
If you're reading this, you've been to Muslim Tech Fest before. Maybe twice. Maybe every year since the start.

You know how this works now. You know which queue moves fastest. You know who to look out for, what the unspoken rules are, where the good food is, and why the third roundtable on the right is always the most interesting one. You walk in and the room feels familiar.

That familiarity is a gift. And it comes with a responsibility.

Because somewhere in this room, probably in the corner, looking at their phone, pretending to be busy — there is a first-time attendee feeling exactly the way you did your first year. Slightly lost. Slightly intimidated. Wondering if they belong.

Your job, this year, is to make sure they know they do.

## 1. Remember your first Muslim Tech Fest

Before you walk in, take a moment. Remember what your first Muslim Tech Fest actually felt like.

The nerves walking through the door. The relief when someone said Salaam first. The person who pretended they liked coffee just to walk you over to the refreshment stand. The conversation you had with the person you didn't expect to meet. The talk that changed how you thought about your work. The connection that turned into a job, a co-founder, a friendship.

Hold that memory. It's the entire briefing for what comes next.

> **Reflect:** Who made you feel welcome at your first MTF? What did they actually do?

---

## 2. Spot the person standing alone — and turn to face them

The single most useful thing a repeat attendee can do is scan the room for the person on their own.

You'll see them. They'll be standing on the edge of a circle they're trying to work out how to join. They'll be in the queue with no one to talk to. They'll be eating lunch alone at a table designed for ten.

**Walk up. Say Salam. Ask their name.**

That's it. That's the entire move. It costs you 30 seconds. It can change someone's entire experience of the day.

> The Prophet ﷺ would turn his entire body to face whoever he was speaking to. Not just his head. His whole body. Be that person, especially for someone who didn't expect anyone to turn at all.

---

## 3. Make the introductions you wish someone had made for you

You know who's in the room. You know who would benefit from knowing whom.

Don't keep that to yourself. Be the bridge.

- "You should meet [name], they're working on exactly the problem you described."
- "Have you spoken to [name] yet? They've raised in the space you're going into."
- "There's a roundtable at 3 on this — I'll walk you over."

The 30 seconds you spend introducing two people might save them six months. And neither of them forgets who did it.

> **Reflect:** Whose career changed because someone else made an introduction? Could you be that "someone else" for someone in this room?

---

## 4. Bring someone with you

The easiest way to be an ambassador is to literally bring a first-timer with you.

- The junior on your team who's never been to a tech event
- The cousin who's just started a business and doesn't know any other Muslim founders
- The friend who's been thinking about getting into tech but doesn't know where to start
- The student who can't afford the full-price ticket — there are scholarship and student rates for a reason

You walking them through the day, introducing them to three of your people and showing them how to read the schedule is worth more than any guide we could write.

---

## 5. Share what you've learned — don't gatekeep

You've been to enough events to have built up a stock of knowledge that first-timers don't have:

- Which workshops are oversubscribed and need an early arrival
- Which speakers are most generous with follow-ups
- Which side events are worth the trip and which aren't
- How to actually use the matchmaking emails
- Which roundtables fill up first

Share it freely. Drop the tips in the WhatsApp group the week before. Mention them in conversation. Post a thread on LinkedIn. The community runs on this kind of unwritten knowledge being passed down, and the only thing keeping it scarce is people forgetting to share.

---

## 6. Be the keeper of adab in the room

You know what good looks like at Muslim Tech Fest. You've seen the difference between a room of strangers networking transactionally and a room of brothers and sisters supporting each other.

The first kind happens by accident. The second kind happens because the people who've been there before _set the tone_.

That means:

- Greeting with Salaam, freely and first
- Listening properly, phone down
- Following through on the things you said you'd do
- Speaking well of people who aren't in the room
- Making space at your table when it gets busy

The newcomers are watching how the regulars behave. They're learning the culture from you. Make sure what they learn is worth carrying forward.

---

## A few specific asks

- **Volunteer for a roundtable.** The [facilitator's guide](/posts/roundtable-facilitators-guide) walks you through it. A good facilitator turns a roundtable into the highlight of someone's day.
- **Wear your repeat-attendee status well.** If you've been before, say so when you introduce yourself — first-timers will gravitate to you for the small questions they're embarrassed to ask anyone else.
- **Stay for the closing.** The end of the day is when first-timers most need someone to debrief with. Don't disappear at 5pm.
- **Follow up with at least one first-timer.** Not just your usual circle. A short "great to meet you, here's that intro I promised" email from a more experienced attendee is the thing that turns a first MTF into a lifelong relationship with the community.

---

## Final Thought

Muslim Tech Fest doesn't run on the speakers. It doesn't run on the sponsors. It doesn't even run on the team that puts it together.

It runs on the people who, year after year, walk into a room of strangers and decide to make it feel like home — for themselves, and for the person standing next to them who doesn't yet know that's allowed.

That's the job now. That's the ambassadorship.

Welcome back. The room is yours to make better.

You are an ambassador

Muslim Tech Fest started with a room of people who weren't supposed to be there.

Not according to the industry at least. But we showed up, and we kept showing up.

Over the course of our events, Muslim Tech Fest has brought together thousands of people who don't often find themselves in the same room. Founders and fresh grads, Engineers and Creatives. People who pray 5x a time and people still working out what faith means to them. Women in Hijab presenting on stage next to VC's who've never been to a Muslim majority event in their lives.

That's exactly the point.

We started this with a clear Niyyah (intention). So its worth having your own.

## Start with your intention

_… for all actions are judged by their intentions._ [The Prophet - may peace be upon him]

Before you walk into any conversation, pause. Why are you here? Are you here seeking an opportunity, offering knowledge or building a community? All of these are worthy.

So is the free food. We don't judge.

> **Reflect:** What do you hope to give in this space, not just take?

## The one who turned to face you

The best model for how to be in a room with people, is someone who was in a lot of rooms with a lot of people.

