THE LEADING TECH FESTIVAL FOR EMERGING MARKETS

Hossam Abdallah is a serial entrepreneur, educator, and mentor with a passion for helping startups and SMEs succeed. As the director of programs at Cultiv LLC, he has successfully led numerous incubation and acceleration cycles, helping early-stage companies overcome the challenges they face and achieve their goals. Hossam is a frequent speaker and contributor on entrepreneurship and innovation, and his expertise in business development, marketing, and sales is highly sought-after. He is passionate about helping young people learn about entrepreneurship and pursue their dreams, and he is excited to moderate this panel discussion and share his insights with the audience.

As a business owner, serial entrepreneur and financial strategist with over 15 years of experience Osama works with businesses to optimize profitability and reduce financial waste. He has focused his career on working with businesses of varying sizes, ranging from start-ups and midsize organizations to those generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue per year. Osama’s approach is candidly direct, honest, and to the point. Using his extensive experience he is able to quickly assess a company’s financial model and identify key areas that need to be addressed.

Chandni Jain is a Partner and Executive Coach at Abraar Advisors, a management consulting firm catering to clients across all industry sectors within Asia, the Middle East, the US, and UK. An MBA with a career spanning over 20 years, she has held leadership roles in two WPP Group companies and served as the CEO of Social Innovation Park Singapore. She is keen on enhancing entrepreneurial leadership performance through specific tools and techniques grounded in Emotional Intelligence. An ICF (International Coaching Federation) Certified Executive Coach (ACC), and a Certified Six Seconds’ SEI® EQ (Emotional Intelligence) Coach, she coaches executives across diverse geographies. An author and a literary enthusiast, she has published 10 books under the name Chandni Kapur. Her published work has been cited in peer-reviewed publications.

Karim Helal is a successful entrepreneur, having founded and managed a wide range of startups, ranging from Import/Exports to online web applications, and the latest being construction technology, ProTenders. Karim was raised in the UAE and later moved to Canada to pursue his career further, first earning a Bachelor in Electrical Engineering from Polytechnique, then working as a Project Manager for Ericsson Canada and onward to achieve an MBA from HEC Montreal. As the Co-founder and CEO of the prominent construction tech platform ProTenders that was launched in the year 2011, Karim was responsible for setting the vision and direction of the platform while also ensuring viability of the business. Under Karim’s vision and direction, the SME quickly grew to be the most popular business intelligence and e-Tendering platform across the Middle East, with over 18,000 member companies, 60,000 listed projects, and over $45 Billion worth of bids processed. Karim has also been an active member of the UAE Entrepreneurial scene by being an active mentor in over a dozen startups, including at incubators & accelerators such as Seed Startup, Startup Weekend, Flat6Labs and Founders Institute. He was recently named as on the Top 50 Construction Tech Entrepreneurs by the Global Builtworlds.

Investing in MENA based early stage startups – Seed to Series A

Talal Bijjani is a co-founding Partner and currently heads the corporate practice at the firm. Talal has more than 17 years of experience as a business and transactional lawyer. He has been acting for clients through out the region on negotiating and managing strategic sales. Talal specializes in the areas of banking and finance, capital markets, project finance, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, commercial and corporate law, and corporate structuring. He advises boards and senior management on corporate governance.

MBA + Engineer with 22+ years in Technology consulting, Financial services and Insurance Currently advising Startups in the US, India & UAE. Ex-Startup Co-founder of an insurtech Startup in the US. Work with multiple Startup accelerators and an Advisory board member for Startups.

Rabeb is an accomplished technologist with a passion for innovation and a proven track record of bringing exceptional products to market. Her career journey began as a software engineer, then she transitioned into the role of a Product Manager, and since then, Rabeb has excelled in crafting product strategies, managing cross-functional teams, and delivering innovative solutions that solve real-world problems. Rabeb is an internationally recognized speaker. She has graced numerous stages, both virtual and physical, sharing her wealth of knowledge in technology, product management, and innovation. Her ability to articulate complex concepts with clarity, coupled with a passion for engaging storytelling, sets her apart as a compelling speaker. Rabeb is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. She works towards empowering and promoting others.

