Tell us about yourself and your background My name is Sara Rana. I was born and raised in Oslo, Norway, to parents who immigrated from Pakistan in the 1970s. I hold a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Oslo. After graduation, I spent eight years working for Kripos (the Norwegian National Criminal […]
In recent years, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has emerged as a hotbed of startup activity. According to MAGNiTT’s 2023 MENA Venture Investment Report, the region saw over $3.2 billion in VC funding across nearly 600 deals, with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt leading the charge [Source: MAGNiTT, 2023. Initiatives like […]
In today’s hyper-connected economy, it’s tempting to believe that scaling a business is just about product-market fit, sleek design, and solid digital spend. But in the Middle East, businesses that survive while the others truly thrive are often distinguished by one crucial factor – cultural fluency. If you’re launching a startup, running a digital agency, […]
Tell us about yourself I’m Tim Al-Ghraoui, CEO and Founder of SpareSpace.io. I’m Canadian-Syrian, and my background is in law, but I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I was born and raised in Doha, and have been living in Dubai for over 8 years, so I know the region inside-out. SpareSpace.io is the result of […]
When I arrived at the CSP Group ME offices in Dubai, I wasn’t expecting to be greeted with such warmth. But that’s exactly what happened when Lisa van der Watt, the company’s relocation manager, welcomed me with her signature South African friendliness and a cup of coffee that could rival any Cape Town café. “You […]
Tell us about yourself, your background and your journey to founding Valetcart. Over the last 15 years, I’ve been obsessed with technology, e-commerce, and above all – digital customer experience. I launched my first e-commerce startup back in 2006. Later, I spent a decade running my own digital agency where we automated online sales for banks […]
In today’s founder economy, social capital is as powerful as financial capital—yet often undervalued until you need it most. The difference between a slow moving start-up and one with momentum could very well be stronger social capital: the trusted networks, sounding boards, and thought partners behind the scenes. As traditional hierarchies dissolve, the modern founder’s […]
When you’re the one making every decision, who helps you see what you’re missing?Even the most visionary founders need a space where they don’t have to lead, pitch, or prove—just think clearly. Startups are built in boardrooms and brainstorms—but they thrive in moments when founders choose clarity over chaos.A founder coach isn’t a luxury; they’re […]
In the world of startups, scaling is not just about growing bigger. It’s about growing smarter, faster, and more strategically. Every founder wants to hit that sweet spot where their startup takes off like a rocket, but few know how to navigate the tricky phases between early success and true scaling. If you’re in the […]
In today’s capital markets, speed and precision define success for emerging ventures. Startups no longer win funding by casting a wide net—they secure it by aligning tightly with the right capital partners, delivering institutional-grade narratives, and executing with with the right systems and infrastructures in place. Too often, founders face fragmented investor pipelines, generic pitch […]
