The Heartbeat of Tech in MENA

Eng. Mohammed Al Rasbi is the Founder of R&D Capital and Research & Development Labs (R&D Labs), building an Oman-focused early-stage investment and venture-building platform. He has supported hundreds of startups and invested in more than 90 ventures across multiple sectors. Mohammed designs acceleration and entrepreneurship programs, applying to help founders validate customers, refine business models, and improve investment readiness. He works closely with ecosystem partners, corporates, and universities to expand deal flow, build founder capability, and strengthen Oman’s innovation economy through mentorship, structured sprints, and hands-on support.

LvlUp is one of the most active venture capital firms globally, backing and supporting over 500 startups per year across every major startup hub in 6 continents. We strategically invest from pre-seed to Series A and are industry-agnostic. Our main difference-maker for startups: a bespoke, ecosystem-forward approach when working with founders — taking companies to the next level faster.

Investor at DFDF

Aslan Sultanov is the Managing Partner of White Hill Capital and CEO of Tumar Venture Fund, the largest venture capital fund in Central Asia with over USD 35 million under management. He is also the founder of the international innovation hub Al Farabi Innovation Hub, with offices in Dubai (UAE) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).

Rinata Ilyubayeva is the CEO of Tumar Innovation Hub, AI and Data Committee Lead at the Compliance Association, and Lead of Women in Tech Astana. With over 7 years of experience in project and business management, she has successfully led large-scale initiatives in FinTech, Telecom, AI, and data-driven projects, focusing on risk management, resource allocation, and strategic delivery. Rinata is recognized for her ability to manage the full project lifecycle, build high-performing cross-functional teams, and drive innovation across industries. Her career in IT began as a Commercial Director, where she developed expertise in sales, marketing collaboration, and client relationship management. Since then, she has launched multiple IT projects from scratch and built a proven track record in IT consulting and project execution. Rinata is also an experienced public speaker, frequently sharing insights on project management, business development, and women’s empowerment in technology. She is passionate about leveraging her business and sales expertise to drive digital transformation and is committed to fostering inclusive innovation ecosystems in Central Asia and beyond.

Tech entrepreneur AI Crafter Angel Investor

At Suhail Ventures, our name embodies our mission and vision. Inspired by the Suhail star, the second brightest star in the sky, we are committed to identifying and nurturing the brightest talents in the startup universe, and guide founders through the complex journey of scaling their ventures.

Shenai Bridglall is an exited serial founder turned investor and currently Africa’s youngest solo female GP. She is the founder and managing partner of Bridg Capital, an alternative investment firm focused on backing transformative companies and exceptional fund managers. Bridg Capital runs two specialized strategies: Bridglab, which builds and scales AI native ventures, and Bridglaunch, which invests in high potential emerging fund managers. Shenai brings an operator mindset to venture and focuses on compounding value across the Middle East and Africa.

Alessandra Santi is a VC investor and founding team member of Italian Founders Fund (IFF), Italy’s first venture capital fund backed by over 100 founders, supporting Italian entrepreneurs at the pre-seed and seed stages. IFF has raised €50M to invest in 25 startups, backing founders globally and helping build the next generation of exceptional companies. Previously, Alessandra worked at J.P. Morgan in the Investment Banking TMT team. She holds a Master’s from Cornell University and a Bachelor’s from ESCP Business School. Educated across six countries and fluent in three languages, she believes in bringing international perspective to early-stage investing.

Over 15 years of international experience in building digital ventures and businesses across the GCC and EEMA. A passionate innovator & business entrepreneur.

Angel Investor who has invested in 30+ startup’s

Angel network, investing in pre-seed and seed stage startups around the world. Sector agnostic by design, we leverage the insights, experience and expertise of our roster of angels who represent multiple sectors – fintech, insurance, construction, tech, operations, legal, fashion & more! One of the region’s most active early investors – top 5 most active investor in 2024 as per Magnitt.

