Make them stop walking.

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This week we’re quoting…

Hamad Al Fahad (Executive Director and Managing Partner at Tajawoz)

What Al Fahad said:

“‘I want to tell people about my company’; ‘I want to make money’; and some jokers say ‘I want to get rich.’ It’s none of that. None of that at all. Pitching is only about one thing: it’s about getting attention.” 

You’ll need a little context for that quote, we know. Al Fahad was speaking on the LEAP:IN podcast, about the answers entrepreneurs give him when he asks them why they think a company pitches. 

Pitching, he argued, is about getting attention. And at LEAP 2026, the Tech Arena is an unmatched opportunity to do exactly that. 

Exhibitors, we have a question for you…

Does your demo inform (or perform) – or does it invite? 

Because five years of LEAP have taught us that the demos that really drive results are the ones that create space for conversation and interaction. So instead of trying to be impressive, we encourage our exhibitors to consider every possible moment of connection in your booth and demo – and make the most of those moments. 

Maybe you’ve been at an exhibition where you’ve watched a steady stream of people pause at a particular booth. They lean in, ask questions, and then bring someone else back five minutes later. 

That’s a high-impact demo at work. The technologies being showcased vary wildly, but the demos that stick tend to have a few qualities in common. 

Think of a great demo like opening a door. It doesn’t ask for commitment upfront; it just makes it really easy to step inside. 

Big idea #1: Lead with the problem (not the product)

We’ve learnt that the most effective demos in the LEAP Tech Arena start with why their technology exists, instead of focusing on what the tech is. 

That ‘why’ might be a friction point that everyone (or at least, everyone in your target audience) can relate to. A process everyone recognises as clunky, slow, ineffective or expensive. When you start with this, your audience understands the tension within seconds – even if they’ve never heard of your company before. 

Then, once you’ve made that connection, the product appears. Not as a list of features, but as the solution to that problem. 

If you’re focused on visibility or sales at LEAP 2026, definitely take note. Most of the people who walk up to your stand won’t have context, so they’re deciding very quickly whether to stop or keep moving. 

A problem-led opening gives them a reason to stay. 

Big idea #2: Design for flow (not perfection)

The Tech Arena is alive. When we walk around it, the energy is (honestly) palpable; we hear overlapping conversations, with ideas sparked at one booth carried on to another. People might drift in halfway through a demo; attention comes in waves. 

The best-performing demos are built for this reality, instead of designed for a quiet, hyper-focused environment. They: 

• Run in short, repeatable loops
• Make sense no matter when someone joins 
• Encourage interaction rather than passive watching 

The goal is to make it easy for someone to engage with your demo or your booth. People need to be able to touch, test, click, or ask questions without waiting for the perfect moment – so your tech feels approachable and real and usable. 

When curiosity can turn into conversation, then conversation can turn into opportunity. 

Big idea #3: Build for what happens after the demo

The strongest demos don’t end when that first conversation does. 

They have something that’s easy to hold onto, easy to remember – maybe they’re visual enough to film, or clear enough to explain in one sentence, or obvious enough that people want to bring their colleagues back to take a look. 

Visibility at LEAP doesn’t stop at your booth. Demos that are easy to understand are more likely to be shared – on social channels, in team chats, or in post-event follow-ups. And in a hall that’s packed full of innovation, that kind of recall is genuinely powerful. 

Why the Tech Arena heightens all of this

Our Tech Arena was designed as a showcase environment – not a row of booths, but a stage for working technology. And this changes behaviour; our visitors expect to engage, and they arrive curious and enthusiastic. 

If you’re exhibiting, this gives you a rare advantage: 

• More natural conversations with people who didn’t plan to stop
• Better quality leads driven by genuine interest
• Clearer differentiation without having to say you’re different

We’re proud to offer one of the few platforms where your product can do the heavy lifting for you. 

So before you head to Riyadh for LEAP 2026, make sure you: 

• Rewrite your opening in plain language. One sentence, one problem, and no jargon.
• Break your demo into moments – each loop should stand alone and invite interaction.
• Watch someone experience your demo without explanation. If they get it, you’re on the right track – if they don’t get it, you need to simplify. 

LEAP 2026 is the place to attract investor attention, trigger partner conversations, and take your tech to the next level. 

We’re excited for you. Are you ready? 

Secure your Tech Arena demo slot now.

Have an idea for a topic you'd like us to cover? We're eager to hear it. Drop us a message and share your thoughts.

Catch you next week,
The LEAP Team