Ludwig Lindermayer counsels and represents clients on trademarks and patents. He is focused on start-ups and SMEs, also regarding strategy and enforcement in Asia – esp. China. Ludwig is a mentor for the Abu Dhabi SME Hub, several startup-incubators and a consultant to the IP-Office of Singapore. Ludwig started his career with an apprenticeship as a mechanic. A French/German Master’s program followed. For several years, he counselled government agencies in the UAE and also participated in a Sino/German exchange program for IP-attorneys. He is a guest lecturer on IP-topics and privately gets his hands oily restoring historical vehicles. He is a patent and trademark applicant himself.

Avneet is a Founding Partner at Encubay, a female-focused startup network that helps women accelerate business growth by providing them access to mentorship, premium networking, and fundraising opportunities to scale up their ventures.

Enakshi Madan Roy, CFA Enakshi has over 15 years investing experience in early-stage companies on listed equity side in London and Chicago. Since moving to Dubai, she is an active angel investor, a start-up mentor and a VC scout. Enakshi is Expert in Residence at SHERAA and a mentor at Flat6Labs. She is also Investment Director and Executive Committee member of 2022 Female Angels, where she brings together her passion in angel investing and improving investment awareness among female investors. She has a particular interest in the Fintech and sustainable investing and is currently an ESG Advisor and Advisory Board member of The Social Loan Company.

I am the Founder and CEO of Tech Talent Hub, a global People and Culture consultancy company specializing in working with tech companies worldwide. With over 12 years of experience in People and Culture, my career has predominantly revolved around the tech industry, where I’ve acted as strategic business partner to the business. Over the last seven years, I’ve worked in in-house roles as the Head of People and Culture within tech startups. In these positions, I’ve played a pivotal role in establishing People and Culture functions from the ground up and building teams that have fostered business expansion and growth. My experiences and expertise have revolved around helping tech startups grow their business by building high performing teams and nurturing the organizational culture.

Danyaal Abdul-Khaliq is the Director of Innovation at e& enterprise where he is responsible for the developing the company’s presence in & relationships with the technology innovation ecosystem. He has 9+ years of experience across venture capital, strategy, investment banking & operational roles.

Growth Strategist with 20 years of experience in Sales (B2B/B2G) and Marketing across EMEA region covering varies industries. Certified AQ Coach, committed to helping individuals and organizations navigate the challenges of the modern world, and always looking for new opportunities to make a positive impact.

With almost a decade of experience in the digital marketing industry, Ahmed is a seasoned professional with a passion for entrepreneurship. He possesses a unique blend of creativity and technical expertise, enabling him to navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape with ease. His entrepreneurial spirit drives him to identify and capitalize on emerging market trends, constantly seeking innovative ways to connect with target audiences and translate fresh ideas into successful marketing strategies. As the founder of VAST Marketing, a marketing agency that empowers businesses to thrive online, Ahmed shares his expertise and insights through industry  events, helping others achieve their business goals.

Dorra is a seasoned Product Lead with over 8 years of experience, making a transition from engineering to the role of Senior Technical Product Manager at AWS. Renowned for crafting innovative products and mentoring aspiring managers, she has made significant contributions at AWS, Trivago, TESCO, and Also Group. Dorra passionately shares her distinguished knowledge as a speaker at global conferences such as Women inTech, Product-Led Berlin, and Grace Hopper. She is also a dedicated coach and lecturer at Product Academy. Dorra’s journey is emblematic of influence in technology and innovation, leaving a lasting impact on the product management landscape.

Victor is a business and digital executive who is passionate about digital, startups, the tech world and any emerging tech in general. Started as an entrepreneur at a very young age (20), since then, 2 exits, 10 investments, 2 Non-Executive roles and many failures. As a consultant, he has been developing brands through digital, social, CX, and now Web3 and AI strategies across Europe, Middle East and Africa. Founder Institute mentor and advisor across UAE, Qatar and Tunisia.

Ayman guides government and corporate organizations in understanding AI and Web3. He applies strategic insights to transform the visions of senior leaders into tangible, executable projects. His focus on operational transformation and technology integration, particularly in AI and Blockchain, helps government and corporate organizations achieve their objectives and drive sustainable growth. 

As an accomplished financial executive, I bring 25 years of expertise in steering financial strategy and optimizing organizational performance for medium and large organizations. With a proven track record in financial and tax leadership, i am considered as a strategic thinker and planner.

I am Co-Founder/CEO at Equisy, a platform that connects early-stage startups with investors, mentors, and resources. With over 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur and a VC scout, I have a passion for identifying and nurturing high-potential startups in various domains, especially fintech, cybersecurity, and edtech. I leverage my extensive network, market insights, and strategic partnerships to offer tailor-made solutions and guidance to startups, helping them overcome challenges and achieve their goals. I also connect them with the right investors, crafting compelling investment narratives and facilitating trust and transparency throughout negotiations. My commitment extends beyond the deal, providing ongoing support and mentorship for long-term success. I am driven by a vision to create a lasting positive impact on the startup community and society at large.

