Startups Arabia

Asher Siddiqui is a tech investor with a global career spanning 25+ years, having made 100+ investments valued at $15bn+.

Asher is a General Partner at Sukna Ventures, a MENA focused early-stage VC Fund that backs exceptional teams building the software & data infrastructure layer enabling the digital transformation of industries across the MENA region.

Asher started out in the late 90’s as an entrepreneur and software engineer building J2EE B2B SaaS products (1998-2006), followed by 10 years (2006-2016) in corporate M&A, as Head of M&A and CVC at Etisalat Group (now e& Group - c.$65bn market cap) where he led $15bn of M&A and CVC (founding board member and chair of the IC at iMENA Group) deals and then switched to VC when he joined the global leadership team at 500 Startups (now 500 Global) in San Francisco (2016-2019).

Since then, Asher was involved with the development of several VC firms including Sukna Ventures in the MENA region, Lumikai Fund in India, Zayn Capital in Pakistan, Race Capital in Silicon Valley, etc..

Asher Siddiqui is also a GP coach and advisor to several VC fund managers (GP’s) and sits on the advisory board of several VC firms, including: FootPrint Coalition Ventures (led by Robert Downey Jr. - USA), Merus Capital (led by the former Head of Corp Dev at Google - USA), The Treasury (led by the cofounders of Betterment and Acorns - USA), among others. 

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Asher's LinkedIn account: @Asher Siddiqui

Sukna Ventures’ Website: https://suknaventures.com/

Ismael Belkhayat is the CEO and cofounder of Chari. He’s a serial founder who is a notable figure in the Moroccan tech ecosystem. After his time in consulting at the Boston Consulting Group, Ismael founded two companies that would kickstart his entrepreneurial career: the Venture Builder Wib.co, a startup studio, and VotreChauffeur, a leading ground transportation company in Morocco later acquired by Avis Car Rental. After gaining significant traction and recognition, Ismael went on to found Sarouty, a marketplace that facilitates real estate deals, helping people to rent or buy property across Morocco.

Within two years, Sarouty became the leading real estate platform in the country and partnered with Propertyfinder, a prop-tech startup, to scale its tech and expand to additional locations.

White serving as a Board Member for all of his previous ventures, Ismael was inspired to start his most recent company to address digital transformation in the consumer-packaged goods category. In 2020, Ismael and his wife co-founded Chari, a B2B e-commerce fintech app for retailers. Leaning on his deep expertise in logistics and marketplace, Ismael has grown Chari in size, users, and markets. Chari has succeeded in making its mark as a “Disruptor of the Year”, an award from the Africa CEO Forum, and shows positive signs of a potential unicorn status (a first for Morocco).

Ismael has a proven track record of driving business development and solution-focused ventures, and we look forward to watching where his vision and ingenuity take him next!

Want to know more?

https://techcabal.com/2022/01/21/after-two-exits-ismael-belkhayats-new-startup-is-now-worth-100m/

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Ismael’s LinkedIn account: @Ismael Belkhayat

Chari’s Website: https://chari.co/

With that we conclude the first season of the Startups Arabia Podcast. Your host, Ali Zewail, takes a moment to reflect on the podcast’s first season and the journey thus far.

Thank you for joining us and a special thank you to our wonderful guests who made it all possible.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Check us out on: https://www.startupsarabia.com/

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

Eman Hylooz is the Founder and CEO of Abjjad, the first and biggest Arabic digital reading platform. Her passion for reading and solid experience in technology inspired her to create Abjjad and embark on the journey of promoting digital reading in the Middle East. Prior to establishing Abjjad, Eman worked in the IT field, where she gained valuable experience in digital marketing. She has also worked closely with entrepreneurs in three local startups and was employed at KPMG in her most recent job. Eman is an accomplished businesswoman with a proven track record of success and has been recognized as one of the top female entrepreneurs in the Middle East.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Check us out here: https://www.startupsarabia.com/

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Eman’s LinkedIn account: @Eman Hylooz

Eman’s Twitter account: @EHylooz

Abjjad’s Website: https://www.abjjad.com/

Belal is the co-founder and CEO of MaxAB, after getting his BASs from Virginia Tech in the States, Belal decided to join his family business and worked there for 2 years before joining the famous ride-hailing app "Careem'', then he decided to walk out of flourishing career in the middle east's first unicorn to build an app that will transform the Egyptian B2B grocery market forever! In 2018, he teamed up with Mohamed Ben Halim (Co-founder and COO) and formed the e-commerce marketplace MaxAB to connect informal food and grocery sellers with suppliers and provide a wide range of services to underserved areas in Egypt and Morocco.

MaxAB is one of the fastest-growing B2B businesses in the retail industry in Egypt and Morocco. It provides local underserved merchants and mom-and-pop shops with the opportunity to grow and increase their revenues while enhancing their quality of life.

MaxAB offers two solutions, a B2B e-commerce mobile application called MaxAB App, which simplifies the process of dealing with suppliers for underserved retailers, and MaxAB Payments, a bill aggregator POS machine and mobile application that allows local merchants to accept payments for different services their end customers may look for.