The Prophet Muhammed (may Gods peace and blessings be upon him), would turn his entire body to face whoever he was speaking to. He remembered names, asked after families and would smile, calling it a charity; freely given but invaluable when received.

He was known as Al-Amin (the trustworthy) even before a single verse was revealed. He sat with the poor and the overlooked at a time when status determined your worth.

He wasn't networking. But if he was, he'd have been the best in the room.

## The Etiquette of Conversation

Adab - refined conduct, doesn't pause when you are in professional mode. Muslim Tech Fest, whilst being a tech event, has always prioritised that through meaningful in-person connections.

A few pointers:

- The person in front of you deserves your full attention, not the half of you checking your phone
- Represent yourself honestly. Your LinkedIn title can stay between you and God. The person in front of you started somewhere and is on a different part of their own journey.
- Be mindful of gossip. Conversations drift. If you wouldn't say it to their face, leave it there.
- Follow through. If you say you'll make an intro or send something, do it. Your word is an amanah (trust).

## Show up as yourself

You dont need to downplay your faith to fit in, and you dont need to perform either. Be you. Curious, capable and connected to something bigger than the next job title or client. The imposter feeling is real. It's also, for the record, not unique to Muslims. Everyone in this room has it.

Your integrity in the small moments is what God sees. The honest answer, the gracious response and the promises kept.

> **Reflect:** Are you showing up as you are, or who you think this room wants you to be?

## Interactions with the opposite gender

This is the topic many feel most uncertain about. Our faith encourages mindfulness in interactions across genders, rooted in protecting dignity, yours and theirs.

- Start with Salaam, its a beautiful form of charity.
- Lower your gaze (but be mindful of the pillars!). It communicates more respect than most things you'll do on the day.
- A hand on heart greeting is widely accepted as a respectful alternative to a handshake.
- Opt for group conversations in the open. Visible settings rather than isolated one on ones.

> **Reflect:** Have you made the people you speak with, regardless of their background or practice, feel seen and respected?

## The in-between moments

Not every connection happens in a formal conversation. Some of the best ones start in a queue, when you are travelling, or in the thirty seconds before a talk begins.

If you're waiting, you don't need to fill the silence with your phone. A moment of Dhikr (remembrance) or Shukr (thankfulness), a smile at the person next to you — both are sunnah, and both signal that you're someone worth talking to.

**Now go. The room is full of people worth meeting. You're one of them.**

It started with a room of people who weren't supposed to be there


If you've never been to Muslim Tech Fest before, here's the first thing to know:

**You belong here.**

Not because of where you work, what you've built or how senior you are. You belong because you showed up. The room has founders, fresh grads, students, engineers, investors and people still figuring out what they want to do next. All of them, at some point, walked in for the first time feeling exactly like you do.

Here's how to make a first Muslim Tech Fest count.

## 1. It's normal to feel overwhelmed

Two thousand people. Multiple stages. Roundtables, workshops, an expo floor and a queue for coffee that doesn't seem to end. If your first thought walking in is "I have no idea where to start" — good. That means you're paying attention.

When we started Muslim Tech Fest, we also had no idea where to start.

Take a breath. Find the schedule. Pick the next thing.

> **Reflect:** You don't need to do Muslim Tech Fest perfectly on day one. You just need to do it.

---

## 2. You don't need to do everything — pick three things

The single biggest mistake first-timers make is trying to attend every talk, meet every person and visit every stand. You can't. Nobody can.

Before the day, pick three things you actually want from Muslim Tech Fest:

- One talk you don't want to miss
- One type of person you want to meet (a mentor, a co-founder, a hiring manager)
- One thing you want to walk out _knowing_ you achieved

If you nail those three, the day was a success. Everything else is a bonus.

---

## 3. Salaam is your superpower

You don't need a polished elevator pitch to start a conversation at Muslim Tech Fest. You need one word.

> **As-salamu alaykum.**

Smile. Make eye contact. Mean it. That's the whole opener. The person you're greeting almost certainly wants to talk too — they came to a networking event, after all. You're doing them a favour.

If you want a script for what comes next, the [How to introduce yourself](/posts/how-to-introduce-yourself) guide has you covered.

---

## 4. Don't be intimidated by titles

The room is full of impressive people. Founders who've raised millions. Engineers building things you've been reading about for years. Investors whose names you recognise.

Here's the secret: **the bigger the title, the more likely they are to be kind to a first-timer.** They've been one. They remember it. Most of them are easier to talk to than the person two years into their career trying to look senior.

Walk up. Say Salam. Ask a real question. The worst thing that happens is a polite conversation. The best thing is a connection that changes your career.

> **Reflect:** What would you ask someone you admire if you knew they wouldn't say no?

---

## 5. The in-between moments matter most

The biggest connections at MTF rarely happen during the talks. They happen in the queue for lunch. In the wudu line before Dhuhr. Walking from one stage to another. In the ten minutes before a workshop starts.

Don't fill those gaps with your phone. Look up. Smile at the person next to you. Ask if they've been before. The answer is usually "yes, this is my third" or "no, also my first" — and either way, you've just made a friend for the day.

---

## 6. Read the guides before you arrive

We've written a few short guides specifically for moments like this. Read them on the train in:

- [How to introduce yourself](/posts/how-to-introduce-yourself) — for WhatsApp groups, in-person, on stage and Q&A
- [The etiquette of networking](/posts/etiquette-of-networking) — adab, niyyah and how to show up as yourself
- [Make the most of attending](/posts/make-the-most-of-attending) — tickets, profile, schedule and follow-up

Ten minutes of reading turns a first-time attendee into a confident one.

