Where the Startup Community Meets

Mohamed Ihab is an investment associate at AUC Angels, the first university-based angel investor network in the MENA region. After being part of Unilever’s Future Leaders Program, he decided to shift his focus and become well-versed in the world of venture capital and entrepreneurship. As his day job, he helps local startups become investment-ready and connects them to angel investors. In the evening, he assists early-stage ventures on both the regional and global level in strategizing and planning their next moves as he is one of UpWork’s top-rated freelance startup consultants. Even at night, his go-to forms of entertainment are Shark Tank and Dragon Den episodes! He is also a judge at the MIT Enterprise Forum annual startup competition and is currently in the process of launching a tech startup.

I have experience working in one of Europe’s most prominent venture builders & investors Rocket Internet. I am currently working as an Investment Analyst in Arzan VC, one of the most active VC funds in the MENA region. I am also working towards earning my CFA designation that I started while completing my Bachelor’s degree in Economics & Finance from the German University in Cairo. I have also gained my Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst designation from the Corporate Finance Institute.

Asia worked at KPMG Kuwait advising the Kuwait National Fund ‘KNF’ for small & medium enterprise development and handled funding. While at KPMG, Asia was instrumental in monitoring KNF’s +200 projects and supervised the preoperational phase team. Asia graduated from Kuwait University with distinction and class honors, heaving been honored by the Ruler & Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad A-Jaber Al-Sabah. She is a CFA Level III candidate and has passed Level I & II of the CFA exam on the first attempt.

I'm an engineer turned engineering manager, turned entrepreneur turned tech investor. Failed as an entrepreneur a bunch of times till I was able to build a winner. Made numerous investments in both startups and funds along the years, some failed miserably, some turned out great, two became global unicorns and two are on their way (inshallah) Currently the Managing Partner of Nama Ventures, a Venture Capital fund focused on fueling technology innovation in MENA, particularly in KSA. I'm a member of many Angel Networks including Sand Hill Angels in Silicon Valley, Founding board member of Riyadh Angel Investors in Riyadh, and an advisor with Woman Spark in KSA. I cofounded Tech Wadi in Silicon Valley and I’m an advisor to numerous MENA tech incubators, accelerators & startups. I hold an MBA from London Business School and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Brigham Young University. Technical Certs: CCIE, MCSE, CCSP, and MCDBA. Also paid my coding dues with C++ & Java. You can reach me on twitter at @mzu3bi

Wael is a Y Combinator alumnus and serial entrepreneur who has co-founded startups in the Silicon Valley and the Middle East. He was one of the early employees of Careem and held roles including VP of Product and Managing Director of Careem's Platform Business Unit, leading Careem's vision to become a Super App company. Wael studied Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo in Canada and has built technology products used by tens of millions of users worldwide. He is currently a Principal at Raed Ventures which invests in early stage startups in the MENA region and is passionate about fostering entrepreneurship in the region.

Saed Nashef is Founding Partner at Raed Ventures. He is also Founding Partner at Sadara Ventures, one of the first VC firms in MENA. Before Sadara, Saed founded two companies and was a key team member in a third. Before that, he worked at Microsoft in various software engineering and leadership roles. Saed is the first Kauffman Fellow in the Arab Middle East and the recipient of the “Class 14” Jeff Timmons Memorial Award.

Antoine joined Saned Partners in June 2014 as an Investment Manager of the Fund. Prior to joining Saned Partners, Antoine worked in Investment Banking at BLOMINVEST Bank. Antoine has 18 years of experience of which 6 in Financial Control in Paris. He worked as finance manager in several industries such as consumer goods, pharmaceutical and retail. Antoine is holder of an MBA from ESA / ESCP-EAP and a Bachelor in Business Administration with an emphasis in Banking and Finance from the Lebanese American University.

Prior to joining MEVP, Gaelle held an internship in the private and public equity division of The Olayan Group (OEL), and in the research and investment department of a wealth management firm: Crescendo Group. Gaelle holds a Bachelor in Business Administration (with a concentration in Finance) from the American University of Beirut where she was managing the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business's IMP fund for two years

MEVP is a Middle East-focused venture capital firm that invests in the early and growth stages of innovative technology companies run by talented entrepreneurs in the Middle East Region with a focus on the GCC and Levant countries.

Sleem Hasan is an experienced owner with a demonstrated history of working in venture capital and the Japanese capital markets. He is skilled in investor relations, securities, asset management, investment advisory, and working with technology entrepreneurs. His strong entrepreneur professionalism is with a Part III Mathematical Tripos from Cambridge and a Mathematical degree from Oxford. He’s also the CEO and Founder of Privity, which is an independent Dubai-based Venture advisory firm founded back in 2004

Mostafa is a serial entrepreneur with a decade of building and scaling VC-funded tech startups in the Middle East. Mostafa has co-founded and scaled multiple e-commerce and internet-based ventures in the Middle East. Prior to SEEDRA, Mostafa was the General Manager at Holidayme KSA, General Manager at Balleh.com, Director of eCommerce at ITIDA (Gov of Egypt) & Co-founder at Books.com.eg.