Anastasiya is an accomplished PR professional and business advisor who leads Dubai-based communications consultancy Sherpa Communications. With more than 16 years of expertise developing and executing all aspects of public relations and marketing campaigns, she provides senior counsel to brands of any size and structure helping them achieve business objectives and meaningful results through the strategic use of communication.

Yasmen is a Digital Growth consultant at Google and specializes in onboarding high-potential businesses onto the exclusive Google Growth program. She has an MSc in International Marketing from King’s College London. She has previously worked in various consulting, advisory, and business development roles across industry verticals, where she helped with growth in the Middle East and Africa.

Catalyzing Early-Stage Impact Ventures | Trade & Economic Corridors Enabler | AI & Decision Science Transformation Architect for Enterprise & GovTech

I am a seasoned entrepreneur with a rich and diverse career spanning over 15 years, encompassing a wide spectrum of industries including startups, Advertising, Classifieds, E-commerce, Automotive, SaaS, B2B, B2C, Commercial Software, CRM, and Cyber Security. My professional journey has exposed me to various sectors, cultivating a deep understanding of their unique challenges and opportunities. My passion for entrepreneurship thrives in fast-paced environments, where I relish the opportunity to craft innovative solutions to complex problems. This relentless drive to innovate and learn has been a cornerstone of my career, propelling me to constantly seek new horizons. In my capacity as a business advisor and relationship builder, I have honed my ability to spot disruptive technologies and anticipate emerging market trends. My strength lies in dissecting intricate market dynamics, meticulously assessing risks, and cultivating strategic partnerships that empower visionary entrepreneurs. My goal is to facilitate connections, ensuring that these entrepreneurs have access to the resources necessary for their ventures to thrive. I’m also dedicated to bridging the gap between entrepreneurs and investors. With an extensive network and a knack for crafting compelling investment narratives, I connect entrepreneurs with the right investors, fostering trust and transparency throughout negotiations. My commitment extends beyond the deal, providing ongoing support for partnerships that lead to long-term success. I am committed to the pursuit of excellence, leveraging my extensive expertise to fuel the growth and success of businesses and entrepreneurs across diverse industries. My dedication to the world of entrepreneurship is unwavering, and I look forward to contributing to the continued advancement of innovative ventures and market disruptors.

Zeeshan is a UAE-based entrepreneur and business development specialist with over fourteen years of experience, who has served as a catalyst for delivering targeted solutions for clients based in over 69 countries. He possesses varied exposure and experience across multiple product-based and service-based industries with a demonstrated ability to extract results in a multicultural and multi-functional environment. After completing his MBA from a Global top 10 university, Zeeshan has been working for the last 5 years in the flex space (coworking) and corporate services industries. This has enabled him to closely work with startups, SMEs and corporates on a diverse range of support activities like market entry, feasibility studies, partnerships, and more.

Nihal Shaikh is an award-winning communications leader and business strategist scaling exceptional brands and building thriving communities. She currently heads global communications and strategic projects at NYU Abu Dhabi’s startup accelerator, startAD, where she has been instrumental in developing the brand since inception, powering a global community of 450 + startups, 650 investors, 30+ corporations, and 16,000 collaborators, furthering UAE’s transition into a knowledge-based economy. Nihal is an advocate for social innovation, has been recognized on PR Moment’s 30 Under 30 list, and has been a mentor for women business owners through UN Women, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, and the Cherie Blair Foundation. She is passionate about creating opportunities for social innovation and for the youth and women to participate in the economy and is a sought-after coach for emerging startups, and students of communications and marketing.