MaxAB's mission is to provide reliable, easy-to-use, and innovative products and services while empowering local merchants and contributing to the sustainable development of the retail industry.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Check us out here: https://www.startupsarabia.com/

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Belal’s LinkedIn account: @Belal El-Megharbel

MaxAB’s LinkedIn account: @MaxAb

MaxAB’s Website: https://www.maxab.io/

Roberto has over 20 years of experience working for companies such as Microsoft and Google. Roberto is now the Director of Value Creation and Transformation at the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is the engine, driving the transformation of Saudi Arabia’s economy. He is passionate about innovation, startups and people, where he thrives mentoring young people across the globe - helping them develop an entrepreneurial mindset as they look to solve the world’s most pressing problems.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Check us out here: https://www.startupsarabia.com/

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Roberto’s LinkedIn account: @Roberto Croci

PIF’s Website: https://www.pif.gov.sa/en/Pages/Homepage.aspx

Romouz Sadeq is the founder & CEO of www.mrayti.com the Arab world's leading natural cosmetics store, funded by Oasis500, Oman Tech Fund and ISSF!

Prior to Mrayti, Romouz served as CPO of the #1 Arab world review platform Jeeran where she worked on: Revamping Jeeran's mobile apps on Android, iPhone, and the release of a windows phone app as well as Jeeran's mobile site. She's also recognized for her work on building the current monetization product that has been sold to over 200 clients so far. Between 2011 and 2013, Romouz was the regional marketing manager for LG Mobile where she planned and executed marketing campaigns for mobile devices and high-tech products in Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine.

Her first experience with startups was with Abjjad.com prior to and through its launch as a UX & marketing consultant. In 2012, she finally left the corporate world without looking back. Romouz holds a B.Sc degree in computer science from Jordan University.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Check us out here: https://www.startupsarabia.com/

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Romouz Sadeq’s :-

LinkedIn account: @Romouz Sadeq

Twitter account: @Romouze

Mrayti’s Website: https://www.mraytistore.com/

Omar is the CEO & co-founder of Trella, a leading regional trucking platform. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Political Economy from the University of Oregon and then went on to work at CI Capital as an Investment Banking Analyst for three years. After this, he joined Uber as the Community Operations Manager in Cairo and then transitioned to serve as the Launch and Expansion EMEA Manager in the UK, where he set up the operations for UberEATS across EMEA in Dubai, Cape Town, Riyadh, and 40+ cities in the UK. He left Uber in 2018 to co-found Trella.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Check us out here: https://www.startupsarabia.com/

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Omar Hagrass’s LinkedIn account: @Omar Hagrass

Trella’s Website: https://www.trella.app/

Ayman S. Ashour is the Founder and Principal of Newton

International Management, an advisory and investment firm

focused on technology with special focus on mobility, payment,

identification and security markets since 2000.

Ashour served as Chairman and CEO for Identiv, (US:INVE,

FRANKFURT:INV) which he joined in January 2010 following the

combination of Bluehill ID and SCM Microsystems. Ashour earlier

founded Bluehill ID AG, an RFID technology company in 2007.

Ashour’s professional experience includes several executive

positions within the security and identification technology

industries. He has served as CEO of Assa Abloy’s Identification

Technology Group (ITG), where he was responsible for building

one of the most successful RFID companies. He was Regional

Managing Director of Williams PLC. In the Asia Pacific region,

where he was responsible for the Chubb Security, Kidde and Yale

brands in Asia as well as the global operations of Guardforce and

the Chubb Physical Security Group. Ashour earlier served as

President of a number of Kidde units in North America, Global

Marketing Director of Kidde in the UK.

Ashour has B.Sc. in Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Diploma

in International Arbitration Law and serves as Adjunct Lecturer at

Suffolk University in Boston, MA where, he has been teaching M&A

at the Sawyer Business School for their MBA program since 2004.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent

founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired

by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they

see.

Check us out here: https://www.startupsarabia.com/

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Ayman Ashour's LinkedIn account: @Ayman S. Ashour

Ayman Ashour’s book recommendation: 

In an Antique Land, Amitav Ghosh

Newton International Management’s Website: http://www.newtoninternational.com/

Tambi Jalouqa is the CEO and Managing Partner at Propeller, the Jordan-based venture capital firm. He was on the founding team at POSRocket which ended up being Propeller’s first exit. Tambi is passionate about all things product, from customer discovery, refining the user experience and all the way down to system architecture.

We talked to Tambi about his opinions on regional opportunities, why he thinks product comes first, and the startup ecosystem in Jordan.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Check us out here: https://www.startupsarabia.com/

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Tambi Jalouqa’s LinkedIn account: @Tambi Jalouqa

Tambi Jalouqa’s book recommendations: 

The Design of Everyday Things, Don Norman

The Hard Thing About Hard Things, Ben Horowitz

Thinking in Systems, Donella Meadows

The Power Law, Sebastian Mallaby

Propeller’s Website: https://www.propellerinc.me/

If you are interested to learn more about Mansaf:)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansaf