Expat Founder’s Guide to Fundraising in the GCC
An Expat Founder’s Guide to Fundraising in the GCC is a practical, step-by-step playbook designed to help startup founders as an expat navigate the unique challenges of raising pre-seed and seed capital in the GCC.
Written by Jon Santillan, a Filipino entrepreneur who has raised millions of dollars in funding and built his career living and working in the UAE and Saudi Arabia for the last 20 years. Jon successfully sold his previous startup, Denarii, to Careem (an Uber company) and is now building OCTA (weareocta.com), a contract-to-cash platform helping businesses streamline invoice payment collections while offering financing and debt collection.
This guide provides actionable insights and strategies for founders looking to secure funding in one of the world’s most dynamic startup ecosystems.
What makes this book different? This book is built on practical steps that work. It focuses on crafting updates that create momentum, engaging early allies who believe in your vision, and turning thoughtful conversations into real commitments. Each chapter gives you clear, actionable strategies you can apply immediately to your fundraising journey.
You’ll learn how to:
- Build early momentum with preemptive updates.
- Engage founders, operators, and executives as your first allies.
- Transition from early support to institutional VC funding.
- Handle investor feedback and turn rejections into opportunities.
- Create a fundraising process that works for you while setting the foundation for long-term success.
More than just a guide, this book has a purpose.
Initially, I wanted to offer this book for free, as a way to pay it forward. Helping other founders avoid common pitfalls and giving them a place to start felt like the right thing to do. But as my team in Lebanon—where our small outbound sales operations are based—shared stories of the their challenges and their community are facing, I saw an opportunity to do more.
I decided to put a price on the playbook, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to support the humanitarian efforts in Lebanon.
Whether you’re a first-time founder or an experienced entrepreneur, this book is your roadmap to raising capital in the GCC and beyond. Let it inspire you, guide you, and empower you to take your next step.
📖 Pre-order now and start building momentum for your startup journey!
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Fair pricing for everyone
We’ve introduced a pre-order price to make this resource more accessible for founders who are just starting out. This price reflects the belief that knowledge should empower, not exclude. However, we’ve also enabled a fair price option for those who believe in the mission and want to contribute more toward supporting the communities in Lebanon.
The fair price lets you choose the value you see while helping us make a bigger impact where it’s needed most.
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FAQ
Who is this book for?
This book is for expat founders in the GCC who are navigating the unique challenges of raising pre-seed and seed capital. Whether you're just starting out or already building momentum, it's designed to provide actionable steps and strategies tailored to the regional fundraising landscape.
What makes fundraising in the GCC different?
The GCC has its own dynamics—cultural nuances, investor expectations, and the importance of building trust over time. This book dives into how to approach these challenges with strategies that align with the local mindset while leveraging your unique perspective as an expat founder.
What's unique about this fundraising approach?
This approach emphasizes starting early by building relationships through updates, focusing on milestones, and leveraging allies before approaching institutional investors. It's designed to create natural momentum and credibility without relying on hype or unnecessary complexity. The strategies are tested and proven in the GCC context.