---

## A few practical things

- **Wear comfortable shoes, and your smartwatch.** You'll walk more than you think.
- **Eat breakfast and hydrate.** The day is long. The queues are real.
- **Bring a power bank.** Your phone will not survive on its own.
- **Take notes — names, not just topics.** The person who said the smart thing matters more than the smart thing.
- **Give yourself permission to leave a talk.** If it's not for you, walk out and find a better use of the slot. Nobody is offended.

---

## Final Thought

You're going to walk out of your first Muslim Tech Fest tired, probably a bit overwhelmed, and with more business cards and contacts than you know what to do with. That's normal. That's the point.

The people who get the most out of their first Muslim Tech Fest aren't the ones who did everything. They're the ones who made one or two real connections, learned one or two real things, and went home determined to come back next year.

Welcome. We're glad you came.

As-salamu alaykum.


Your first time at Muslim Tech Fest


If you're flying in for Muslim Tech Fest, you've already made the biggest decision. The rest is logistics.

A well-planned trip turns Muslim Tech Fest from "a day in London" into the most productive week of your year. A badly planned one turns it into a stressful sprint between an Airbnb, a venue and an airport. Here's how to do the first one.

## 1. Sort visas and flights early

If you need a UK visa, start the process the moment you book your ticket. Standard visitor visa processing can take anywhere from 3 to 8 weeks depending on your country.

You'll typically need:

- A valid passport
- Proof of your Muslim Tech Fest ticket (the confirmation email is enough)
- Proof of accommodation
- Return flight booking
- Bank statements showing you can support yourself during the trip

Flights follow the usual rule — the earlier, the cheaper. Tuesday and Wednesday departures are almost always the cheapest, and flying into London City or Stansted is sometimes cheaper and faster than Heathrow depending on where you're coming from.

**Pro Tip:** If you're coming from outside Europe, look at multi-city flights. London → Istanbul → home (or similar) sometimes costs less than a return and gives you a stopover worth taking.

---

## 2. Stay near the venue, and near a mosque

The two factors that matter most for accommodation:

- **Walking distance to the venue** — the difference between a 10-minute walk and a 40-minute commute is the difference between catching the first session and missing it.
- **Walking distance to a mosque** — Jumu'ah falls during the festival for many of you, and being able to pray properly without losing two hours of your day is worth a lot.

London has plenty of both.

> **Reflect:** Are you choosing accommodation that supports your worship and your work, or just the cheapest option you can find? Try to be intentional, for Allah love those who strive in his cause.

---

## 3. Plan for jet lag — give yourself a buffer day

If you fly in the morning of Muslim Tech Fest, you will be useless by 2pm. Don't do that to yourself.

Land at least one day before. Two if you're coming from a time zone more than 5 hours away. Use the buffer day to:

- Sleep properly
- Pray a calm Fajr in your new time zone
- Walk to the venue and figure out the route
- Find the nearest halal food, mosque and supermarket
- Get an Oyster card (or set up contactless on your phone for the Tube)

Fly out the day _after_ Muslim Tech Fest, not the same evening. The post-event dinners, side events and "let's grab a coffee tomorrow" conversations are some of the most valuable of the trip.

---

## 4. Make it Muslim Tech Week, not just one day

You did not fly across continents for one day in a conference hall.

[Muslim Tech Week](/muslim-tech-week) is built around Muslim Tech Fest specifically so people travelling in get more out of the trip. There are founder breakfasts, mentor hours, mosque visits, dinners, demo nights and side events scattered across the week. Many of the biggest deals and partnerships start in those rooms, not on the main stage.

Block the full week if you can. Block 2–3 days if you can't. Don't fly in for a single day unless you absolutely have to.

---

## 5. Connect with other international attendees before you fly

The Muslim Tech Fest WhatsApp group and your ticket profile both let you find other people travelling in. Use them.

A few things worth doing in the weeks before:

- Post in the group: "Flying in from [city] on [date], anyone in the same boat?"
- DM 5–10 people whose profiles match what you're working on, and suggest a coffee on day one or day three
- Look for international meetups in the side schedule — there's usually a regional dinner or two ("Founders from MENA", "Engineers from Southeast Asia")

By the time you land, you should already know 2–3 people you're going to see in person.

---

## 6. Plan your follow-ups across time zones

The week after Muslim Tech Fest is when the real work happens. If you're heading back to a time zone 5+ hours away, build follow-up time into your calendar before you leave.

A few things that help:

- Send the most important follow-up emails before you fly home — you'll be tired and jet-lagged for a week after
- Block a 2-hour window on your first day back for warm follow-ups
- For calls with people in the UK, agree the slot before you leave — your morning is their afternoon, and waiting until you're home means another week of "let me check my calendar"

> **Reflect:** Will the people you met in London still remember you in two weeks? Make sure the answer is yes.

---

## A few practical things

- **Power adapter:** the UK uses Type G plugs. Bring one or buy one at the airport.
- **Cash vs card:** London is almost entirely contactless. You don't need cash, but a card with low foreign transaction fees helps.
- **Transport:** Tube and bus run on contactless tap. Don't bother with paper tickets.
- **Halal food:** plentiful all over London. Look for the halal stickers in windows, or ask. The Muslim Tech Fesr event itself will have halal options.
- **Prayer:** prayer rooms are on-site at Muslim Tech Fest. For Jumu'ah, plan ahead — the closest mosque to your accommodation will likely be packed.
- **SIM cards:** an eSIM (Airalo, Saily) is usually faster and cheaper than picking one up at the airport.

---

## Final Thought

You've already done the hard part — you booked the flight. Don't let the logistics eat the trip.

Plan the week, not the day. Sleep before Muslim Tech Fest, follow up after. Make space for the in-between conversations that only happen when you're physically in the same city as the people you've been emailing for years.

Safe travels. We'll see you in London.


Travelling in for Muslim Tech Fest


A ticket gets you in the room. Preparation decides what you walk out with.

Muslim Tech Fest is a day of compressed access — to founders, engineers, investors, mentors and a community you won't find clustered in any other room of the year. The attendees who get the most out of it aren't the loudest or the most senior. They're the ones who showed up ready.

