The traction dilemma: why early-stage founders need new rules for proving demand

This post is part of our practical guide to raising capital in the GCC — covering the full process from preparation to close.

Every investor meeting follows the same script. You walk in with your pitch, share your vision, and then comes the inevitable question: "What's your traction?"

If you have revenue, active users, and clean retention curves, the conversation continues and you might get a second call. If you don't, the meeting continues and ends politely but definitively.