Tell us about yourself and your background.
My name is Miroslav Pergel, and I am the CEO and founder of MOQSTA. My background is not typical for a tech founder—it’s more the story of an observer who became frustrated.
For years, I observed small and medium-sized retailers in Europe. People with great products, genuine passion, and loyal customers. But they were always frustrated. Not because of their products – because of their powerlessness.
They would say things like, “I sell great offline. But online? I’m invisible.” Or, “I know my business could scale online, but the technology is too complicated, too expensive, too labor-intensive.”
That kept me awake at night.
At the same time, I saw another problem: consumers were frustrated with online shopping. Millions of web shops, endless scrolling, and no real contact with real people. Just transactions. No relationships.
Then I realized: these two frustrations are two sides of the same coin. And it doesn’t need disruption—it needs empowerment. It needs a platform that says, “You don’t need a big tech team. You don’t need years of integration. You just need the right tools.”
That’s MOQSTA.
MOQSTA began as a solution for retailers. But in building it, something larger emerged, you mentioned before this interview. You’ve said you accidentally created something much more powerful than originally intended. Can you explain what happened—and how that’s reshaping your vision for the UAE?
I have to admit that something much bigger and more powerful than I originally intended emerged unintentionally. The core platform (“EQ-Future3000”) behind MOQSTA is not only suitable for use in e-commerce, but also as a platform for e-health, e-education, e-law consultancy, PropTech, etc.
We want to establish all our platforms in the UAE.
We’re also developing “Immoblox.io” – a game-changing end-to-end white-label property sales platform purpose-built for Dubai’s dynamic off-plan market.
OK! Let’s talk about MOQSTA. Tell us more about your new venture and what inspired you to launch it?
MOQSTA is easy to describe, but profound in its intention:
Our mission: Online shopping should feel like going shopping with friends – personal, interactive, relaxed. Not cold. Not automated. Not lonely.
What inspired me was a very simple thought: “What if the retailer on the street corner in Dubai had the same opportunities as Amazon?”
Not competing in the same league – but working with the same technological capabilities or even better.
That used to be impossible. The technology was too expensive. Too complicated. Too slow to implement.
But then something shifted. AI became accessible. Video streaming became affordable. Mobility became ubiquitous. And I thought: Now is the moment.
I didn’t build MOQSTA as a “better Amazon” – I built it as “Amazon empowerment for everyone.”
Today, a retailer should be able to upload a video at 9 a.m., do their first livestream at 10 a.m., and see their first sale at 11 a.m. Not in months. Tomorrow.
Why have you chosen to launch MOQSTA in the UAE?
The UAE is not a coincidence. The UAE is strategically perfect for three reasons:
First: The market is ready.
80% of UAE consumers watch videos before making a purchase. That’s not a statistic – it’s a cry for better experiences. The market wants shoptainment, video commerce, and real connections. The demand is there.
Second: Retailers have ambitions, but barriers.
Dubai and the UAE are full of entrepreneurs. People with dreams of global growth. But they are blocked – not because of their products, but because of the systems they use. Fragmented web shops. High costs. No scalability.
MOQSTA removes these barriers.
Thirdly: The moment is NOW.
E-commerce in the MENA region is growing at 13% per year. Those who innovate now will become market leaders. Those who wait will become followers. In the UAE, the early movers will become the legends of the next decade.
Another key fact is that UAE consumers have very high expectations for customer service – it’s a cultural expectation. Video-based assistance isn’t “nice-to-have”, it’s expected. This is why video commerce resonates so strongly here.
The return rate in fashion e-commerce in the United Arab Emirates ranks very high (average of 40%), meaning that returns management is not a minor issue for retailers, but rather of existential importance for their margins. In contrast to our competitors, we provide a straightforward and comprehensive solution that won’t strain your budget.
What are the main challenges facing retailers in the UAE right now?
I speak to dozens of retailers every month. And I hear the same phrases over and over again:
– “I’m invisible online.”
That’s the first thing I hear. A beautiful store, great products, but online? The retailer is one of 10 million similar web shops. How can they become visible? With expensive advertising? With monthly fees? With uncertain success?