Founder, investor coming from construction background working on robotics , Ai saas, sustainablity

Phaze Ventures is the oldest private venture capital firm headquartered in Oman, founded in 2018 to accelerate the transformation of our region’s economies. We fund early-stage Deeptech and AI companies with a focus on the GCC and North American markets.

Please refer to LinkedIn profile

DASH Ventures (”DASH”) is one of the longest-standing venture capital firms in the MENA region, with a 13-year track record of venture investing to get early-stage tech startups off the ground.

Entrepreneurship enthusiast, venture capital investor and finance professional -also an avid scuba diver- with diverse background in energy, building materials and real estate development. Currently heading Falak Startups, investing in startups, supporting their growth and running acceleration programs

Pankajj Ghode Private Equity Leader | Architect of Frontier Economies Pankajj Ghode stands at the forefront of strategic capital deployment, globally recognized as a visionary venture capitalist, limited partner, and private equity architect shaping the geopolitical investment landscape. As the Founder of Elmirate Capital and Managing Director of Pushttie Venture Capital, he commands over $2.2 billion in assets under management across six globally diversified funds—anchored by sovereign wealth institutions, national security-aligned vehicles, and more than a dozen of the world’s most influential family offices. With over 25 years of cross-border investment leadership, Pankajj has catalyzed growth in 100+ companies across the U.S., Israel, the EU, and India—delivering capital and strategic depth to sectors critical to global stability, including defense, dual-use technologies, cybersecurity, deep tech. His work sits at the nexus of sovereign strategy, innovation capital, and industrial resilience, aligning financial performance with national and geopolitical imperatives. An advisor to governments, sovereign ecosystems, and defense R&D agencies, Pankajj has played a defining role in the emergence of new frameworks for digital sovereignty, defense innovation, and impact-driven industrial policy. Through Elmirate Capital, he has built a blueprint for sovereign-aligned private equity—where conviction-based capital drives not just returns, but regional strength, autonomy, and systemic transformation. As a thought leader in sovereign and strategic investing, Pankajj Ghode continues to expand the boundaries of private capital—bridging global capital markets with the mission of statecraft, resilience, and long-horizon value creation.

Dr. Kshitij Adhlakha is a serial entrepreneur and investor with a strong focus on technology and blockchain innovation. He works at the intersection of traditional finance and Web3, building and investing in platforms that tokenize real-world assets, design predictable yield structures, and enable scalable on-chain cash-flow models. Known for his execution-first mindset, Dr. Adhlakha actively mentors founders and backs technology-driven ventures shaping the future of decentralized finance and digital infrastructure.

I’m a Venture Partner and Advisor at a DFSA-regulated fund management company in the UAE, working with family offices and next-gen investors while building a venture capital platform backing high-potential founders with capital and expertise. I also co-founded and serve as Managing Partner of a venture studio operating in the UAE and Kazakhstan, partnering as an institutional co-founder with early-stage teams. My focus is identifying exceptional founders early and supporting them with strategy, fundraising readiness, and regional scale using the UAE as a launchpad.

Felix brings a blend of operator experience, investment judgment, and global perspective. As the Managing Partner of Aurelia Ventures, he has personally founded and scaled technology companies on four continents—Hong Kong, the UAE, India, Colombia, and the United States—giving him firsthand insight into the challenges founders face at every stage of growth. This hands-on background is complemented by a strategic toolkit honed at Harvard Business School and a master’s degree from a leading European business school.

Funding 2,000 MSMEs across UAE by 2030

MatchPlay Ventures, part of MatchPlay Group, is focused on Healthcare / Life Sciences, FinTech, and B2B SaaS. Our strategy integrates extensive sector expertise, alongside MatchPlay Group’s rigorous diligence process – ensuring we back companies with validated business models, strong leadership, and scalability.