Here's how to be one of them.

## 1. Book early — the cheapest seat is the earliest one

Earlybird tickets are priced to reward people who commit early. The closer we get to the doors, the higher the price, and the more limited the perks — early access slots, workshops with capped seats, first dibs on roundtables. If you already know you're coming, lock it in.

**Pro Tip:** Earlybird isn't just a discount. It often unlocks earlier profile matchmaking and earlier access to side events, which means more email intros and more options before the room fills up.

---

## 2. Plan for 2–3 days — make it Muslim Tech Week

MTF sits at the heart of [Muslim Tech Week](/muslim-tech-week). Around the main festival there are dinners, demo nights, mosque visits, founder breakfasts, mentor hours and side events you won't see on the main schedule.

If you're travelling in, give it 2–3 days where you can. The hallway moments and the late-night conversations are where the real connections happen.

> If you fly in for one day, you'll get value. If you stay for the week, you'll get a network.

---

## 3. Fill out your ticket profile — early, and properly

Your profile is how the matching engine introduces you to other attendees by email — fellow Muslims in tech, people from your industry, coaches, founders, mentors and investors who share your interests. A blank profile means a quiet inbox.

Fill it out fully:

- What you're working on
- What you're looking for
- What you can offer

Do it as soon as you book, not the night before. The earlier you complete it, the longer the matching has to work in your favour, and the more intros land before you've even packed a bag.

> **Reflect:** What do you want the right stranger to know about you _before_ they shake your hand?

---

## 4. If you're collecting leads, upgrade to the Badge Scanner

If you have a company, a side business, or you're attending to collect leads — and you're not already sponsoring — consider the [Badge Scanner upgrade](https://exhibitor.muslimtechsummit.com/upgrade).

It lets you:

- Scan attendee badges to capture their contact details
- Build a clean list of the people you met
- Store notes against each one so you remember who said what

It's the difference between a phone full of half-readable business cards and a follow-up list you can actually work on Monday morning.

---

## 5. Engage actively — the people are the product

The talks are good. The expo floor is good. But the reason MTF works is the people in it.

Don't spend the whole day in your seat. Talk to the person next to you in the queue. Walk the floor. Find the people whose work you've been reading online and tell them so. Make introductions between people who should know each other — being the bridge is one of the most valuable things you can do at an event like this.

> If you came to take, you'll leave with a goody bag. If you came to give, you'll leave with a network.

> **Reflect:** Who in this room would be glad you introduced yourself?

---

## 6. Review the schedule the week before — plan your day

Open the [schedule](/schedule) the week before you arrive. RSVP to the talks you don't want to miss. Pick the workshops you want a seat in. Note the roundtables that match what you're working on.

There's more happening in parallel than any one person can attend, so five minutes of planning the night before saves you an hour of indecision on the day.

**Leave gaps.** The unscheduled half-hour where you bumped into someone is often the most valuable slot of the day.

---

## Final Thought

A few minutes of preparation turns a ticket into an unfair advantage. The room is full of people you'd benefit from knowing — and who'd benefit from knowing you. Book early, fill in your profile, plan your day, and show up ready to give as well as take.

Make the most of attending


A stand on the expo floor is one of the most expensive seats at MTF. It's also the highest-leverage one — if you treat it like a billboard, you'll waste it. If you treat it like a stage, it pays you back many times over.

Thousands of attendees walk past every stand over the course of the day. The question isn't whether they'll see you. It's whether they'll remember you when they get back to their desk on Monday.

Here's how to make sure they do.

## 1. Book your stand early — the best spots and the best rates go first

Floor space is a fixed resource. The earlier you book, the more choice you have over where you sit — near the entrance, on the walking line between the two main stages, next to the food, or tucked in a corner where footfall is half what you wanted.

Earlybird exhibitor rates are also the cheapest the price will ever be. As the floor fills, the price climbs and the prime locations disappear.

**Pro Tip:** When you book, ask about the floor plan and footfall flow before you pick your spot. A 3x3 in a high-traffic lane usually outperforms a 4x4 in a quiet one.

---

## 2. Pre-event marketing — tell people you'll be there

The biggest mistake exhibitors make is treating the event itself as the marketing. It isn't. The event is where conversations happen. The marketing is what you do in the four weeks before to make sure the right people are looking for your stand when they walk in.

A few things that work:

- A LinkedIn post announcing you're exhibiting, with your stand number
- An email to your existing network and customer list inviting them by
- A short video or demo teaser the week before
- Personal DMs to the 20–30 people you most want to meet on the day

> **Reflect:** If a prospect saw your name on the exhibitor list, would they know what you do, and why they should stop?

---

## 3. Design the stand to start conversations, not interrupt them

A wall of logos and a stack of flyers is not a stand. It's wallpaper.

The best stands at MTF are the ones where you can tell what the company does in three seconds, and where there's an obvious reason to stop:

- A live demo running on a screen at eye level
- A single, clear headline — what you do, for whom
- An open layout — no table acting as a barrier between you and the attendee
- One thing to take away, not seven (a single piece of collateral or a QR code beats a goody bag of leaflets)

Skip the gimmicks that don't filter for the right people. A free iPad draw fills your list with everyone who walked past. A free strategy call with your founder fills it with people who actually want to talk to you.

---

## 4. Staff the booth properly — never leave it empty

If your stand is unmanned for ten minutes, you've just paid for ten minutes of nothing. Brief your team before the day so this doesn't happen by accident:

- At least one person on the stand at all times — rotate breaks, don't all go to lunch together
- Stand up, not sat down behind a laptop. You're more approachable on your feet.
- Open body language. Don't huddle with colleagues — you'll look closed and people will walk past.
- Agree your 30-second pitch as a team so every conversation starts the same way

**Pro Tip:** The person who's best at qualifying leads should be on the stand at peak times (mid-morning and just after lunch). Put your most technical person on it during the post-keynote rushes.