Ali is a General Partner at Hambro Perks (MENA) and focuses on sourcing investment opportunities, executing new investments and portfolio management in the MENA region. Ali started his career in consulting at EY where he worked on complex corporate finance challenges for clients. He is also a former debt capital markets investment banker advising on various landmark conventional and Islamic debt transactions & working with various entities of a Gulf sovereign for transactions of national importance. Ali serves as Hambro Perks’ investor director on the board of Odondo, investor observer on the board of WeVat and has led transaction negotiation and execution for various new and follow-on Hambro Perks investments, including Muzmatch, WeVat and Sarwa. Ali speaks three languages and holds a master’s degree from University College London.

Ivo is a General Partner at Hambro Perks (MENA) and focuses on sourcing investment opportunities, executing new investments and portfolio management in the MENA region. Previously, he was at Riyad Capital for 7 years as a Senior Portfolio Manager dedicated to early stage VC fund Riyad TAQNIA Fund (RTF). Prior to moving to the Middle East in late 2013, Mr. Detelinov worked in the Technology Equity Research department at Merrill Lynch where he covered Enterprise Software companies and at MWI & Partners, a growth PE fund associated with Merrill Lynch. Following the completion of an MBA degree (Finance) from New York University’s Stern School of Business in 2003, Mr. Detelinov joined the Financial Sponsors Group of Merrill Lynch, where he assisted in origination, diligence and deal execution global PE and VC firms in New York and in London. He is a CFA Charterholder

Passionate in building entrepreneurship ecosystem and creating more opportunities for entrepreneurs

Interested in investing in Fin-tech

Maria is an Investment Analyst at VentureSouq, an investment platform focused on global early-stage technology businesses based in Dubai. Prior to this role she interned at ING Bank N.V. with the High Yield Debt Capital Markets team and at a social enterprise in Abu Dhabi. Maria holds a B.A. in Economics and Finance from New York University Abu Dhabi.

Basil is an experienced company builder and general partner at Global Ventures. He joined in 2018, prior to which he was the President of Intellectual Property and Science business, a $1b revenue business, at Thomson Reuters. From initial ideas to business scaling, Basil's background makes him an ideal partner for founders at all stages. Basil has been an Advisor, Investor and Board Member with many global technology companies, including new ventures, such as the digital patent storage platform PatSnap, the intelligent product builder TARA.AI as well as Sparrho, Floranow and Elmenus. Basil holds a bachelors’ degree in Mechanical Engineering from the American University in Cairo. Basil earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Issa's career has focused on finance and investments for the past 15+ years with a focus on Venture Capital. He started his career in investment banking and transitioned into the MENA Venture Capital space in 2006 as a founding member of Accelerator technologies, one of the first venture funds in the Arab world.  He has since occupied numerous roles that include M&A consultant at Yahoo!, Head of Investment at N2V - a regional Venture Builder, and Head of Investments and Venture Capital at twofour54.  Prior to establishing Access Bridge Ventures, Issa headed IFC’s Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan and Europe’s venture investments both from a Direct and Indirect (accelerators and fund of fund) perspective. His track record includes, having invested in 50+ direct and indirect investment deals (from $100K to $25M per transaction), managed over $150m in MENA Venture funds, launched the UAE’s first Accelerator, exited 5+ MENA based deals, supported with 2 IPOs and much more. Issa holds an MBA with a focus on Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Finance from Cass Business School (City University of London) and a bachelor degree in Commerce from Concordia University.

Christos is the Founder and Managing Partner of Iliad Partners, a VC firm investing in early stage tech startups in MENA. With Iliad, Christos has made investments in “e-commerce enablement” in primarily B2B companies digitizing logistics, transport, mobility, and insurance. He is an investor, former entrepreneur, and digital executive with 20+ years of experience in tech in the US, Europe, and MENA. Based in Dubai for the last 12 years, he was previously Head of Business Development of Yahoo! Maktoob and a management consultant with Booz & Company. He was previously an angel investor and a founder and a senior executive at tech startups including GlamBox, Upstream and govWorks. Christos holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and a B.S. in International Relations from Georgetown University.

Saleh Abbas is the Senior Program Manager at Flat6Labs Bahrain where he oversees the accelerator program as well as the marketing and outreach. Saleh has travelled globally to startup related events to scout innovative businesses securing investment in 44 startups to date. He also works on creating strategic partnerships and consolidating a VC network for follow on funding for the Bahrain portfolio. He has previously worked in logistics, marketing, and more, at well-reputed firms and corporates such as JWT, Zain, and BMMI.