A strategic advisor and mentor to 100+ start-ups and SMEs globally – from the idea stage to Series B, C, etc. Mainly tech: AI / ML / DL, Comp. Vision, IoT, AR/VR, RPA, Drones, Robotics, Crypto, NFTs and across finTech, insureTech, ag-tech, smart retail, e-commerce, industrial, medtech…

An Award winning, experienced Chief Executive Officer, Keynote Speaker, Marketing Guru, Master Trainer, Serial Entrepreneur & a go to market expert with a demonstrated history of working in the marketing and advertising industry. Skilled in Marketing Management, Negotiation, Business Planning, and Market Research. Strong business development professional with a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) focused in Finance and Financial Management Services from AAST. Founder & CEO of the award winning INETWORK Middle East, Managing Partner of Talents Tailor & INETWORK Creative Labs, Senior Partner at Brooz – KSA, Professor of Business Administration at Matn University College of Technology (MUC) Lebanon and, former Special Events Manager at KidZania Cairo. A Guinness World Record Holder and an International Visitors Leadership Program – IVLP USA April 2018. Mazen is also a motivational speaker in Egypt, UAE & the Middle East. He is also a Certified Google Trainer of Trainers in Digital Marketing. He has been working as Head of Special Programs and Media Department (Strategic Marketing Unit) at the Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport, and many respectable multinationals such as Allianz, British American Tobacco, Jazzercise and The Little Gym. A talented serial entrepreneur and a Marketing Guru that does not take no for an answer and managed to establish a strong brand name to every project or challenge he handled, also managed to rank INETWORK Middle East within the top 10 Marketing Agencies in Egypt in less than 6 months, from the Top 100 Marketing and Advertising companies world wide in less than 18 months and The Most Innovative social media Management agency and The best integrated creative marketing agency in the MENA region just after 2 years. He has been chosen from the top marketing and advertising leaders worldwide at the Marketing2.0 conference 2022.

Invested over $300m into startup companies and venture capital funds during his career across Europe, the US, Asia and MENA. At Spring Studios, he leads the investment team and is responsible for all aspects across fund management including sourcing and executing investment opportunities, and portfolio management. Through this experience, Josh has worked across organisations of all sizes from larger entities (such as the Guardian Media Group and Cambridge University) to pre-seed startups.

Omer Zabit leads Shorooq’s venture capital initiatives across UAE, Pakistan, and a few other frontier markets. He is also actively involved in managing portfolio companies while driving the sourcing initiatives across the wider MENAP region. He joined the investment firm from Careem, the regional super-app, where he worked as the global head of food delivery business. Omer’s expertise in strategy, operations, and market development mainly comes from his time at the company where he directly contributed to Careem’s growth across various markets & business-lines. Prior to joining Careem, he led product & strategy functions in the leading mobile money players, Jazzcash and Easypaisa. He has an MBA from LUMS and B.E from NUST, the top business and engineering schools in Pakistan.

Faten Matmati, Founder & CEO of WeaveLines, is an accomplished startup consultant with a background in software engineering and management consulting. As a mentor in accelerators like Flat6Labs, Startup Wise Guys, and SuperCharger Ventures, she provides invaluable guidance for startups. Faten leads WeaveLines with a founder-friendly approach, delivering essential services in product management, UX/UI design, and software development. Her team aids startups in navigating the challenges of building a successful business, supporting them as they grow. With a proven track record, Faten is committed to cultivating success and driving innovation within the startup ecosystem.

Hatem is a cross-border strategic and venture capital investor with deep experience in technology and sustainability. Prior to joining SIP Global Partners, he worked as Head of Venture Capital Investment at Riyadh Valley Company, the investment arm of King Saud University where he was responsible for sourcing, due diligence, investments, investor relations and driving value-add for portfolio companies in the private and public sector. In this position, he also managed a portfolio of 19 international venture capital investments in the areas of healthcare & life sciences, information & communication technology and sustainable resources for international companies based across the US, Europe, and Asia.

Prior to joining +VC, she was with Savills, as an Analyst in the Strategic Consultancy Department in Egypt. She was actively involved in conducting market research and analysis, aiding investment decisions carried out by prominent real estate developers in Egypt and the region. Before that, she took part in the Analyst Accelerator Program at Endeavor, Egypt where she was part of the Entrepreneurial Sales and Growth team. Nour earned her BSc from The American University in Cairo, where she studied Finance and minored in Economics.

Mubariz is a seasoned legal expert specializing in tech startups and investors. He’s the founder of Carbon Law and a prominent startup lawyer in Pakistan. With vast experience, he’s advised on over USD 250 million in deals for startups, venture capital, and angel investors. Mubariz collaborates with regulators to boost foreign investment and innovation in Pakistan. His work with the State Bank of Pakistan, allowing Pakistani founders to establish foreign holding companies, has been pivotal in driving startup investments in recent years. Mubariz also supports founder education on governance and fundraising through various initiatives.

I help business founders in their quest to attract investment and scale their companies in a people forward, transparent and value-based manner.