---

## 5. Capture leads with the Badge Scanner — and qualify as you go

A pile of business cards is a problem you'll deal with on Monday and forget by Wednesday. The [Badge Scanner upgrade](https://exhibitor.muslimtechsummit.com/upgrade) lets you scan attendee badges, capture their contact details, build a list and store notes against each scan so you remember who said what.

Use it properly:

- Scan _every_ meaningful conversation, not just the hot ones
- Tag as you go — "hot", "warm", "intro to X", "send pricing" — your future self will thank you
- Capture the one detail that will jog your memory in the follow-up email ("mentioned son just started learning Python")

The goal isn't a long list. It's a list you can act on without having to remember anything.

> **Reflect:** A week from now, looking at this name, will I remember why I should follow up?

---

## 6. Follow up within the week — leads cool fast

The single biggest predictor of whether an exhibitor gets ROI from MTF isn't booth design or stand location. It's how fast they follow up.

Aim for inboxes within 5 working days, while you're still fresh in the attendee's memory. The template is simple:

- Reference the conversation specifically (this is where your scanner notes earn their keep)
- Restate what you offered or agreed to send
- Make the next step easy and small — a 20-minute call, not a "let's chat sometime"

A founder who emails on Monday with "great to meet you at the AI roundtable, here's the case study I mentioned" beats a slick automated drip from a competitor every time.

---

## Final Thought

Walk the floor too. Some of the best partnerships at MTF have started between exhibitors on adjacent stands at 3pm, when the rush had died down and someone wandered over for a chat.

You didn't pay for a table. You paid for access to a room — to the attendees walking it, to the speakers passing through, and to the other exhibitors building alongside you. Show up ready to give as well as sell, and the room will give back.

As-salamu alaykum, and we'll see you on the floor.


Make the most of exhibiting


The purpose of this guide is simple: help facilitators run roundtables that are honest, high-energy, and participant-led.

This is a **reusable playbook**. It is designed to work across topics such as AI, policy, product, fundraising, careers, and community building.

## Your Role

You are a facilitator with deep expertise. Your role is to:

- Get the room talking quickly.
- Elevate what participants say with context and challenge.
- Keep discussion focused, inclusive, and on time.
- Leave people feeling heard, sharper, and connected.

You are not there to deliver a lecture. You are there to build a high-quality conversation.

## Core Principles

### 1. Participant-led, facilitator-guided

Participants are the main voices. Facilitators set direction, pressure-test ideas, and make connections.

### 2. Clarity over performance

People are not attending because they expect polished TV moderation. Be direct, human, and useful.

### 3. Productive tension is healthy

Respectful disagreement creates depth. If two perspectives conflict, surface it and explore it.

### 4. Fair airtime is non-negotiable

A great session is not one person speaking brilliantly. It is many people contributing meaningfully.

### 5. Time discipline creates trust

Every round must end on time. Strong facilitation is kind and firm.

## How to Work as a Facilitator Team

### Talk to each other, not only to the room

When someone makes a point, respond and bring in co-facilitators:

> "That's a strong point. Ibrahim, does what they described show up in your legal work too?"

This models cross-cutting conversation and gives participants permission to build on each other.

### Do not wait for "your round" to contribute

One facilitator should open each round for structure, but rounds are not silos. If a participant says something in your domain, jump in.

### Disagree respectfully, and with evidence

If facilitators disagree, say so directly and constructively:

> "I see it differently. In my experience, regulation is not catching up yet, and here's why."

Tension is useful when grounded in evidence.

### Keep each other concise

If someone runs long, redirect with respect:

> "Great framing. Let's pause there and hear from the room."

### Run the room together

If an attendee dominates, any facilitator can intervene and rebalance airtime.

## Getting the Room Talking

### Start specific, not generic

Do not open with "Any thoughts?" Open with a concrete prompt:

- "Raise your hand if you have personally encountered an AI-generated scam."
- "Who here has used AI at work in a way they would not openly describe to their manager?"
- "Who has had to make a legal or policy decision without clear precedent?"

Hands up breaks the ice faster than open silence.

### Name people and invite directly

Use lanyards, introductions, and context:

> "You mentioned you work in education. What are you seeing in schools right now?"

People speak more when invited with specificity.

### Validate first, then deepen

Use a two-step response:

1. Acknowledge: "That is exactly the tension."
2. Expand: "What happens when this is scaled to a regulated environment?"

### Connect contributions

Show continuity across comments:

> "That links directly to what Fatima raised earlier, but from an investor lens."

This turns isolated comments into collective thinking.

### Do not answer your own questions too fast

If there is silence, hold for a few seconds. If needed, reframe or invite someone specific. Once you answer your own question, you signal the room is optional.

### Leave ego at the door

There will often be people in the room with deeper knowledge in specific sub-areas. Your job is to elevate, not dominate.

## Adding Value Without Taking Over

### Share knowledge in response, not in advance

Do not front-load every insight. Wait for a participant signal, then add precision.

### Use stories more than statistics

A concrete professional example lands harder than abstract metrics:

> "I worked on a case last month where this exact assumption failed under audit."

### Keep interventions short

Target **30 to 60 seconds** per facilitator intervention.

If you are on your third sentence, throw the conversation back to the room.

### Elevate quiet voices

Look for someone nodding, leaning in, or trying to speak. Invite them:

> "It looked like you wanted to add something. Go ahead."

### End rounds by crediting the room

Use synthesis language:

> "What I'm hearing from all of you is..."

This reinforces participant ownership of the session.