Habib has a track record of over 25 years as a business pioneer in the Middle East and worldwide. Throughout this rich career as an attorney, strategy consultant and venture capitalist he demonstrated excellence, leadership and innovation that accelerated the growth of the hi-tech and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Palestine and among Palestinians. Habib co-founded Ibtikar Fund 1 in 2016, including establishment and fundraising, and actively managed its portfolio of 26 startups. Prior to joining Ibtikar, Habib was the Co-Founder and Managing General Partner of Al-Bawader, of Pitango Group, a first of its kind USD 50 million venture capital fund investing in Palestinian founders. Prior to that Habib assumed leadership roles at McKinsey & Co.; the leading business strategy consulting firm worldwide. Habib focused on growth strategy projects for telecom and financial service clients. During this period he led non for profit organizations targeting diversity among Israeli hi-tech firms with the goal to integrate Palestinian citizens of Israel in their ranks. Previously, Habib held consulting, strategic management and legal positions in Israel, the Palestinian territories and worldwide with IBM, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Adam Smith International and Elias D. Khoury Law offices. Habib has worked in the Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Africa and is well-regarded and connected in all these geographies. Habib holds LL.B. and LL.M. degrees from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and an MBA from Emory University in the US where he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship.

Ambar co-founded Ibtikar Fund 1 in 2016, including establishment and fundraising, and actively managed its portfolio of 26 startups. Previously, Ambar managed Palestine for a New Beginning (PNB), a Palestinian non-profit company focused on entrepreneurial development, Ambar grew PNB from an idea and a loose and small board leadership to an established Palestinian institution. Through PNB, Ambar organized the yearly Celebration of Innovation, a Palestine-wide competition of entrepreneurs, and the follow-up support to these entrepreneurs; as well as Global Entrepreneurship Week in Palestine. Through a partnership with Leaders Organization, Ambar also managed Palestine’s first acceleration program, FastForward. Ambar is a member of the 23rd class of Kauffman Fellows, and was named as one of the “50 Most Influential Women in the Arab World” by CEO Middle East Magazine and “20 Women VCs of MENA” by MENAbytes. Ambar has an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a Marketing degree from Arizona State University.

I’m an Associate Director at EQ2 Ventures, where I lead sourcing, due diligence, and execution of new investment opportunities. I work closely with founders throughout the deal process; from initial evaluation to closing and support and assist with post-investment portfolio management.

Daniele is an investor at Ion Pacific, a global VC secondaries fund manager with offices across Hong Kong, Switzerland, Qatar, and the US. He holds master’s degrees in Engineering and Finance from ESCP. At Ion Pacific, he has worked on the firm’s European deal flow while based in Switzerland and is now based in Doha.

Henry is an investor at Ion Pacific, a global VC secondaries fund manager with offices in Hong Kong, Switzerland, Qatar and the US. Prior to joining Ion Pacific, Henry worked as part of the founding team at PwC’s Ventures arm, where he played a key role in advising growth-stage tech startups on strategy, operations, and fundraising.

A versatile private equity principal and investor with over 10 years of experience in private equity investments in startups and SMEs, Samer is resourceful in sourcing and capitalizing on ventures of various sizes in numerous industries. Renowned for his acumen in identifying, evaluating, and executing attractive investment opportunities that yield sustainable returns, he has been responsible for raisinc over $60 million in financing for ventures and developinc new revenue streams and has built an extensive network of capital sources and entrepreneurs. As a skilled advisor, Samer also provides a ranae of services, including financial consultancy and investment management. Additionally, he is passionate about micro-financina initiatives, empowering aspiring individuals to achieve their financial aoals. He is recognized for his professional integrity and strong analytical, problem-solving, negotiation, and decision-makina capabilities. A disciplined cashflow-fanatic and a value investor with a forward-looking horizon.

Ozan is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor, and a former strategy consultant in the financial services practice, where he led high-impact projects shaping financial and regulatory ecosystems in the MENA region. With over seven years of experience living and working in the region, he founded an investment entity managing a diversified portfolio of assets, and has overseen multiple successful venture exits.

