At the KT+150 Summit in Abu Dhabi, prominent entrepreneur and investor Jigar Sagar delivered a critical assessment of startup failure patterns, identifying “hype chasing” as a primary culprit. Speaking to an audience of emerging innovators at the Helipad by Frozen Cherry venue, Sagar emphasized that sustainable businesses must prioritize genuine problem-solving over trend-following.
Sagar’s keynote address, titled “From Seed to Scale,” challenged conventional startup wisdom by asserting that many ventures “are built for valuation, not for value.” He cautioned founders against developing businesses that merely start trends rather than address tangible market needs, noting that without solving real problems, companies build on “shaky ground.”
Beyond identifying problems, Sagar provided strategic guidance for scaling successful enterprises. He stressed that organizational infrastructure must evolve alongside growth, stating plainly that “you cannot scale chaos.” The transition from ten to one hundred employees requires deliberate process implementation, he advised.
Regarding funding, Sagar urged selective investor alignment rather than pursuing capital indiscriminately. “Don’t raise money just to raise money,” he counseled. “Raise with purpose. Build with purpose. And scale with purpose.” This approach ensures mission continuity between founders and their financial partners.
The summit, featuring the KT+150 list of promising innovators, facilitated discussions on developing the UAE’s next generation of unicorn companies—those that create substantial value through addressing genuine market needs rather than pursuing transient trends.