Max Avtukhov

Chief Executive
Yango Tech Retail

Max Avtukhov – Chief Executive and Co-Founder of Yango Tech, an international business that provides proprietary technologies and expertise for retailers as well as e-grocers. The company offers a universal set of tools that can help traditional retailers smoothly transition from a brick-and-mortar business model to online trade while streamlining fulfillment and delivery processes. As the CEO and Co-Founder of the brand, Max is responsible for identifying the company's expansion arenas, developing and implementing strategies to take over international markets.

With 10+ years of experience in e-grocery and related fields, Max is an accomplished entrepreneur, manager and financial professional. Prior to his current role, Max managed M&A activities at one of the biggest IT companies in Europe. He began his career at Deutsche Bank, one of the world's leading financial service providers, as an investment banking professional. Max’s motivation every day is to make a difference and massive positive impact on global industries through bringing innovation.

Max graduated with a Bachelor of Economics from MSU and is a Level 2 Certified Financial Analyst. He is also a guest lecturer to high school students, to create awareness on lifelong learning and to encourage them to pursue an education in the burgeoning technology field. In his spare time, he enjoys various sports and travelling the world to discover different cultures and interact with new people.

Abir Habbal

Managing Director - Data and AI
Accenture

As a managing director with a focus on data and AI strategy in the consulting industry, I bring a wealth of experience and expertise in leading programs at a national level. Throughout my career, I have planned and delivered many diverse projects across public sector, health, energy, mobility to achieve digital transformation and smart cities as well as power the data economy.

One of my greatest strengths is the ability to manage people, bringing teams together to achieve collective goals and foster a culture of innovation to approach challenges with fresh perspectives. In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, I focus with my team on staying at the forefront of emerging trends to drive positive outcomes for our different stakeholders, whether working with established organizations or ones getting off the ground.

In terms of regulating data and AI, I have worked with Government across GCC to develop data governance policies and standards to establish data as a strategic asset, as well as promote AI adoption in an ethical and responsible way.

Hasan Haider

Managing Partner
+VC

Hasan Haider is the Founder and Managing Partner of +VC, an early stage venture capital firm focused on investing in tech and tech-enabled startups in MENA and its diaspora. He has over 14 years of experience investing in MENA startups.

Hasan was previously Managing Partner, MENA at 500 Startups and led the firm’s growth in the MENA region, turning 500 Startups into the most active VC fund in the MENA region, raising and deploying the 500 Falcons fund, building partnerships and running programs in the region to help build the regional ecosystem. Hasan has invested in more than 220 startups in the region over the course of the last 15 years.

Prior to 500, Hasan was the co-founder and CEO of Tenmou, the first business angel’s organization in Bahrain and one of the first in the MENA region. Hasan’s work in developing angel investment in emerging markets through Tenmou has been picked up as a Case Study by the World Bank and Harvard and was taught to Entrepreneurship Policy makers at Babson College. Hasan started off his career in finance and investment banking at Sico, before he moved to Tenmou.

Aboudi Al-Qattan

Principal
DASH Ventures

I am building bridges between sport, venture, and culture, utilizing resilience, authenticity, and influence to reshape how the MENA region tells its stories, funds its future, and how athletes prepare for life beyond the buzzer.

Karim Helal

CEO
ProTenders

Karim Helal is a highly experienced entrepreneur, mentor, angel investor, and board member, having been involved in the MENA’s Entrepreneurship ecosystem for over 15 years.

As the Founder and CEO of ProTenders, a leading ConTech platform in the MENA region that aims to Digitize the Entire Construction Economy, Karim has helped streamline the way companies working in the Construction Industry get found & connect, source opportunities and manage their entire bidding process.

Since launch, ProTenders has been used by 30,000+ companies from 105 countries to streamline over AED 1 TRILLION worth of bids, and has been recognized as a Top 50 ConTech startup by Cemex Ventures.

