Please note that this is in GST time.
Join HAE MENA/GCC for their official launch event, featuring an open dialogue with a diverse group of leaders from across the MENA entrepreneurial ecosystem. This moderated discussion will focus on the state of the ecosystem today, how it’s evolving, and where its’ future lies. The discussion will be followed by an open discussion.
HAE MENA/GCC chapter looks to make meaningful contributions to the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem across our region. We are starting with understanding the region’s ecosystem, its current and future players, the challenges that hinder entrepreneurial opportunities within our region, as well as those questions of interest to you.
Free
Featured Guests
Noor Sweid is the founder of Global Ventures, a UAE-based, growth-stage venture capital firm. Noor was the Chief Investment Officer at the Dubai Future Foundation and Managing Partner at Leap Ventures. Noor also founded ZenYoga, the first yoga studio in MENA, which has become the region’s largest wellness chain before exiting to a private equity firm. Noor is Chairwoman of the Middle East Venture Capital Association, Director for MIT Sloan, and was a Founding Board member of Endeavor UAE. Noor was recognized in the World’s Top 50 Women in Tech by Forbes, Arabian Business 100 Most Powerful Arab Women list, and has received the Arab Woman Award for Finance.
Yaron Samid is an Israeli-American technology entrepreneur, investor, and startup community builder. He is the founder of TechAviv, the 3K-member global Israeli startup founders club, and is the managing partner of TechAviv Founder Partners, a pre-seed venture fund, backed and powered by some of the world’s most successful company builders. Over a span of two decades he built three companies as founding CEO, including BillGuard (Acq. by Prosper) and Pando (Acq. by Microsoft), and two more as a founding board director. He lives in Tel Aviv with his family and is a regular guest lecturer at Stanford and Columbia business schools.
His Excellency Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal is the Executive Chairman of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq). His career with Shurooq began as CEO of the authority. He then became the Executive Chairman under an Emiri decree by HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council Ruler of Sharjah. Al Sarkal has led the authority by realizing the vision of HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, and established Shurooq as the driving force behind the transformation of Sharjah as a key investment, tourism, and business destination in the region. Al Sarkal led major developments, covering tourism, environment, healthcare, manufacturing, and real estate.
Hanan Harhara Al Yafei was recently appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the Abu Dhabi based global tech ecosystem - Hub71 - to drive its vision through sound strategy development and strengthen ties between public and private sector, multinational corporates, government agencies and strategic partners. Hanan is a leader with a track record of leading initiatives across multiple sectors with expertise in building successful organization structures and managing corporate change. Hanan’s latest role has been as Executive Director of Human Capital at Mubadala Investment Company responsible for all people matters for its Alternative Investments and Infrastructure Platform.