data handling
- Support for pilots with local buyers
- Compliance with data-protection rules in each market
- Fair pricing that leaves room for integrators and partners
Questions startups ask
Do I need a UAE company to start?
No. We handle regional contracting, so you can start without opening an entity. We can advise when a local presence becomes worth it.
Which countries do you cover?
We cover the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) through regional teams: the GCC (the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain); the Levant, Iraq and Türkiye; and Egypt and North Africa.
Do you sell hardware?
We focus on software. Limited hardware is fine where it is part of the solution.
Who is responsible for data protection?
You remain responsible for your product's compliance. We screen it, help you map what each market requires and will not introduce a product that cannot meet the rules.
How long until I get meetings?
It depends on the product and sector. We do not promise outcomes. Enterprise and government sales often take 6 to 18 months.
Will you take exclusivity?
Usually regional exclusivity, tied to performance targets that we agree together. If targets are missed, exclusivity returns to you for that country or sector.