Dr Vibhuti Aggarwal is a General Partner at Real Time Angel Fund. She is a doctorate in Medical Genetics from JNU. She has a vast experience in the field of research and teaching and IPR. In course of time, she pivoted to Business and became an entrepreneur working in various aspects of Business Management including Finance, HR and banking by taking an active role as Director Operations for QSix India Private Limited, Realtime MCS and later on, Realtime Ventures which is an investments vehicle. She has invested into more than 30 Startups in her personal capacity. She is the founding partner at Real Time Angel Fund, which is a Sebi approved Cat 1 fund. RTAF as a fund has invested into about 100 Startups since its inception in July, 2022 and deployed about 120 Cr. She is a firm believer in India’s Startup ecosystem and its ability to drive positive transformation and bolster the ongoing expansion of our economy.

More than 16 years of experience spanning different fields revolving around SMEs, startups ecosystem and angel investing. Currently, Managing Director & CFO of Sadu Capital, a Saudi Capital Market Authority “CMA” licensed institution that focuses on Venture Capital investments. Previously, served as a fund manager at Derayah Venture a leading CMA regulated early stage VC fund in Saudi. Prior to that, headed the Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) at Elm for Information Security Company (Elm) backing early stage technology startup. Earlier, worked in the Strategic Alliances at Elm working on strategic partnerships, Joint Ventures & M&As. Also, worked in the Industrial lending market as a Credit Consultant at Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF). In addition to that, had special interest in nanotechnology as conducted own research on the subject of using nanotechnology to enhance concrete tensile strength.

MP Oliveira is the Head of Venture Investments at NeoVentures, Mashreq’s corporate venture capital fund, and Chairwoman of AI Salon, a global community of AI professionals. She has held senior roles at Mastercard, EY, and Experian, securing clients, launching products, and expanding into new markets. MP has established innovation hubs in LATAM, APAC, and MENA, and managed M&A deals worth $1B+. As an entrepreneur, she co-founded two Silicon Valley startups and graduated from 500 Startups and Plug & Play accelerators. Her expertise spans financial services, professional services, and payments, with a global reach across Latin America, US, APAC, and MENA.

Sagar Babar is a cross-border venture ecosystem builder and startup strategist, focused on Global-UAE innovation market collaboration. As the Head of Xccel Ventures, he advises startups on fundraising and Go-to-Market strategies, actively facilitating vital connections between international founders and the UAE market. His expertise and long-term commitment to the region are underscored by his status as a Golden Visa Holder. His prior experience includes key roles at T-Hub and association with Shark Tank India, among many others. He is currently on the path to launching a $15 million UAE-focused fund and building a specialized founder and investor community.

Head of Accelerator at 500 Global, overseeing innovative investment programs supporting startups across the MENA region. Holding a decade of experience in finance and the startup ecosystem as a former founder. Passionate about venture capital, innovation, and social impact, serving as a founding board member of SHIFA Health Organization, dedicated to supporting individuals in-need in Saudi Arabia while driving impact for startups, investors, and communities.

Daniel dos Reis joined Wamda Capital in 2015 as Investment Director. Before joining Wamda Capital, Daniel managed an early-stage venture capital fund for a Dubai Government entity. From 2012 to 2015, he set up and led the corporate venture capital arm of a publicly listed Saudi telecoms company. Daniel started his career as a Management Consultant advising clients in Europe and the Middle East in the Telecommunication, Media, and Technology industry. He has earned a Diplom degree in Business Administration from the University of Hamburg.

Tech Entrepreneur turned investor, I invest in early stage startups in the Middle East.

Mohammad is an innovation and strategy leader focused on how corporates engage with technology, startups, and new growth opportunities. At Arab Bank’s ABX, he drives investment-aligned PoCs, corporate–startup partnerships, and early-stage scouting across fintech and AI to unlock value for the bank and its markets. Mohammad has spent the past decade building programs, ventures, and partnerships that strengthen the region’s innovation landscape and enable founders and institutions to grow together.

Ugo Mosanya is the Founder & Managing Partner of Nexan Ventures, a pre-seed venture capital firm investing in applied-AI startups across MENA and accelerating them into globally competitive companies. He brings a rare blend of founder, operator, and strategist experience: former Co-Founder & CEO of an AI startup, ex-McKinsey consultant, and senior executive at Philips Healthcare in the Middle East & Africa. With deep technical roots and two decades across startups, corporates, and consulting, Ugo is a recognised ecosystem builder and advisor supporting accelerators, corporates, and government innovation programs.