Fahad Alfaez is an Investment Analyst at Hambro Perks based at the Riyadh office. Fahad primarily focuses on due diligence, investments and deaflow. Fahad started his career at the reputable investment company Riyad Capital, working as a trainee on Private Equity and Venture Capital before moving to Hambro Perks. Fahad holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from King Saud University, is a Saudi national and speaks fluent English & Arabic.

Hasan Haider has over 10 years of experience investing in MENA startups. Hasan is the Founder and Managing Partner of +VC, an early stage venture capital firm focused on the MENA region. Hasan was previously Managing Partner, MENA at 500 Startups and led the firms growth in the MENA Region over the last 5 years, turning 500 Startups into the most active VC fund in the MENA region, raising and deploying the 500 Falcons fund, building partnerships and running programs in the region to help build the regional ecosystem. Hasan has invested in more than 180 startups in the region over the course of the last 10 years. Prior to 500, Hasan was the co-founder and CEO of Tenmou, the first business angel’s organization in Bahrain and one of the first in the MENA region. Hasan’s work in developing angel investment in emerging markets through Tenmou has been picked up as a case study by the World Bank and was taught to Entrepreneurship Policy makers at Babson College. Previously, Hasan’s career was in finance and investment banking at Sico where he spent a number of years.

please refer to my LinkedIn account. Thank you.

Ayat is an Investment Associate at HALA Ventures, a Saudi fund that invests in early-stage technology startups across MENA, where she applies her experience in the venture capital world by engaging with startups and analyzing market trends to identify the best investment opportunities and scalable business models. Ayat Has earned Her Bachelor Degree in Finance and Banking from Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University.

+6 years experience in the ecosystem, with exposure to both Seed and Growth investments.

Varun Sharma is part of the Wamda Investment Team, and his role involves working on the deal process including initial screening, market analysis, financial modelling, conducting due diligence and portfolio management. He actively looks out for key market & industry trends, establishing investment theses and networking with potential startups & up-and-coming entrepreneurs. Prior to his role at Wamda, Varun was part of the private banking team at Standard Chartered Bank. Varun is a CFA charter holder and holds a degree in finance with a minor in actuarial mathematics from The American University of Sharjah.

Pier is an Associate at Iliad Partners where he is constantly looking to meet and interact with the best entrepreneurs in the MENA region and beyond. He has a background in banking, venture capital and startup acceleration and comes from a small business family where he experienced first-hand the impact that entrepreneurship has on our everyday lives.

Suhaib graduated from Boston University in 2018 with a major in History and minor in Business Administration. Prior to transferring to Boston University, he attended Drexel University as an Entrepreneurship and Innovation major. A big part of his time at Drexel was comprised of the Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community (ELLC), a residential program with a close-knit community of enterprising students. He was able to further expand his knowledge through his first real-word experience in the VC and startup world through his time at Oasis500. Where he spent two years deeply involved in the startup ecosystem in Jordan. Getting the opportunity to evaluate hundreds of applications, invest in several cohorts and guide various entrepreneurs through an extensive acceleration program.

Abdul Kareem is an Investment Analyst at Wamda. As an analyst, Abdul Kareem assists and supports the partners and associates in the entire deal process including initial screening, market analysis, financial modeling & due diligence. Prior to Wamda, Abdul Kareem attended New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), where he pursued a degree in Economics. Abdul Kareem takes part in industry and VC events, networks with potential startups and up-and-coming entrepreneurs, and keeps an eye out for the latest industry trends.

Sarah is currently a member of the investment team of Rua Growth Fund. Sarah started her career at EY as part the Strategy and Transaction team where she took leading roles in a variety of transaction engagements including valuations, feasibility studies, market studies and business plans. Sarah also worked at the International Finance Organization as part of the investment team, covering the Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services sector in the MENA region. Sarah holds a Bachelor Degree in Finance from University of Jordan and a Master’s degree in International Business from Queen’s University in Canada.

Farah has more than 8 years of experience in the financial services sector with a focus on the investment space. Throughout her career, she raised capital worth $16 million for public and private companies, and managed investment portfolios worth +$400 million at various entities. Farah's experience is in corporate finance transactions, M&As, valuations, financial modeling, portfolio management, investment banking, macroeconomic analysis, and investment risk management. She has a BA in Finance and an MSc in Development Finance from The University of Manchester. She is also on the path towards CFA certification.

