The National Gathering of Investment and Innovation Ecosystem Stakeholders was held on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at Parsian Azadi Hotel in Tehran. The event brought together CEOs of member companies of the National Venture Capital Association of Iran, senior government officials, representatives from the capital market, prominent private sector figures, and key players from the country’s innovation and technology ecosystem.
The gathering aimed to explore the trends, challenges, and opportunities associated with the entry of innovative companies into the capital market, as well as to analyze venture capital exit strategies from startups. Discussions focused on IPO experiences of knowledge-based companies, the need to strengthen venture capital infrastructure, and the importance of structured collaboration among policy-making, financial, and technological institutions.
The National Venture Capital Association of Iran played a pivotal role in designing the event’s content, organizing expert panels, and coordinating between key stakeholders—thus establishing an effective platform for constructive interaction across the ecosystem. The Association seeks to foster synergy between financial, governmental, and private sector institutions through continued organization of such events and to facilitate the growth of Iran’s venture capital ecosystem.
In the opening session, Dr. Seyed Mohammad Hossein Sajjadi Neyeri, Chairman of the Board of the National Venture Capital Association and CEO of Technotejarat, emphasized the need for synergistic institutions in the innovation ecosystem. He called for a revision of current policy-making models and the creation of enabling frameworks to attract investment.
Later, Dr. Mohammad Ali Shirazi, CEO of Iran Fara Bourse (IFB), highlighted the role of the capital market in driving the growth of innovative companies and expressed IFB’s readiness to cooperate more closely with knowledge-based firms. Dr. Ali Fayyazbakhsh, Vice Chairman of Digikala, underscored the importance of long-term planning and effective engagement with investors, drawing on Digikala’s growth journey.
A dedicated panel titled “Experiences of Going Public” was moderated by Dr. Seyed Mehdi Sadat Rasoul, CEO of Sharif Export and Technology Development Fund. This session featured insights from IFB representatives, investment firms, and managers of innovative businesses. Panelists included Dr. Rouhollah Aboujafari, Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Abbaskhani, Dr. Mehrdad Esmaeili, and Dr. Hessam Jafari.
In the following segment, Dr. Mahmoud Goodarzi, CEO of Tehran Stock Exchange, and Dr. Mehdi Farahani, Director of Foresight at Parsian Bank, delivered keynote speeches focused on the future of investment in the knowledge-based economy.
A specialized dialogue on “Venture Capital Exit Strategies from Startups” featured insights from Mr. Sobhan Foroughi, CEO of Tapsell, and Dr. Abbasali Karshenas, CEO of the Sustainable Economy Innovation Fund. The speakers shared their practical experiences and proposed actionable solutions.
Two strategic policy-focused addresses followed:
- Dr. Mohammad Sadegh Khiatian, Chairman of the Innovation and Prosperity Fund, presented financial support programs for innovative companies and emphasized the need for revised investor exit models.
- Dr. Mehdi Elyasi, Deputy for Policy-Making and Strategic Evaluation at the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, stressed the importance of aligning innovation development policies with real market needs.
This national gathering provided a valuable opportunity for dialogue and knowledge exchange among key stakeholders of the innovation ecosystem. With its focus on challenges and pathways for innovative companies entering capital markets, investor exit strategies, and the policy-making roles of key institutions, the event proved instrumental in shaping future discourse.
As the lead private sector body for innovation investment, the National Venture Capital Association of Iran took a central role in curating and steering the event. By enabling targeted collaboration among public institutions, venture capitalists, innovative firms, and financial organizations, the Association created a cohesive space for ecosystem-wide synergy. It emphasized actionable, problem-oriented discussions on IPO requirements, exit strategy diversification, and policy alignment.
By inviting a wide range of speakers from the capital market, banks, technology firms, regulatory bodies, and venture funds, the Association facilitated a multi-dimensional dialogue. Through curated panels, experience-sharing sessions, and informal networking opportunities, it took a meaningful step toward improving the quality and impact of the event.
The gathering was supported by Parsian Bank and Vista (Irancell Investment Holding) and was hosted by Mr. Sajad Zavvar, Executive Director of the National Venture Capital Association. The event concluded with an Iftar and dinner reception, providing further opportunities for informal exchange among participants.
The Association believes that continued organization of such gatherings can strengthen network-building and knowledge exchange, ultimately paving the way for more effective innovation investment policies and greater private sector involvement in national economic decision-making.
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