Sanjay Prasad is the Founder of MindSphere Consulting Private Limited, a Professional Mentoring & Business Consulting Firm Incorporated in April 2012 with a focus on providing management solutions to startups and young entrepreneurs across industries. Sanjay brings to MindSphere 29+ rich years of experience in sales, marketing management and technical leadership in the high tech industry. He is a Serial Entrepreneur with four successful ventures from inception to successful acquisition to his credit. He also brings to MindSphere his entrepreneurial spirit that drives his desire to build an idea from its inception, help nurture and grow it, to a size that would have impact in the space that it was created to be in. Sanjay also sits on the advisory board of various companies in various domains to mentor and provide his management & business skills specially to start up’s and young entrepreneurs in India

Previously – Chief Revenue Officer at Foodics (KSA). Omar currently an advisor to over 100 startups across various global accelerators. Omar’s current endeavor involves pioneering Future30, a dynamic venture studio in KSA, as a General Partner. He is specialized in unlocking startups value, revenue and growth through a lean approach, with a focus on business modelling, design & Innovation. Omar is an entrepreneur with 23 years of experiences in MENA companies such as Mubadala, du, Emaar, Qatar Foundation, Qatar Development Bank, Qatar Computing Research Institute and others. Omar is building investment profiles for many startups, conducting go-to- market strategies, network effects, and matchmaking with investors for a global pool of startups. He is a member of many entrepreneurial supporting organizations and accelerators globally such as Techstars, Mercy Corps, WOMENA, Silicon Valley Syndicates Club, Syndicate angel investing club led by Jason Calacanis and Google for Entrepreneurs. In 2012, Omar won Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Young Business Leaders Award at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit

Growing up professionally in the EF Education First ecosystem, I have worked with over 100 countries across 6 continents. My extensive experience in the education marketing space has allowed me and my team to work with multiple education companies, startups, and institutions, helping them grow and scale through strategic advertising and marketing efforts around the globe. As a London-based agency, we have quickly become experts in the field. As a fully remote, global agency, we leverage our team’s presence to create culturally aware and innovative education marketing campaigns.

Daniela is a Partner at Matters2, a sector agnostic boutique consultancy based in London. Matters2 is supporting startups and SMEs with early-stage corporate finance, business structure, valuation, M&A, and fundraising. She is also a Partner at aaa/unbranded®, an online retail beauty brand, and a Co-Founder of Capital Matters2, Matters2’s investment arm focusing on early-stage investments.

Dr. Mansour Albarrak is an Assistant Professor in the Finance Department at Saudi Electronic University. He was the Dean of the College of Administration and Financial Sciences from 2018 to 2023. He is also a member of many standing Committees at the Saudi Electronic University. He holds Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Plymouth (2015). He also completed the Oxford Fintech Program offered by Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. He also attended the People Analytics: Transforming Management with Behavioral Data provided by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr.Albarrak is a mentor for startups and a consultant for various organizations. Dr.Albarrak interests include FinTech, and Financial literacy, Private equity and venture capital.

I help startups and corporate businesses take the right decisions to build, grow and measure their metrics to make sure they utilize their funds the right way. I am currently a product owner of open banking and product manager of digital wallet at Neoleap which is one of the subsidiaries of the largest bank in the MENA region alrajhi bank.

A passionate team builder, inspiring leader, and founder of successful businesses recognized by FORBES and ENDEAVOR in the GCC. With more than 15 years in business, successfully managing innovative ventures and accelerating growth with sustainable business models. Very keen in managing stakeholders’ expectations, bringing all teams to one vision of building an Innovative Digital Ecosystem in the ME.

Khalifa has wide knowledge and expertise in the local entrepreneurship investment scene since 2013. Khalifa managed OQAL angels for 5 years before moving to managing accelerators/incubators and entrepreneurship programs. Khalifa now is heading the Accelerator & Venture Studio at UnifonicX Fund

