TEDCO in the Middle East: Building bridges across Jordan, Qatar and the UAE

September 2026 brought Maryland’s innovation story across borders. Over 12 days, TEDCO’s CEO, Troy LeMaile-Stovall, carried it to three countries—the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—as he sought to strengthen government and investor relationships, open doors for founders and position the state as the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region gateway for technology and life sciences companies. 

The trip followed a clear arc. In Jordan, the focus was ecosystem collaboration and company-to-company connections. In Doha, it was capital and commercialization. In Abu Dhabi, it was the U.S.– UAE business relationship that ties it all together. All three stops resonated with the same message: Maryland's research institutions, federal assets and startup support make the state a powerful launchpad for founders to access the U.S. market.

Jordan: Discover Digital Jordan 2026

The journey began in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, where LeMaile-Stovall joined Discover Digital Jordan 2026, a multi-day delegation hosted by Jordan's Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (MoDEE). The program gave international participants a direct look at Jordan's technology companies, entrepreneurship ecosystem and digital infrastructure, from Amman to Aqaba.

TEDCO's participation built on a developing relationship with the Government of Jordan and MoDEE. Jordan has made the digital economy a centerpiece of its economic strategy, with priorities spanning information and communications technology, cloud computing, software-as-a-service, cybersecurity, fintech, edtech and health tech. Those strengths align closely with Maryland's own leadership in cybersecurity, AI, life sciences and financial services.

At the program's opening event in Amman, the TEDCO CEO addressed roughly 80 leaders from Jordan's entrepreneurship and innovation community, local media and fellow delegates. His remarks, "Building an Innovation Economy: Lessons from Maryland," shared how the state connects research, capital and company support to empower startup growth.

At King Hussein Business Park, the delegation visited technology companies and held one-to-one business meetings with IREX, the Jordan Source programme team, OSKT Group and Bldr Space. Each conversation explored market access, mentoring opportunities and startup support models and pathways for Jordanian companies considering expansion into the U.S.

In Aqaba, the delegation met with MoDEE and the Aqaba Development Corporation, visited a local university and toured the digital infrastructure behind Aqaba's submarine cable connectivity, a key link in regional and international telecommunications. 

Doha: Capital, Commercialization and Connection

In Doha, the focus shifted to investment. With support from the Office of the Commercial Attaché of Qatar's Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Washington, D.C., LeMaile-Stovall held a full day of meetings with the institutions shaping Qatar's innovation and venture landscape.

The day opened with a tour of Qatar Science & Technology Park, Qatar's hub for applied research, technology development and startup incubation. From there, he met with Muhammad Osama Kandil, senior manager of venture capital at Qatar Development Bank, to discuss venture investment and support for early-stage companies.

Conversations continued with the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). First, the delegation met with Mohamed Adel Ghanem, MD, of QIA's health care team; this was followed closely by a meeting with Mooza Jassim Al-Suwaidi. In each meeting, Maryland's concentration of life sciences assets, including the NIH, FDA, federal labs and Johns Hopkins University, was central to the discussion of where global capital and U.S. innovation can meet.

Looking to align on how federal and state resources can support two-way trade and investments, the time in Doha featured a meeting at the U.S. Embassy with Juan Catril, commercial specialist with the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

Before leaving for the next stop of the adventure, the TEDCO delegation met with Tarik Sultan of Builders VC. The meeting added a private-capital perspective, allowing both parties to examine how Maryland and Qatari founders and investors can work together.

Abu Dhabi: Strengthening the U.S.–UAE Connection

The final leg of the trip was Abu Dhabi. The UAE has become one of the world's most active centers for technology investment, with major commitments in artificial intelligence, advanced technology and life sciences.

A highlight of the visit was the U.S.–UAE Business Council reception on September 15. The evening brought together American and Emirati business, government and investment leaders, offering a valuable setting to share Maryland's value proposition and build relationships that can lead to future partnerships and investment in Maryland companies.

LeMaile-Stovall stated, "From Amman to Doha to Abu Dhabi, we heard the same thing: the region's innovators and investors want a trusted collaborator in the United States. Maryland, with its research institutions, federal assets and startup support, is ready to be that collaborator, and TEDCO is eager to help build those bridges."

What Comes Next

Like TEDCO's recent delegations to South Korea and Taiwan, this trip was not a one-time visit, but the start of lasting relationships. The meetings in Jordan, Qatar and the UAE opened potential pathways for Middle Eastern technology companies seeking a U.S. home, for Maryland companies exploring the region, and for investors looking to back innovation in both locales. 

The trip’s beginning included two more guests – Vennard Wright of PerVista and James Brinkley of Laucyn AI and iLeep. The TEDCO portfolio company CEOs found more than just possibility during the visit; as of this writing, both are expecting to secure contracts from Jordanian institutions they met on the trip.

“Our TEDCO-led trip to Jordan produced more than valuable relationships,” said Wright. “It created tangible opportunities for PerVista to leverage our patented AI technology to protect critical infrastructure and communities abroad. This experience reinforces a powerful truth: innovation born in Maryland has the potential to make communities safer around the world.”

“What impressed me most about Jordan was the extraordinary talent, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit we encountered. We went to build relationships and explore opportunities but came away with connections that are already opening doors for meaningful partnerships and business opportunities for Laucyn AI and iLeepe,” said Brinkley. “I'm incredibly grateful to TEDCO for making those connections possible. What excites me most is the potential to turn these relationships into lasting collaborations that expand access, create opportunities, and make a meaningful difference in people's lives.”

While the trip has ended, the cross-border collaboration is far from over. TEDCO remains committed to continuing conversations that will strengthen relationships, inspire innovation and expand Maryland’s global innovation footprint.