• Hosam Arab
Startups founded: Tabby, Namshi
Nationality: Canadian
In 2019, Arab cofounded. Tabby, a buy-now-pay-later solutions provider with an annual transaction volume exceeding $6 billion, serving 10 million shoppers across Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E., and Kuwait. On November 1, 2023, Tabby became the fintech unicorn in the region with a $200 million Series D round led by Wellington Management, valuing the company at over $1.5 billion ahead of its planned IPO in Saudi Arabia. Arab previously co-founded online fashion retailer Namshi in 2011, which was fully acquired by Emaar Malls in 2019, to be later sold to Noon for a reported $335.2 million.
• Sami Alhelwah
Startups founded: Nana, Sadeem, Matajer, EXA Group
Nationality: Saudi
With more than 22 years of experience in technology-driven startups and businesses, Alhelwah cofounded the Riyadh-based online grocery platform Nana, where he currently serves as its CEO. Nana raised over $212.2 million in seven funding rounds as of 2023. Alhelwah also founded Exa Information Technology in January 2002, a Saudi private equity firm and a cloud service provider in MENA, which is currently known as EXA Group. The group has been investing in software and technology companies for over 20 years.
• Abdallah Abu Sheikh
Startups founded: Astra Tech, Rizek, Barq
Nationality: Jordanian
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Jan 2024 من Forbes Middle East - English.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Jan 2024 من Forbes Middle East - English.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
CONSCIOUS INVESTING
VentureSouq's cofounders and general partners, Suneel Gokhale, Sonia Gokhale, Tammer Qaddumi, and Sonia Weymuller, are actively reshaping the investment landscape. With $250 million in assets under management, the thematic fund manager is forging a distinct path, with a focus on fintech and climate tech.
VENTURING BEYOND CAPITAL
In just seven years, Shane Shin and Mahmoud Adi, Founding Partners of Shoroog Partners, have turned their startup into one of the Middle East’s biggest startup investors, with 500 million in assets under management. With ambitions far beyond venture capital, they’re now expanding further into credit markets and looking at where they can be pioneers.
ROCK STAR
WHAT IF THE REVOLUTIONARY TECHNIQUES DEVELOPED TO FRACK ROCKS FOR OIL COULD BE MODIFIED TO UNLOCK LIMITLESS CLEAN ENERGY FROM THE HEAT OF THE EARTH’S CRUST?
Breaking New Territory
Moroccan-Canadian singer and 30 Under 30 alumna Faouzia is having her biggest year yet and enjoying newfound fame in China. As her stardom rises, she’s now exploring new projects and possibilities.
5 Biggest MENA IPOs of 2024
This year has been pivotal for MENA, marked by a series of high-profile IPOs that drew interest from local and international investors. Here’s a look at the five biggest IPOs that defined 2024.
TOP VENTURE CAPITALISTS
MENA has emerged as a vibrant hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, fostering a dynamic landscape for startups.
Top Funding Rounds in MENA 2024
This year has seen some of MENA’s largest-ever funding rounds. Here’s a look at five standout deals. Only startups that were founded less than 10 years ago and had disclosed their funding rounds as of November 27, 2024, were considered.
Key Insights From MENA's Funding Landscape
MENA saw a mixed performance in the first nine months of 2024.
A Look Ahead: Travel Trends Shaping 2025
What will drive wanderlust in 2025? Here’s a look at the key travel trends set to dominate the year.
Codebreakers
Backed by 200 million in funding, 28-year-old SCOTT WU and his team of competitive coders at Cognition are building an Al tool that can program entirely on its own, potentially disintegrating the whole industry. Is its 2 billion valuation the result of a true breakthrough, or just more Al hype?