Tarek Mounir https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarek-mounir/ Founder & CEO Enhance Fitness Ex-CEO – MENAT, Deezer Ex-VP MENAT, Warner Bros. Discovery Tarek is the founder and CEO of Enhance Fitness, the largest independent provider of personal trainers in the Middle East with over 350 employees in KSA, UAE, and Qatar. Building on this success, the company is now taking its technology on a global scale. Through its unique SaaS enterprise solution, Enhance Fitness aims to target large-scale gym operators to optimise their personal training business. As the founder and CEO of Enhance, Tarek’s mission is to help people build healthy habits through the support of motivated trainers who feel that they have a purpose beyond their task sheet. Previously, Tarek held positions as Deezer’s CEO for the Middle East, North Africa (MENA), and Turkey. He oversaw Deezer’s P&L and business strategy for the region and was part of the executive management team for Deezer Global. Prior to joining Deezer, Tarek spent more than nine years with the renowned international broadcast media company Warner Bros. Discovery, where he played a key role in growing the company’s business in MENA, Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus. On a personal level, Tarek has been investing in startups since 2012 and has been part of DAI (Dubai Angel Investors) since 2016. Overall, he has invested in over 15 startups and has personally launched three companies.

Over 12 years of professional experience as an educational technology (EdTech Expert) and project manager. Her international professional experience includes working as a professional trainer for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), with different international organizations such as Talal Abu Ghazaleh Group’, Zain innovation campus (ZINC), LOYAC organization, SAGO Group, and a professional mentor and supervisor for a number of startups in Jordan, in addition I was honored to be a judge in many entrepreneurship competitions with many international organizations such as hult prize, Injaz , TTI , The Tank incubator, My Startup Incubator… • In 2018, I have found Entro Gate Company to support the educational system by providing schools, students and teachers with the future kills. I supervised the development of entrepreneurship and innovation curricula, learning platforms and a number of Extracurricular programs that were approved by the Ministry of Education. Also, developed entrepreneurship unique program with the ministry of education in Jordan where we provide entrepreneurship curriculums for students inside schools to improve the educational system. • I published her first book “the journey from idea to businesses for young children to teach them Entrepreneurship and innovation inside schools. I also, supervised the preparation of entrepreneurship and innovation curricula, where it became accredited by the Ministry of Education, in addition She supervised the development of entrepreneurship and innovation curricula, for Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 8, that were approved by the Ministry of Education.

Ihab Tabbara, author, consultant, coach and mentor holds an MBA from London Business School. My passion is to provide business leaders and entrepreneurs with professional insights to help them Stand out, Scale-up and make a Positive Impact and Succeed

Ms. Neha Malhotra is Managing Partner at MeritX Ventures™, a cross-border tech-focused venture advisory. She is an internationally recognised startup mentor and investor readiness expert, angel investor and advisor to global startups. She is also the Founder of Rise Union, a community supporting women’s advancement in tech entrepreneurship. She has rich experience supporting startups across India, MENA and North America on their ‘zero to one’ journey from ideation to fundraising. Her previous experience includes being an investment banker and strategy consultant with KPMG, Deloitte and Axis Bank. Ms. Neha is a gold medalist with a Master’s degree in Economics & Management from the London School of Economics. She is a public speaker and visiting professor at various business schools, including her alma mater, the LSE’s India Centre. She is a passionate learner, bibliophile and a mixed media artist in her spare time.

X Mind Studio provides services to entrepreneurs, employees, corporate companies and acceleration programs within the ever-growing entrepreneurial ecosystem with over 17 years of industry experience. X Mind Studio, many of which cooperate with the acceleration program, has supported 500+ entrepreneurs with their consultancy staff in entering the ecosystem and growing.

A seasoned technology executive with extensive experience across diverse industries, I excel at driving innovation and building global partnerships. As the Chief Technology Officer at HEDWEY Technology Solutions, I leverage cutting-edge technologies and strategic collaborations to enhance our offerings and solidify our position in the market. As a Technical Partner at izi.TRAVEL, I devote my expertise to transforming the tourism landscape through the development of immersive, engaging, and accessible audio-guided experiences. With a strong entrepreneurial spirit, I founded ElephantClock Technology, where I identify valuable opportunities and cultivate a culture of innovation and teamwork. My background as an Engineering Manager at Digital14 and Senior Software Engineer at C4 Advanced Solutions has honed my skills in software development, project management, and leadership. Proficient in various programming languages and methodologies, I remain committed to staying abreast of industry trends and embracing new technologies to challenge the status quo and deliver exceptional results.

Mohammed is a fintech entrepreneur and startup accelerator manager with experience building and exiting successful ventures. His focus on open innovation and technology has helped him stand out in the industry. Mohammed played a key role in building and exiting Wosul, a fintech startup, and has since been dedicated to helping other startups scale and succeed through his work as an accelerator manager for an insurtech accelerator. He has a passion for mentoring startups and helping them polish their pitches, design thinking, as well as staying on top of the latest fintech trends and strategies.