Karim has also been an ardent member of the UAE Entrepreneurial scene by actively mentoring hundreds of startups, including at leading incubators & accelerators such as Seed Startup, Startup Weekend, Flat6Labs and Founders Institute, and is a founding board member at the Dubai PropTech Business Council.

Moyn Islam

Co-founder and CEO
BE

Moyn Islam is an entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist recognised for building ventures that merge profitability with purpose. With a career spanning SaaS, fintech, affiliate marketing and AI-enabled education, he has consistently turned ideas into global businesses that scale.

In 2018, he co-founded BE., a digital customer acquisition platform designed to democratise access to financial literacy, trading education and entrepreneurship tools. What began as a vision to open doors into the digital economy has since grown into an international ecosystem, reaching tens of thousands worldwide.

Alongside BE., Moyn has co-founded and invested in complementary ventures, including Sage Master, a fintech strategy tool for traders; DeepSage, an AI-powered decision-support platform; and WOW, an interactive education platform with live, gamified learning. Each reflects his commitment to making advanced technology practical, accessible and impactful.

Beyond business, Moyn is deeply engaged in philanthropy, supporting initiatives in education, healthcare and community development. For him, success is not measured by titles or profits but by the positive impact left on people and communities.

Adel Alfalasi

Partner and Managing Director - Middle East
KEARNEY

As Partner and Managing Director at Kearney, I advise governments and corporations on solving their most complex and pressing challenges, specializing in large-scale transformations as well as digital change and agility. I love that our work across the Middle East and Africa enacts positive change while holding true to our values. That’s the spirit of the UAE too. It’s an honor to be able to contribute to the economic growth of my country and to the region.

From serving at the UAE's Prime Minister's Office to founding the Dubai Competitiveness Council, I’ve spent my career working internationally, bridging the public and private sector. Solving problems for our clients is what motivates me, as does the smile, the thank you, and the warm handshake we get when we make breakthroughs and achieve what needs to be done.

I’m a regular speaker and panelist, an alumnus of both Oxford and Colombia Business Schools, as well as the UAE Government Leadership Program. I am the co-author of a Junctions a book that explores the new dynamics at play across the Middle East and Asia – which accounts for 45% of the global economy. I am currently working on my second book on the economics of AI.

Outside of work and family life, I practice and compete in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and I get great pleasure out of exploring the world – observing, learning and capturing nature, people and culture in photography.

Omar Khan

Principal
Oraseya Capital

Omar is an investment professional with 12+ years of experience in VC & PE investments across the UAE and USA. Over his career, he has closed $500m+ in transactions on both the buy and sell side across various deal types such as PE buyout/M&A transactions, minority early & growth stage VC investments, VC fund of funds investments and government grants. During his career, he has also supported multiple portfolio companies in an advisory CFO capacity. He is currently the Principal at Oraseya Capital managing deal flow end to end for core investments i.e. Seed-Series B stage deals.

Sammar Farooqi

VP, AI Strategy & Transformation
SAP

I turn strategy into results — building platforms, leading global teams, and driving business value through cloud, AI, and enterprise transformation.

Whether launching a new GTM motion, scaling a platform, or embedding AI into operations, I bring clarity, momentum, and measurable impact. My dual experience — driving digital transformation in-house and advising global clients in enterprise tech — helps bridge ambition with execution.

I’ve led large, cross-functional teams, shaped multi-market GTM strategies, and influenced major transformation programs. My work spans ERP modernization, AI-powered CX, platform growth, and value engineering across EMEA, APAC, and high-growth markets.

At SAP, I launched an award-winning cloud solution and led strategic GTM initiatives across product, sales, and partners. I’ve also helped C-level leaders quantify and realize transformation value through strategic roadmaps, KPI alignment, and board-level business cases.

I advise startups, coach founders, and help scale innovation into commercially viable solutions. As a thought leader and keynote speaker, I translate complexity into clear, value-driven decisions.

Focused on responsible AI, platform-led growth, and digital sustainability — with a deep commitment to value realization and outcome-based strategy.