The Lab Ventures is a Madrid-Dubai-based operational VC and startup studio focused exclusively on high-impact B2B and B2B2C ventures in PropTech, ConTech, HealthTech, Professional Services, and Robotics across the MENA and European markets. Prioritizing SaaS platforms and managed marketplaces, the firm deliberately excludes consumer tech and pure tools, instead building and scaling sustainable startups that digitize and streamline critical business workflows.

Kenza Lahlou is the founding Managing Partner at Outlierz Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on Africa/MENA. The firm backs outstanding founders at early-stage leveraging technology and the power of AI to build transformative regional of global category leaders. The fund targets key sectors of the economy, with a primary focus on fintech and AI-enabled B2B software/SAAS across verticals. Kenza is a pioneering VC investor and ecosystem builder in Africa, with a background spanning technology, investment, and entrepreneurship. Her international experience includes living and working in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the United States, in fields ranging from machine learning, management consulting, private equity, to market expansion for tech companies. She began her career as a computer science engineer in machine learning in France, before transitioning into Private Equity in Africa at Attijari Invest, following a Master’s in Strategy and International Business at ESSEC Business School in Singapore. Before founding Outlierz Ventures, Kenza worked at a boutique advisory firm in San Francisco, supporting tech startups and scale-ups from emerging markets seeking to expand into the U.S. market. This experience was transformative and inspired her to return to her home country to play a key role in building the tech ecosystem in Morocco and the continent. In 2013, she co-founded StartupYourLife, one of the country’s first ecosystem builders and network of tech entrepreneurs, connecting them with investors and mentors. In 2018, after witnessing the early-stage financing gap on the continent, she launched Outlierz Ventures, as one of the pioneer early-stage VC funds focused on Africa – backed by Michael Seibel, former Y Combinator’s CEO, with the mission of backing the “outlier” founders building category-defining businesses. Kenza holds a BS and MSc in Computer Science from INSA in France and a Master’s in Strategy and International Business from ESSEC Business School (Singapore). She completed a Leadership Executive Program at Harvard Kennedy School in 2016. Kenza is a Kauffman Fellow Class 25.

An operator-turned-investor in MENA’s tech ecosystem, with past experience across multiple industries in strategy, growth, and product. Omar has been investing in MENA and global companies over the past 3 years and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Ayat Sabbagh is a seasoned venture capital investor with extensive experience in early-stage funding, portfolio management, and startup growth across MENA. As a Principal at Suhail Ventures, she focuses on identifying and backing high-potential founders, driving investment strategy, and supporting startups in scaling.

Italian national based in Dubai. I have a keen interest in fintech, digital, and food. I have gained valuable international experience working on four different continents: Europe, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. My passion lies in scalable startups, and I have had the opportunity to work with and learn from top-notch teams at companies such as Rocket Internet, Naspers, Google, and McKinsey. I played a role in launching the first independent and global FoodTech startup accelerator in Italy, and am currently working with checkout.com, a leading global fintech company that processes payments for major online enterprises worldwide.

At Pegasus Capital Investments, we are committed to delivering innovative investment solutions that fuel growth and drive sustainable success. Backed by a team of seasoned experts, we empower businesses to navigate the evolving financial landscape and seize opportunities in emerging markets.

Intuitio Ventures is a $5 Million early-stage venture fund & Studio to back Industry 4.0 and Web3 startups in MEA. Global Venture Experience Partners bring extensive global experience, having built and scaled numerous ventures across different markets. Proven Track Record With successful exits and up to 25X returns, the fund partners demonstrates strong backing for innovative startups.