## Reusable 60-Minute Roundtable Blueprint

| Time | Objective | Facilitator move |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 0:00-0:05 | Set tone and rules | Introduce purpose, format, and airtime expectations |
| 0:05-0:10 | Warm start | Show-of-hands questions + one direct invitation |
| 0:10-0:25 | Round 1 exploration | Open prompt, active weaving, short facilitator interventions |
| 0:25-0:40 | Round 2 challenge | Surface disagreement, stress-test assumptions |
| 0:40-0:52 | Round 3 actions | "What should happen next?" with specific asks |
| 0:52-0:58 | Synthesis | Summarise patterns, tensions, and practical takeaways |
| 0:58-1:00 | Close | Thank contributors and state next steps |

If your session is shorter, keep the same structure and compress each block proportionally.

## Reusable Prompt Bank

Use these across almost any topic.

### Openers

- "What are most people in this space getting wrong right now?"
- "Where is the biggest gap between hype and reality?"
- "Who in this room has seen this fail in the real world?"

### Depth prompts

- "What assumption is this argument relying on?"
- "What would make you change your mind?"
- "What breaks first when this moves from pilot to scale?"

### Action prompts

- "What should a team do in the next 30 days?"
- "Who needs to collaborate to move this forward?"
- "What is one thing this room can commit to before leaving?"

## Intervention Scripts for Common Situations

### 1. One person is speaking too long

> "That is useful context, thank you. I want to pause you there so we can hear from two voices we have not heard yet."

### 2. Nobody answers a question

> "Let's make this easier: who has seen even a small version of this problem?"

### 3. Conversation drifts off-topic

> "Helpful point. Let's park that and return to the core question so we stay on track."

### 4. Two participants are clashing

> "This is a valuable disagreement. Let's separate the assumptions first, then test each one."

### 5. Misinformation is shared confidently

> "Important claim. Let's treat that as a hypothesis unless we can ground it in evidence."

### 6. Time is running out

> "We have five minutes left. One sentence each: what is the most important takeaway?"

## Facilitation Guardrails

- Be firm on airtime without humiliating anyone.
- Challenge ideas, not people.
- Do not let status or confidence overpower evidence.
- Keep language accessible; avoid jargon unless explained.
- Protect psychological safety while maintaining intellectual rigour.

## Pre-Session Checklist

- Confirm the session objective in one sentence.
- Align facilitator roles: opener, synthesiser, timekeeper.
- Prepare three opening questions and three depth prompts.
- Agree intervention phrases for dominance, drift, and silence.
- Decide what "a successful session" looks like before you begin.

## Live Session Checklist

- Open with purpose, format, and airtime expectation.
- Get at least five voices in the first 15 minutes.
- Invite at least two quieter contributors directly.
- Surface at least one constructive disagreement.
- Keep facilitator contributions short and evidence-based.
- Close on time with a participant-first synthesis.

## Post-Session Debrief

- What themes repeated across participants?
- Which disagreement generated the most insight?
- Who should be connected after the session?
- What should change in the next facilitation run?

Document these quickly while memory is fresh.

## Final Reminder

You have authority over the session flow. Use it responsibly.

You do not own the right to dismiss someone's contribution, but you do own the responsibility to protect airtime, quality, and timing for everyone in the room.

Strong facilitation is a mix of humility, precision, and firmness.


Roundtable Facilitators Guide


In the fast-paced world of tech startups, the **SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity)** has become the gold standard for early-stage fundraising. Created by Y Combinator, it is prized for its simplicity and speed. However, for Muslim founders and investors, the primary question isn't just about speed—it's about **Shariah compliance**.

Is a SAFE a permissible way to raise capital, or does it fall into the traps of *Riba* (interest) or *Gharar* (excessive uncertainty)?

## What is a SAFE?
A SAFE is a contract between an investor and a startup. The investor provides capital today in exchange for the right to receive equity in the future, usually triggered by a "priced round" (like a Series A). 

Unlike a **Convertible Note**, which is a loan that accrues interest and has a maturity date, a SAFE is technically a **convertible security**.

### The Shariah Perspective: Debt vs. Equity
Under Islamic law, financing typically falls into two categories:
1.  **Qard (Loan):** Must be interest-free (*Qard Hasan*). Any stipulated excess is *Riba*.
2.  **Musharakah/Mudarabah (Equity/Partnership):** Profit and loss are shared based on the performance of the business.

Because a standard SAFE **does not accrue interest** and has **no maturity date** (meaning there is no obligation to pay back the cash if the company fails), many scholars argue it is closer to an equity investment than a debt instrument.

## The Compliance Challenges

While SAFEs avoid the obvious pitfall of *Riba*, they face scrutiny regarding **Gharar** (uncertainty).

### 1. Uncertainty of Price (*Gharar*)
In a standard sale, the price and the object must be known. In a SAFE, the investor doesn't know exactly how many shares they will receive until a future valuation is set.
* **The Counter-Argument:** Some scholars note that because the *mechanism* for determining the price (the valuation cap or discount) is agreed upon upfront, the uncertainty is "manageable" and fits within the customary practices of modern trade.

### 2. Liquidation Preference
Some SAFEs give investors "priority" to get their money back before founders during a dissolution. 
* **The Issue:** Shariah principles generally require that in a loss, all partners lose in proportion to their capital contribution (*Pari Passu*). Giving one party a guaranteed "money-back" preference over others can be seen as non-compliant.

### 3. Ownership Rights
Traditional Shariah-compliant equity requires the investor to take on the risks and rewards of ownership. Since a SAFE holder isn't a "shareholder" on the cap table until conversion, some argue the "ownership" is too remote.

## How to Make Your SAFE "Halal-Friendly"

If you are raising on a SAFE, you can take specific steps to align the document with Shariah principles:

* **Remove Interest:** Ensure you are using the standard YC Post-Money SAFE, which has no interest rate. Avoid "Convertible Notes" unless they are specifically structured as *Qard Hasan*.
* **Pari Passu Liquidation:** Adjust the "Dissolution Priority" clause so that SAFE holders and ordinary shareholders are treated equally in the event of a wind-down.
* **Use a Side Letter:** Many Muslim-led startups use a "Shariah Side Letter." This document clarifies that the investment is intended as a risk-sharing equity participation and not a debt obligation.
* **Valuation Caps:** Including a valuation cap helps reduce *Gharar* by setting a "worst-case scenario" for the price, making the future equity stake more determinable.

## Credible Alternatives

If a standard SAFE still feels too "grey" for your board or investors, consider these alternatives:

| Option | Description | Why it's used |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Direct Equity** | Issuing ordinary shares immediately at a set valuation. | The "gold standard" for compliance; no uncertainty. |
| **The OQAL Note** | A Shariah-compliant alternative developed for the MENA region. | Specifically modeled on the SAFE but uses a *Qard Hasan* structure. |
| **Mudarabah Agreement** | A profit-sharing contract where one party provides capital and the other provides expertise. | A classical Islamic finance structure. |

## The Verdict
The consensus among many modern Islamic finance experts is that **SAFEs are significantly more Shariah-compliant than Convertible Notes** because they lack interest and maturity dates. However, the "standard" version may still require minor tweaks—specifically regarding liquidation preferences—to be fully airtight.

Are SAFEs Halal?


As a community, we often talk about Ihsaan (excellence) in our code and our companies, but what about in our connections?

Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned founder, the way you introduce yourself sets the tone for your entire Muslim Tech Fest (MTF) experience. It’s the difference between collecting a business card and building a lifelong brotherhood or sisterhood.

Here is your step-by-step guide to introducing yourself with confidence, adab (etiquette), and impact across every scenario you’ll face at MTF.

## 1. The WhatsApp Group Introduction

_Where the buzz begins before the doors open._

The attendee WhatsApp group is often your first touchpoint. With hundreds of notifications flying in, you want an intro that is concise but memorable. Avoid the "Hi, I'm here!" spam and go for value.

### The "Value-First" Formula:

> **Salam** + **Name** + **Role** + **The "Give"** + **The "Ask"**

Copy-Paste Template:

> "As-salamu alaykum everyone! 👋 I’m **[Name]**, a **[Role, e.g., Backend Engineer / Founder]** at **[Company]**.
>
> 🚀 **I can help with:** Advice on scaling Python apps or introductions to the fintech scene in London.
> 💡 **I’m looking for:** A co-founder with strong marketing skills or feedback on my new SaaS idea.
>
> Excited to meet you all on the day! Connect with me here: [LinkedIn Link]"

**Pro Tip:** Be mindful about spamming the group, but if you notice lots of new people join every few days, feel free to re-introduce yourself to make new joiners feel welcome too.

---

## 2. In-Person: The "Handshake" Intro

_For the hallway track, the coffee queue, and the expo floor._

At MTF, the barrier to entry is low—everyone is there to connect. You don't need a rehearsed elevator pitch; you need a conversation starter.

### The Approach:

Start with the universal icebreaker: **"As-salamu alaykum!"** (Smile, it’s Sunnah).

### The Script:

> "Salam, I’m **[Name]**. I’m working on **[X]** at the moment. Is this your first Muslim Tech Fest?"

### Alternate Questions to Spark Conversation:

- "What brings you to MTF this year? Are you hacking, hiring, or just seeking inspiration?"
- "Did you catch the last speaker? That point about [Topic] was intense."
- "I’m trying to meet more people in the [AI/EdTech/Creative] space—do you know anyone I should talk to?"

**The Golden Rule:** Listen more than you speak. If they mention they are looking for a job, and you know a hiring manager, introduce them. Be the bridge.

---

## 3. On Stage: The Speaker’s Intro

_If you're lucky enough to be invited to speak on stage you must make the first 30 seconds count._

The audience likely has already seen your bio and stalked your LinkedIn. Don’t read your CV. Instead, tell them _why_ they should trust you on _this_ specific topic.

### The "Hook & Credibility" Formula:

1.  **Salam & Energy:** "As-salamu alaykum everyone!"
2.  **The Hook:** Start with a bold statement or a question. "Most startups fail because..."
3.  **The Credibility:** "My name is **[Name]**, and I spent the last 5 years building failed companies before I raised a $10M seed round."
4.  **The Promise:** "In the next 20 minutes, I’m going to show you how to..."

**What to Avoid:** "Hi, I'm [Name], I went to [University], then I worked at [Company], then I did [Project]..." (_Audience checks phones_).

---

## 4. The Audience Q&A Intro

_How to ask a question without giving a speech._

We’ve all seen _that_ person who takes the mic and talks for 2 minutes about their own startup. Don’t be that person. Respect the speaker’s time and the audience’s patience.

### The "Laser-Focused" Formula:

> "Salam, I’m **[Name]** from **[Company/University]**.
>
> Thank you for the insightful talk. You mentioned **[Point X]**—could you elaborate on how that applies to **[Context Y]**?"

**Why this works:**

- It’s polite.
- It gives context (who you are helps the speaker tailor the answer).
- It asks a _real_ question.

---

## 5. Joining an Existing Conversation

_Breaking into the "Circle of Death" (closed networking circles)._

You see a group of three people talking. You want to join. It feels awkward. Here is how to do it gracefully.

1.  **Read the Body Language:** Are they standing shoulder-to-shoulder in a tight huddle? Maybe wait. Are they standing in a "V" or "U" shape? They are open to new people.
2.  **The "Hover & Nod":** Stand near the edge of the group, make eye contact with one person, and smile/nod as they speak.
3.  **The Entry:** Wait for a lull in the conversation.
4.  **The Line:**
    > "As-salamu alaykum, mind if I join the circle? I overheard you mentioning [Topic] and it sounded super interesting."

**Pro Tip:** Once you join, **do not** immediately hijack the topic. Listen for at least 2 minutes. Then, when appropriate, introduce yourself or ask a follow-up question to the current speaker.