Walied Albasheer

Founder & Managing Partner
Intuitio Ventures

Walied is a seasoned venture capitalist and serial entrepreneur who has been involved in the technology, business, and startup ecosystem for over 28 years. He is the Founder & Managing Partner of Intuitio Ventures LLC, a pre-seed venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley that builds, backs, and co-creates ventures in mobility, logistics, industry 4.0, and web3. He has a diverse background in product development, digital transformation, enterprise architecture, and customer relationship management. He has a proven track record of success in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

He is passionate about reengineering lives through sustainable technology adoption and creating positive social impact. He has been recognized as one of the Global 50 Most Impactful Social Innovators and the TOP100 Sustainable CEO. He is also a board member, advisor, mentor, and speaker in various organizations and initiatives, such as Founder Institute, ITU, MIT, and CSR Leadership Award. He has a strong expertise in mobility, logistics, supply chain, industry 4.0, and web3 domains, and has been involved in several successful ventures, such as Stationery, Inc, Inbound LLC, and Formula World Sports. He is a visionary leader who empowers and inspires his team, partners, and portfolio companies.

Saeed Alnofeli

Vice President
in5 Dubai

I love Entrepreneurship!!! “Take pride in knowing that your struggle will play the biggest role in your purpose”

Suneel Gokhale

Co- Founder and General Partner
VentureSouq

Suneel Gokhale is a Founding Partner of VentureSouq. Previously, he was Senior Legal Counsel to Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC), a large sovereign wealth fund based in the UAE, advising on global M&A, investment fund (VC, PE and hedge funds) and capital markets transactions. Prior to this, Suneel practiced in the Corporate group of Allen & Overy's Abu Dhabi office and at Blake, Cassels & Graydon in Toronto in the firm's Corporate Finance & Securities group. Suneel obtained a JD (with a concentration in business law) from the University of British Columbia, an MSc from the London School of Economics and a B.A. (Honours) from McMaster University (summa cum laude).

George Hojeige

Group CEO
Virtugroup

As Group Chief Executive Officer, George heads the licensing, corporate services, taxation and compliance, citizenship by investment, web3, Free Zone Management, and real estate operations at Virtugroup. His role involves maintaining Virtuzone and its sister companies’ position as the fastest growing business and corporate services platform in the region whilst at the same time driving regional expansion, revenue per customer, and average customer lifespan.

George has a vast array of business experience in different industries. He began his career in the telecoms industry in Canada as a process optimization engineer with Harris Microwave Communications, later moving to a United States sales director role with Savaria Corporation , the largest manufacturer of accessibility equipment in the world. In 2004, he moved to the Arabian Gulf to head the family business in electromechanical engineering and contracting, working on prestigious projects such as Burj Khalifa, Dubai Airport, and Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi. He later moved on to ITP Media Group , the largest media publishing house in the Gulf, where he was Group Sales Director for titles such as Arabian Business, Esquire, CEO Middle East and a raft of B2B titles. This position opened the doors to relationships with a veritable who’s-who of global business leaders.

George is highly commercially savvy, combining great data analysis with the confidence and agility to make the occasional out-of-the-box decision necessary to keep Virtugroup ahead of the curve. As both an ex customer and partner at Virtuzone, George enjoys a 3-D view of what makes people choose and then stay with the group.

Born in Beirut, his family emigrated to Canada in the 1980s. George is fluent in English, French, Spanish and most importantly - considering Virtugroup’s quasi-government role - Arabic. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, a graduate diploma in International Business from McGill University, as well as a Certificate in Global Business from Harvard Business School and a Certificate in Leadership from Wharton. He is an accomplished networker, confident in the presence of business and political leaders, celebrity clients, partners, and customers alike

Sarah Jones

Co-founder and CEO
Rayne

I love building things - businesses, ideas, and smarter ways of working. I’m driven by impact and relentless about challenging the status quo. For me, it’s about identifying what’s broken, what can be better, and building solutions that deliver real change.