Capital Raising for VC, PE and Private Credit

Magnus Ventures, along with its affiliated companies, has a mission to enhance the availability of equity capital for promising, early-stage businesses in the MENAP region (Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan)

Since 2012, BECO Capital creates pathways that guide the bright and unstoppable to regional acclaim and global opportunity. Our compass is calibrated by conviction, not conformity. With collaborative energy and experience across market cycles, we champion founders through critical inflection points and opportunities, transforming promising ventures into industry leaders. We create enduring value, with leadership that balances ambition with humility, and vision with disciplined execution. Our institutional experience, built with purpose and intention over time, has created the foundation for a future where the Middle East’s success story commands global attention.

Swarup is passionate about networking with industry experts and supporting startups in building partnerships. Currently, he hold the position of Manager – Investments & Acceleration at IIMA Ventures, where he actively contribute to the growth of our startup portfolio companies. In addition to his role in supporting startups, he has also served in business accelerators such as iCreate (Govt. of Gujarat entity) and Wadhwani Foundation (National Entrepreneurship Network), where he planned and executed accelerator programs and campaigns, bridging the gap between startup needs and industry experts. With a deep understanding of the entrepreneurial journey, he work closely with startups, providing advisory support to help them navigate challenges and achieve their goals. Throughout his journey, he has also organized various community events, and national and international conferences, fostering a vibrant startup ecosystem.

Donatas Ditkus is an executive with over 14 years of experience in sustainable finance. He operates advisory and business development companies across the globe. His main areas of expertise include impact investing, real assets, sustainable energy, and advanced industrial technology-related fields. Donatas Ditkus is a board member and chairman of several international projects and organisations. Donatas has a background in engineering, holds a master’s degree in economics, and strengthens his skills in leading executive education programmes. In his spare time, Donatas enjoys reading, hiking, and doing active sports.

Guilherme is a Brazil-born innovation and venture capital professional based in Dubai. With 12+ years across aerospace, mobility, and technology, he led corporate innovation and venture initiatives at Embraer before becoming a Venture Partner at mobility.vc, focusing on early-stage startups in MENA and beyond.

Ivo Detelinov is a General Partner at Salica Oryx Fund – an early-stage VC fund focused on MENA region and managed by London-based VC firm Salica Investments. Previously, he was at Riyad Capital heading the firm’s PE and VC Funds business and managing Riyad TAQNIA Fund (RTF). Following the completion of an MBA degree from New York University’s Stern School of Business, Ivo joined the Financial Sponsors Group of Merrill Lynch, where he assisted in origination, diligence and deal execution global PE and VC firms in NYC and in London. Prior to attending graduate school, Ivo started his professional career at the Technology Equity Research at Merrill Lynch, where he covered Enterprise Software companies. He is a CFA Charterholder.

Principal at Iliad Partners, investing in MENA startups at the Pre-Series A and Series A stages, with a focus on horizontal B2B and B2B models in Fintech, Proptech, and Logistics.

Almoayed Ventures W.L.L. is the venture arm of Almoayed General W.L.L. The company focuses on partnering with investment professionals with a track record of supporting and scaling innovative businesses. The company also makes direct investments and supports entrepreneurs throughout their journey. To contact, send an email to [email protected]

Since 2012, BECO Capital creates pathways that guide the bright and unstoppable to regional acclaim and global opportunity. Our compass is calibrated by conviction, not conformity. With collaborative energy and experience across market cycles, we champion founders through critical inflection points and opportunities, transforming promising ventures into industry leaders. We create enduring value, with leadership that balances ambition with humility, and vision with disciplined execution. Our institutional experience, built with purpose and intention over time, has created the foundation for a future where the Middle East’s success story commands global attention.

18 years investing across emerging markets. Excited to meet founders with track record and scaleable ideas. .

Yagub Alserkal is the Founder and CEO of YAS Investments, an investment and advisory firm serving regional startups and family groups in the UAE. He is an entrepreneur with over 10 years of experience in private equity and investment banking at top-tier global firms, including Deutsche Bank, Emirates NBD Asset Management, and Mubadala Investment Company, where he helped co-manage a USD 6 billion fund. In 2018, he also founded the VAT advisory firm Themaar Group.