I’m an entrepreneur with deep experience in AdTech, FinTech, go-to-market strategy, and business strategy.

Khaled Abu Al Kheir is a seasoned Entrepreneur who started his career as a electrical engineer and continued to reach higher positions until he was appointed as VP Engineering. Mr. Abu Alkheir experience include working with national and international enterprises including Palnet, Jawwal, Gssi (PDF) and gSoft. Mr. Abu Alkheir is the Founder of CoDoo Innovative Solutions, a startup that focused on building innovative services for the Palestinian mobile operators, also Mr. Abu Alkheir is a Co-founder of PinchPoint, the first VC backed gaming studio in Palestine. In 2016 Mr. Abu Alkheir joined Freightos as Data and Optimization Director focusing on Growth Hacking before joining SocialDice as COO in 2017. In 2019, Mr. Abu Alkheir founded Rush Gaming Ltd. a holding company for gaming centers in Palestine, with the first center opened in Ramallah July 2019. Recently Mr. Abu Alkheir is holding the position of Early Stage Financing Programs Manager at the World Bank funded IPSD Project.

An avant-garde serial entrepreneur, consultant, mentor and concept creator with a solid marketing and communications expertise with MNCs like BBDO and JWT, with a large managed portfolio of international brands. Started his 1st entrepreneurial firm ‘d_zine’ as a multi-discipline design studio in 2005; introduced his first F&B concept ‘Say Cheese’ in 2012; ‘Mission235’ the marcom and retail consultancy agency in 2015; ‘Reliban Properties’ a real estate marketing and brokerage firm in 2016; ‘AloFixit’ a revolutionary multi-purpose engineering firm in 2017; and his thrive for global impact and tech-transformation led him to establish ‘InnovatorsGate’ in early 2021, as a global ecosystem for innovation and future transformation under his US firm ‘Engajers’. His most recent creation is ‘TechStans’ a global movement that caters to empowering youth age 11-18 in their future career journey. Omar now lives Riyadh and is growing his futuristic business portfolio across the Kingdom.’

Positive John (PJ) leads the Product org at Moneywise.com and Money.ca building comparison experiences helping people making smart decisions in their personal finances journey. PJ’s background in engineering and applied statistics granted him decision-making superpowers through experimentation and he’s on track for a career milestone of 500 tests in production by 2025. PJ is also a five-star mentor at GrowthMentor where he shares his positive energy, personal experience, and network connections to founders and newcomers in the tech industry. “The Brazilian charisma and Polish work style makes him an outlier.”

Aditya has dedicated 11+ years as a Business strategy leader with awesome relationship-building skills, thus excelling in the art of stakeholder management and skilled in building businesses from 0-1 and 1-10 with a core understanding of Entrepreneurship. Believes in learning each day and growing together by collaboration. Managed high-value partner accounts to ensure smooth functioning and maintain the relations long-term. He excels in building the runway for long-term business sustainability and doesn’t appreciate desk jobs. An avid explorer believes that “Labels are for clothes, not people”. He mastered his skills in his journey of entrepreneurship and career, leaving behind the classroom MBAs of modern times and is successfully impacting the new era of skill first economy. Also, guest lecture at esteemed Organizations for Entrepreneurship and Skillset development for sustainable business harmony.

Jacob Vaidyan, Vice President in the Industry and Value Advisory team at global software leader SAP, has been working on technology led business transformation for over two decades. At enterprise software leader SAP, Jacob leads global teams working as a trusted leader and adviser for SAP leadership, customers, and the wider ecosystem to drive mutual success in digital transformation. To his engagements, he brings a breadth and depth of experience working with leading global brands where he finds synergies between technology and business drivers. He is a mentor and investor in startups and a publisher author on Digitization. Jacob can be found on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobvaidyan/ and his twitter/X handle is @JacobVaidyan.

Mona Zoet, founder and CEO of RegPac Revolution, has over 20 years of experience in the Financial Services Industry within the Legal, Risk, and Compliance areas of top-tier Financial Institutions around the globe before becoming an entrepreneur. She started RegPac Revolution more than five years ago to build an ecosystem collaborating with public/private and connecting the dots globally. RegPac also educates and advises about Regulatory Technology (RegTech) and helps startups scale and expand into SEA. Mona is a frequent guest speaker at several conferences in Asia and globally and she holds various RegTech Committee Memberships (SFA, IRTA). She has contributed to several publications, including “The Legal Aspects of Blockchain,” a book published by the UNOPS focusing on the legal implications that blockchain can unlock. Mona furthermore shares co-authorship for the books #RegTech Blackbook and #RegTech Blackbook “The Sequel,” which highlights all the latest developments in RegTech.