---

## Final Thought: Intent Matters

At Muslim Tech Fest, we are building for the _Ummah_ and the future. When you introduce yourself, go in with the intention to be of service. Whether you are a student or a CEO, you have something to offer.


How to introduce yourself


**The story of Muslim Tech Fest is not about seeking validation. It is about reclaiming a legacy.**

For centuries, Muslims were the architects of the modern world. From the foundations of optics and medicine to the invention of algebra as the very language of code; innovation is in the Muslim DNA. Today, that legacy continues with Muslim founders of platforms like YouTube, Cursor and Replit shaping the digital age.

Yet, despite outsized contributions to the modern age, the narrative has shifted. Muslims are too often caricatured, marginalised, or viewed through a lens of deficit.

[Zahid Mahmood](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaarheed) and [Arfah Farooq](https://www.linkedin.com/in/arfahfarooq), founders of Muslim Tech Fest (MTF), realised that technology and entrepreneurship are the levers that will move the future. To be stewards _(Khalifa)_ on earth, Muslims cannot afford to be on the sidelines. They need to be at the forefront.

<StickyScroll>

<StickySection>
	<StickyHeading>The Foundation</StickyHeading>
	<StickyTitle>A lifelong community builder</StickyTitle>
	<StickyImage src="/assets/images/speakers/arfah-farooq.webp" />
	<StickyText>
		The groundwork for this movement was laid by Arfah's work with Muslamic Makers. She is a lifelong community builder with a career that spans the highest levels of the public and
		private sectors. From launching the No. 10 Innovation Fellowship for the UK Government to building AI communities for NHSx. Arfah has spent over a decade operating where policy meets
		people. As the co-founder of Muslamic Makers, she built Europe's largest network of Muslim talent, creating a vital sanctuary for thousands. Her free, volunteer-led community had
		limits: like many grassroots initiatives, it relied on goodwill rather than capital.
	</StickyText>
</StickySection>

<StickySection>
	<StickyHeading>The Architect</StickyHeading>
	<StickyTitle>Excellence or nothing</StickyTitle>
	<StickyImage src="/assets/images/speakers/zahid-mahmood.webp" />
	<StickyText>
		Zahid's journey began teaching himself to code in East London internet cafes, selling his first tech business at just 14. Today, he is a Forbes 30 Under 30 founder, backed by Silicon
		Valley heavyweights like Sequoia for his startups in AI and Healthcare. He brings this relentless commercial mind to the community. After steering Muslamic Makers through the
		turbulance of the COVID19 lockdown he looked past the sentiment of the skills he volunteered to the organisation and saw an untapped asset class. He realised that as long as the
		ecosystem relies on charity and 'safe spaces', it will never command the respect or the capital that the talent within it deserves.
	</StickyText>
</StickySection>

<StickySection>
	<StickyHeading>Superpowers</StickyHeading>
	<StickyTitle>A collaboration of superpowers</StickyTitle>
	<StickyText>
		In May 2022, Zahid registered the domain _muslimtechfest.com_ and shared his intentions with Arfah. She immediately came onboard and so the transition from a volunteer network to a
		commercial powerhouse was underway. Arfah brings the government-level credibility and deep trust that takes years to earn. Recognised as a Top 30 Changemaker and one of Computer
		Weekly's Most Influential Women in tech, she has an uncanny ability to make the community listen. Zahid drives the grand vision, provides the strategic roadmap, takes on the risk
		appetite, and handles the operational rigour. He is the silent engine that makes the mission work and scale.
	</StickyText>
</StickySection>

<StickySection>
	<StickyHeading>Global Mandate</StickyHeading>
	<StickyTitle>From local to global influence</StickyTitle>
	<StickyText>
		Under this unified leadership, Muslim Tech Fest shifts from local representation to global influence. The brand now pushes the frontier in all corners of the world including London,
		San Francisco, Jakarta and Istanbul. Today, Muslim Tech Fest operates with a commercially robust foundation. It elevates the hard work of grassroots organisations in every city where
		a cornerstone Muslim Tech Fest event lands. It champions a culture of Ihsaan (Excellence) in technology and entrepreneurship throughout the Ummah.
	</StickyText>
</StickySection>

</StickyScroll>

The founders of Muslim Tech Fest are reclaiming the legacy of Excellence.

They are no longer just asking for a seat at the table.

Nor are they merely building their own table.

**They are building the room.**


The Story of Muslim Tech Fest


We're thrilled to announce that **Muslim Tech Fest 2025** is officially happening! After the incredible success of our previous events, we're bringing back the most exciting tech conference for the Muslim community.

## What to Expect

This year's festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, featuring:

- **50+ World-class Speakers** from leading tech companies
- **1800+ Attendees** from around the world
- **40+ Exhibitors** showcasing the latest innovations
- **42% Decision-makers** in attendance

## Key Themes

Our 2025 festival will focus on four core themes that are shaping the future of technology:

### 1. Data-bias in AI

Exploring how we can build more fair and inclusive artificial intelligence systems.

### 2. Data-driven Marketing Mastery

Learning the latest strategies for effective digital marketing in today's landscape.

### 3. Tech Enabled Wealth Building

Discovering how technology can be leveraged for financial success and entrepreneurship.

### 4. Sustainable Futures

Building technology solutions that create a better world for future generations.

## Get Involved

Whether you're a speaker, sponsor, or attendee, there are many ways to be part of Muslim Tech Fest 2025:

- [Apply to Speak](/speaker-sign-up)
- [Become a Sponsor](/sponsor)
- [Register for Updates](/subscribe)

## Save the Date

**Muslim Tech Fest 2025** will take place in London on June 21, 2025. Mark your calendars and get ready for an unforgettable experience!

---

_Stay tuned for more updates and announcements as we get closer to the event. Follow us on social media for the latest news and behind-the-scenes content._


News & Impact