Sachhyam Regmi, a Managing Partner at YAS Investments, is an investment professional with more than 11 years of private equity and venture capital experience in New York, London, and Dubai, having executed financial transactions totaling USD 4.5 billion. His previous roles include heading the investment division of Millennial Capital, where he structured and closed a USD 20 million joint venture partnership, and experience at BECO Capital, M3, and BNY Mellon Investment Management. Mr. Alserkal holds a Bachelor’s degree with a Double Major in Banking and Finance from Queensland University of Technology, while Mr. Regmi holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Oxford, Saïd Business School.

Christos is the Founder & Managing Partner of Iliad Partners, a venture capital firm based in the UAE. Iliad invests in early-stage B2B tech companies in MENA and European startups expanding into the region. He has over 25 years of investment and operating experience across VC, tech startups, tech corporate and management consulting. He has spent the past 18 years in the UAE, after living in Boston, New York, Washington D.C., and Athens, Greece earlier in his career. Previously, he was Head of Business Development at Yahoo! in Dubai and an Engagement Manager with the Telecom, Media & Technology (TMT) practice at Booz & Company (now Strategy&). As a tech entrepreneur, Christos has co-founded and exited multiple startups, including GlamBox (Dubai), SloanGear (Boston) and previously held operating roles at Upstream (Athens) and govWorks (New York). Christos holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

ABRA Ventures backs founders turning breakthrough science into scalable companies. We invest early across MENA, Africa, and Europe, focusing where scientific validation meets commercial readiness. Our track record includes 20 investments, 8 exits, a 10.5x MoIC, and 121% IRR, supported by deep networks in Dubai, Casablanca, and London. We focus on Health & Biotech, AI & Data Infrastructure, Climate & Smart Systems, Agritech, and Blockchain Infrastructure. ABRA combines local access, institutional discipline, and founder empathy. If you’re building impactful deep tech.

Raed is an Early stage (Seed -Series A) sector agnostic VC looking to back exceptional founders and who are building in and for the MENA regions with a focus on KSA

Nadine Mojadidi is a venture capital investor focused on high-tech, impact-driven startups across sustainability, wellness and future economies. She sources and evaluates deals, leads due diligence, and manages a portfolio of over 10 companies with investments exceeding USD 11 million. Nadine is actively engaged in the startup ecosystem through accelerator programs, investor networks, and industry events, and frequently moderates panels on innovation, green tech, and entrepreneurship. She also contributes to national transformation initiatives through her work at KAUST and the NTI Seminar Series. Nadine is passionate about supporting founders, driving meaningful innovation, and shaping the region’s emerging tech landscape.

Siddharth Havaldar has over 8 years of venture capital investing experience focusing on early and growth-stage companies across the US, MENA, and India regions. He has a track record of evaluating and investing in technology startups operating across the software, mobility, fintech, e-commerce, and consumer sectors. Prior to joining Crescent Enterprises, Siddharth was on the startup side of the venture ecosystem in MENA.

Senior Investment Associate at Oryx Fund

A Tech Futurist and a New Age Serial Entrepreneur, Puru Modani is a versatile and passionate leader with strategic investments in Emerging Tech/ AI-ML, Space Tech, Climate Tech, Fintech, Cloud Telephony/ CRM, eCommerce & Enterprise SaaS. Co-Founder at BM Capital Family Office, he is also a seasoned angel investor having invested in 55 odd startups across sectors with significant exits. He is the founding member of Mumbai Angels (MA), Anchor Investor at MA – Hyderabad Chapter, Co-Founder – Goa Angels Network & The Marwari Angels. He also serves on the board of Incubators/ Accelarators & select few Investee companies. He is an avid sports enthusiast and serves on board of Telangana Olympic Association and Telangana Fencing Association. An IIM – K alumnus, before embarking on his successful multi-sector entrepreneurship journey, Puru served various Fortune 500 companies in Senior Leadership roles.