Jennifer is a leader of Impact & ESG standards within private markets and an ecosystem builder within the sustainability space. She is the Founder & CEO of Reimag.in. She has worked at the UNDP, Bain Capital and other entities to define, create and push ESG and Impact strategies. She was a founding team member of SDG Impact, a program launched by UNDP to mobilize $1 Trillion USD in private capital towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Ilke Karabogali is an entrepreneur in digital space with more than 15 years of experience implementing and leading customer success, growth and marketing strategies for SaaS businesses.

Chike Okoli is the Cofounder/CEO of EduMESS, a software platform dedicated to empowering K-12 educators across Africa to identify and improve the learning outcome of students. He also founded School Management Institute, an academy designed to guide school proprietors through a transformative 6-week School Growth Accelerators program, leading to their certification in school management and adept utilization of Tech/AI tools. Driven by his deep-seated passion for educational reform, Chike is on a mission to improve the education system in Africa,

Ari Bencuya and I’m a serial entrepreneur and ex-partner at an incubator/accelerator. I love talking with start-ups. Understanding founder passion, dissecting business models, identifying key pain points are things I love to do.

Daniel is a seasoned startup growth specialist with an impressive record of scaling companies to the next level. Leveraging data-driven acquisition strategies, he has generated over £15m in revenue for ecommerce businesses and millions of downloads for apps. Daniel’s analytical approach underpins his success – whether spending £6.8m on paid ads to drive 4 million website hits or advising founders as a consultant. He understands the startup mindset as an experienced founder and employee himself. Daniel’s mentorship enables entrepreneurs to focus on their north star metric to achieve repeatable, sustainable growth.

I am Robin Teurlings, founder/CEO of The Startup Buddy and managing partner of the Zero Emissions Fund. My first enterprise was as a street musician at the age of 12, I started investing with those earnings at 13 and I did my first angel investment at 25. I hold a master’s degree in public policy and public administration and have worked in small startups as well as large corporates like Accenture, Altran and ING. My motto is “work hard, play hard”. I enjoy working with entrepreneurs and innovators and focus a lot of my energy on helping to mitigate climate change through my work in the field of decarbonization and sustainability.

A specialist in spatial computing and extended reality, Lionel ‘entered’ the Metaverse when his start-up iMMERSiVELY was acquired during COVID-19 to embark on the Web3 journey. Today – aside from mentoring start-ups and adjunct lecturing at universities, he also serves as the Chief Metaverse Officer at WORLDX to innovate virtual commerce in the era of Web 3 and the Metaverse.

An innovative entrepreneur with a passion for emerging technology, I am currently building Actuality, an Augmented Reality SaaS startup. As a co-founder of Rewardly and Youthconnect, and mentor at Founder Institute, I leverage my expertise in consumer tech, fintech, AR, and crypto to consistently drive growth and forge strategic partnerships. An alumnus of Antler and Founder Institute, I hold an MBA from Schulich School of Business. An avid reader focused on tech trends, I believe in continuous learning. As a two-time entrepreneur and Startup Weekend winner based in Toronto, I am always open to connecting for new opportunities to innovate and make an impact.

Tarryn is the CEO and co-founder of Kafoodle, a B2B SaaS company that supports commercial kitchens globally with food legislation and nutrition. Founded in 2014, Kafoodle was sold to a US Private Equity firm in April 2023. Previously, she spent 10 years working as a consultant in the hospitality space with restaurant and hotel groups as well as casinos. Tarryn is currently workign on the technical integration of Kafoodle into 365 Retail Markets product suite.

An accomplished senior marketeer with 15+ years expertise. Forbes influencer, speaker, mentor at Techstars. Currently specialising in SaaS.

Entrepreneur, Advisor, Growth Leader. Expert in Growth & Experimentation Processes, Marketing, Product, Fundraising. Mentored 50+ Seed to Series A startups across emerging markets, and led Growth and Acceleration Programs across 5 continents, supporting more than 250 startups in FinTech, HealthTech, EdTech, CleanTech, and more.

Engineering leader with over 18 years of experience having scaled engineering teams and tech for multiple large startups – Freshdesk, Fybr, Zoomcar, Verloop, CoLearn, etc.