Part of the investment team at Impact46

Investment analyst with over 5 years of experience in M&A/JV and Venture Capital

Currently an associate at GV.Prior to that, I worked as an Assistant Vice President at Credit Suisse, where she was involved in constructing and managing portfolios for individuals and family offices across MENA

Turki has been active in the tech startup space since 2016 when he co-founded Desert Agriculture, an agtech startup, and Sun Capture, a solar and energy services company. Both startups are operating under Aljoaib Holdings, a family business with a long history in diverse sectors such as energy, construction, and agriculture. In 2014, Turki graduated from the University of Southern California where he majored in civil and environmental engineering and minored in construction management. Turki also holds a master's degree in renewable energy engineering (green technology) from USC as well as a graduate certificate in tech commercialization from the USC Marshall School of Business

Curiosity comes from the core of my identity. It has led me to meet some incredible individuals who have shared their passion with me because I was willing to listen. Today, I apply my curiosity in the venture capital space.

Zainab Al Sharif, is the Investment Associate at Plus VC, a venture capital firm that invests in tech startups across the MENA region and diaspora.. She has extensive experience as an Investment Analyst in the private equity and venture capital field and is passionate about contributing to the growth of the global entrepreneurial ecosystem. Previously, she worked as a Senior Investment Analyst at Dividend Gate Capital (DGC), and as a Senior Investment Analyst at 500 Startups. Zainab specializes in generating new leads for investment opportunities by collecting and analyzing data based on new and current trends. Zainab has earned her MSc from King’s College London in Risk Analysis, and a BA in Business Management with Finance and Financial Services from the University of Westminster.

Hussein Attar is the CEO of Tech Invest Com, a 1Bn SAR saudi investment firm that invests in MENA-based early-stage tech startups and private equity investments in technology companies. He founded a tech startup that was selected as one of the top 50 Arab startups by Forbes. He sits on the board of several tech companies and a member of Oqal and Falak angel investment groups. He is also a member of the Saudi Venture Capital and Private Equity Association.

Yousef is Saudi Country Lead and Senior Investment Professional at Shorooq Partners, a leading MENA focused venture capital firm. Previously worked at an internationally renowned advisory firm in Riyadh, working as a Consultant in strategy and financial due diligence. Yousef then moved to lead the business development and growth activities for a portfolio of Saudi-based companies across real estate, logistics and investment sectors.

As an Investment Professional with Shorooq Partners, Tina harnesses her passion for creating an impact by working with A+ founders with disruptive tech solutions to shape MENAP’s tomorrow. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the American University of Beirut, after which she completed her Master’s degree in International Political Economy, Finance Focus, at The London School of Economics and Political Science. Prior to VC, Tina has worked in Private Equity, Investment Banking, Law, and Insurtech. Tina recharges by practicing yoga, exercising, and spending time with family

Dr. Alrokayan is a lifelong technologist and entrepreneur. He is known by his strong background, both practical and academic, in startup investment, digitization, innovation, technology management, and strategic leadership. Utilizing a superior understanding of operations, he flawlessly orchestrates large budgets while managing world-class teams of up to 200 diverse individuals. Capable of easily identifying and evaluating risk, excels in forging relationships with senior stakeholders – Including Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ministers – to ensure the effective delivery of business value and efficiency. Supporting this is his emphasis on maintaining an atmosphere of continuous improvement, mentoring budding technological leaders to retain and develop top-tier talent. With a wealth of experience leading digital and business teams throughout Saudi Arabia and across the globe, he constantly strives to empower leaders and entities in the ecosystem of entrepreneurship through innovation to multiply their economic and social impact.

Reem Qawasmi is Ibtikars CFO-in-Residence, a role through which she works closely with Ibtikars portfolio on financial planning and management. She is also a frequent organizer, mentor, and speaker in entrepreneurship events. Before joining Ibtikar, Reem worked at the Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship at Texas A&M University. There, she mentored student founders at University’s business accelerator. Previously, over a four-year period, Reem provided financial and management consulting services for Palestinian startups. As Senior Auditor for EY and PwC, Reem led teams working on audit engagements for various institutions, including commercial banks, service companies, and non-profit organizations. Reem has an MBA from Mays Business School at Texas A&M University and an Accounting and Business degree from Birzeit University.

Vijay Tirathrai is the Managing Director at Techstars Hub71 based in Abu Dhabi. He is an active investor with investments in over 30 early stage tech companies. As a serial entrepreneur, Vijay founded several companies including manufacturing of safety helmets, association management, event production and a VC fund in S.E. Asia. Vijay built his early career in senior executive roles namely in fashion retail, clothing manufacturing and real estate development. Prior to his current role, he was the Global CEO and Chairman of the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) based in Washington D.C. Throughout his career, he has taken up leadership and board roles such as the Young President Organization (International), Richmond University (London, U.K.), and the 16th Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.