– “The costs are destroying my margins.”
A retailer sells something for AED 50. The logistics cost almost as much as their profit. And then the consumer comes back: “I want to return this.” Boom. The profit is gone.
It’s not the technology that hurts – it’s the economics behind it.
– “I’m caught between two worlds.”
My offline store is doing great. But online? I’d have to manage an Instagram shop, a web shop, and maybe a marketplace account. That’s not business – that’s chaos. Who manages that? Who knows how to do it? I’m a retailer, not a tech team.
– “I feel alone!”
This is perhaps the deepest problem. The retailer sees Noon & Amazon and thinks, “How can I compete with that?” The answer he hears everywhere is, “You can’t. Your only option is to sell on these platforms and submit to their rules.” That’s not entirely true. But many believe it.
How does MOQSTA solve these challenges?
I could start talking about features now. API integration. AI optimization. Video encoding. That would put you all to sleep.
Instead, I’ll tell you what a retailer really gets:
First: Visibility – not through advertising, but through authenticity
A retailer uploads a photo. MOQSTA doesn’t just display it – MOQSTA uses intelligence to say, “This ring might be interesting to someone looking for ‘vintage jewelry'” or “This bag is perfect for someone who loves ‘luxury bags.'”
It’s not complicated. It’s smart. The retailer is found not because they pay for expensive advertising, but because the right product is shown to the right person.
Second: Real connection – not automation
If a consumer has a question, they can talk to the retailer in the video. Real-time. Live.
It sounds simple. But it’s revolutionary. Because the consumer builds trust. The retailer sees a real person. And the conversion rate? It triples.
But more importantly, return rates drop by 70%. Why? Because real advice removes real uncertainty.
Third: Simplicity – everything in one place
A retailer doesn’t have to manage their Instagram shop, their web shop, and their marketplace account separately. One dashboard. One inventory. One payment system.
That sounds like a technical feature. But it’s psychologically liberating. The retailer has their life back.
Fourth: Community – you are not alone
MOQSTA is not just a platform. It is a movement of retailers helping each other.
A new retailer arrives and sees: “Oh, there are 500 fashion retailers here doing livestreams. I’m not alone. I can learn from them.” That creates a sense of belonging. And a sense of belonging is the best motivator.
What success have you had so far with the platform in Europe?
The numbers are good. 63% higher conversion rates. 70% fewer returns. But those are just numbers.
The real success stories are people:
**Eva — The Jewelry Designer**
Eva had a small shop in Vienna. Beautiful, handmade pieces. But she was invisible. Only locals came.
She came to MOQSTA, nervous, a little tech-shy. We helped her do a livestream. 47 people watched. She was nervous, a little awkward. But it worked. 11 people bought. EUR 1,200 in sales.
That was the beginning. Today, Eva streams every Tuesday. She now has customers from London, Stockholm, Munich. She is no longer a “jewelry dealer in Vienna” – she is an “international designer.”
Her story is not unusual at MOQSTA. It’s normal.
**Anna – The boutique owner**
Anna ran a small fashion boutique in Berlin. She was in financial trouble. High rent. Foot traffic was gone. Her website? Outdated.
She didn’t just use MOQSTA online – she used it to connect her physical customers online. She did livestreams from her store. New collection: “Look what just came in!” People watched. Then they came to the store.
The store became a social media phenomenon. Not because Anna was a marketing genius – but because she could be authentic.
Today? She’s hiring two new people.
What makes MOQSTA different from Amazon, Noon, or other platforms?
That’s an important question. And the answer isn’t technical.
Amazon says, “We’ll do everything for you. You just upload and we’ll sell.” That sounds great. But the price? They take 30-40% commission. They control the customer relationship. You’re a supplier, not an entrepreneur.
Noon says something similar.
MOQSTA says something completely different: “You stay in control. You keep your customers. You keep your margins. We just give you the tools to sell like a global player.”
In the UAE, where Noon has become the default marketplace and Amazon is expanding logistics aggressively, retailers are caught: sell through them and lose margin control, or build alone and stay invisible. MOQSTA offers a third path.
That’s the fundamental difference. Not features. Philosophy.
A retailer on Amazon or Noon sells products. A retailer on MOQSTA builds their community.
One more practical question – how do you handle the returns issue that destroys so many retailer margins?
That’s a very practical question. And I appreciate you asking it because that’s the reality.
A retailer here told me, “I earn AED 50 per sale. But my costs are AED 40. After the return? I’m in the red.”
That’s not a problem with your business – it’s a problem with the system that hosts your business.
MOQSTA solves this in three easy ways:
First: Genuine pre-purchase consultation reduces returns by 70%. When a customer can talk to you on video before they buy, they buy with confidence, not hope. The return rate drops dramatically.
Second: Tracking is automated.
No manual chaos. The consumer initiates a return → the system generates an automatic label → automatic refund. Everything is transparent. Everything takes 5-7 days instead of 3-4 weeks.
Third: Returns are not worthless.
A returned item does not become trash. It is re-priced and re-listed as “Excellent Condition” or “Open Box.” The retailer recovers 30-50% of the value.
It’s not complicated. It’s collectively smart.
For someone reading this who’s interested, what is the process to get started?
Step 1: Registration + onboarding = 5 minutes.
Step 2: Select membership. For merchants who register during the pre-launch phase, there will be significant discounts on memberships! The first 25 early adopters will receive a free 1-year KICK-BACK membership!
Step 3: Upload products. Photos. Descriptions. AI helps with optimization. 1-2 minutes.
Done! That’s it. The MOQSTA system does everything else!
No months of integration. No IT requirements. No “wait until our tech department sets it up.”
Just YOU and our SMARTPHONE!
You can be live tomorrow. This is not a sales pitch. This is reality at MOQSTA.
What’s next for MOQSTA in the UAE?
We are in a critical phase. MOQSTA is currently establishing itself in Europe and pre-launching in Latin America. Discussions with partners in Africa are ongoing. Now is the time for the UAE.
My focus is very specific:
For retailers: I’m looking for 50-100 early adopters in the next 3 months. Specifically, we’re looking for Fashion, Beauty, Jewelry, and Luxury Goods retailers who are:
- Currently doing AED 500K–5M annual revenue
- Have physical stores but want to scale online, or online traders who want to use innovative features
- Willing to be brand ambassadors and share their journey
- Ready to go live within the first month
For the first 25 who sign up before 21.12.2025, we’re offering a free 1-year KICK-BACK membership (normally AED 8.600/year).
These early adopters will become proof points – they will become ambassadors. They will do livestreams, tell success stories, show others how it works.
For investors: MOQSTA already has traction in Europe with proven unit economics. The UAE is a USD 50B+ opportunity. The market is growing 13% per year. Early-stage investors investing in video commerce in MENA are in a unique position.
For partners: Logistics, payments, influencer networks – I am looking for partnerships that strengthen both sides. Not transactional. Strategic.
For co-founders: This is an open invitation. I am looking for one or more co-founders in the UAE who share my vision. Someone who understands the culture, consumer psychology, and retail landscape.
This is not a job. This is a legacy building. The co-founder will be a co-creator of a movement that transforms retail in the Middle East.
Finally, what do you want to say to the readers of Bizpreneur?
I want to say three things:
First: You are not alone in your frustrations.
Every retailer I meet has the same thoughts: “I’m invisible online. The systems are too complicated. I can’t compete with the big players.”
That’s not crazy. That’s normal under the old paradigm.
Second: The paradigm is ready to shift.
The technology. The market. The consumers. Everything is ready for retailers to win. Not against large platforms – but alongside them.
Third: The first step is easier than you think.
You don’t need millions. You don’t need a tech team. You just need the courage to take the next step.
You can sign up tomorrow. You can do your first livestream next week. In a month, your numbers could be transformed.
This is not a dream. It is a possible path.
And if you’re interested in this path, get in touch with me!
Finally, I would like to say that I am here because I believe that the next unicorn in the Middle East could come from the retailer in Dubai who has the courage today to say, “I’m going to try something new.”