Michael Lints has 20+ years of experience as a startup operator and investor. Michael is a partner at Golden Gate Ventures and has launched the firm’s first MENA-focused venture fund. Previously Michael co-founded an IT-managed services startup and was a vice-chairman of the Economic Development Board Rotterdam and chairman of the Young Economic Development Board.

Hussein Attar is the CEO of Tech Invest Com, an investment firm that was established in 2005 with 1Bn SAR to invest in regional growth stage tech startups. Ex-Founder of a startup, and ex- CEO of software development company. He is now also an investment committee member of two angel investor groups, and a board member of several of the leading tech startups in the region.

Tara has over 8 years of experience across venture capital, investments, technology, and entrepreneurship. Tara is currently a Principal at BY, where she manages the investment team leading the investment and due diligence process. She is focused on advising and supporting the portfolio on multiple different streams including strategy, business development, financial planning, and future fundraising. Prior to rejoining the BY team, Tara was working in investment banking at SHUAA Capital, focusing on their SPAC business. Previously Tara was an associate at BY, where she started her career. Tara completed a dual degree holding a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (BBA) with a concentration in Finance and a Bachelor in Science (BSc) in Biology from American University of Beirut. Tara is currently a CFA charterholder.

Ghassan Noursi is the Chief of Staff at Nuwa Capital, where he works across investments, fund strategy, and operations. He has been involved in investments spanning foodtech, healthtech, proptech, and SaaS, while also building Nuwa’s internal programs and supporting portfolio companies through value-creation initiatives. His role bridges investment execution with strategic and operational priorities, helping position Nuwa as one of the region’s leading venture platforms.

Founder turned investor. Looking to invest in ambitious, restless, and obsessive Founders in emerging markets from Seed to Series A.

Dimitris Kalavros-Gousiou is a founding figure in the Greek startup and tech ecosystem. He launched TEDxAthens (with more than 450 work-renowned speakers and a cumulative viewership of 18 million views). In 2009 and later co-founded Found.ation, the country’s first accelerator and incubator, both of which played a defining role in shaping Greece’s entrepreneurial landscape. Since then, he has remained at the forefront of the ecosystem as one of its earliest and most consistent supporters. Today, as Founding Partner of Apeiron Ventures ♾️, he backs ambitious founders building category-defining companies with strong values at their core, with a particular focus on enterprise software, security, and defense.

Sion leads the ventures and investment activities at Plug and Play Abu Dhabi. From direct investments in early stage startups, to technology sourcing for corporate and government partners, Sion has interfaced with entities across the fintech, healthtech and industry 4.0 verticals. She hopes to build a thriving local ecosystem for startups of all stages. Outside of Sion’s day-to-day work, she is an advocate and advisor to female founders through the Women in VC network and supports social impact initiatives such as the TiE Women MENA Program.

Konstantin Behr is a venture capital and strategy leader with experience building and scaling investment platforms across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Southeast Asia. As Chief Strategy Officer at Utopia Capital Management, he drives growth and operations across multiple funds and subsidiaries. Previously, he was Chief of Staff at Founders Factory Africa, supporting $120m+ in fundraising and organizational expansion, as well as a founding member of Satgana, the first ClimateTech fund focusing on Africa and Europe. He holds an MSc in Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Distinction) from the London School of Economics.

Rua Growth Fund is a venture capital firm that aims to lead the next wave of tech ventures. It was born out of a unique strategic partnership between Osool & Bakheet Investment Company and iMENA Group, two pioneers in their respective sectors to lead the next wave of innovative tech ventures in Saudi Arabia

Dusan is a serial entrepreneur turned investor. He is a Managing Partner at Zero One Hundred, an early-stage VC fund focusing on investing in companies from CEE and the Middle East. Dusan is also a co-founder of The Doers Company, which is a holding company behind various projects, such as Doers Summit and Doers United. He also co-founded and sits on the board of Zero One Hundred Conferences, pan-European VC/PE conference platform connecting GPs & LPs. Based in Abu Dhabi, Dusan’s main passion is connecting the dots between Europe and the Middle East while looking for exceptional founders and talent and supporting them through their journey.