At RAYNE, we’re redefining how legal professionals work - connecting high-calibre experts with opportunities that give them control and flexibility while helping companies solve capacity and capability challenges. What excites me most is working with brilliant people - whether it’s the consultants we collaborate with or the team driving RAYNE forward.

I’m passionate about breaking traditional career molds and proving that people can design careers that are fulfilling and aligned with their lives. We’re proving there’s a different way to do it, and it’s working.

Nader AlBastaki

Managing Director
Dubai Future District Fund

Growing up in a culturally diverse family and having the opportunity to travel to 141 countries has instilled in me a deep appreciation for different cultures and a strong commitment to embracing diversity.

My educational journey spans three continents, allowing me to draw upon a wide range of experiences and perspectives to form my unique worldview. This exposure has driven me to continuously seek a better understanding of people and their perspectives, enabling me to bridge cultural and social gaps in a positive manner.

My professional journey commenced with three years in HSBC's Corporate Banking Division, followed by another two years in the Investment Bank, where I focused on Non-Bank Financial Institutions in the Middle East and North Africa region. Working closely with major firms in the region fueled my entrepreneurial spirit, leading me to invest my spare time in six start-ups, resulting in successful exits and valuable learning experiences.

A year of mandatory training with the UAE Armed Forces prompted me to transition from banking to join Dubai Tourism, one of the world's largest destination marketing organizations. Initially, I established and developed the Strategic Partnerships team. As discussions increasingly emphasized data, my interest in this field grew, eventually leading me to pursue a master's degree in business analytics. I then shifted my focus to the data side of the tourism board, leading the Business Intelligence Function and later establishing and managing the Advanced Analytics Function, playing a vital role in shaping the tourism sector's strategy.

Drawing upon my background in strategy, economics, data analytics, and finance, along with my entrepreneurial experiences, I have actively mentored and advised numerous start-ups across various sectors through organizations such as the Intelak Incubator, the Keiretsu Forum, Unilever's Young Entrepreneur Awards, and NYU Abu Dhabi.

In the wake of the covid-19 pandemic, I joined the Dubai Future Foundation's Strategy Team, where I contributed to corporate strategy, public policy recommendations, and key projects for a highly influential public policy Think Tank. Additionally, I became a member of the Government Committee at the Capital Club, facilitating private-public dialogues and gathering insights from regional business leaders. Through my role as an Investment Committee Member, I provided support to the Dubai Future District Fund, which later led to my full-time engagement with the venture capital fund.

Farah Zafar

Co-founder and CEO
Lyvely

Managing Director and Group Chief Legal Officer
Phoenix Group

Farah Zafar is a trailblazing entrepreneur and corporate executive redefining the future of technology, finance, and social media. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Lyvely, a UAE- born platform revolutionizing the creator and gig economy by merging video calls, social media and e-commerce into one seamless ecosystem. Powered by its native currency, LVLY Token, Lyvely enables creators to monetize authentically and gamify engagement. Lyvely has been recognized as “Social Platform of the Year” by Entrepreneur Middle East and Farah Zafar was awarded as the “Innovator” by Mastercard Women SME Leaders Award.

In addition to Lyvely, Farah is also the Managing Director & Chief Legal Officer of Phoenix Group. Farah led the company’s historic IPO on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange in 2023, making Phoenix the first privately-owned crypto mining and blockchain entity to be listed in the Middle East. Phoenix is one of the worlds’ leading bitcoin miners with global operations across mining, hosting, trading, investments and its recent pivot to AI.

Farah’s career spans high-impact roles at Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Dubai Holding, where she spearheaded transformative initiatives shaping the GCC’s investment and digital landscapes, where she worked for the Ruler of Dubai and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Today, she is celebrated not only as a visionary founder, but also as a Rockstar CEO, inspiring the next generation of innovators to build with courage, creativity, and purpose.

Her mission is bold: To elevate humanity by helping people turn passion into prosperity through Lyvely’s social networking and monetisation platform, to empower millions to dream bigger and monetise their online presence, on their terms.

Awards & Recognition

• Legends of Entrepreneurship – Entrepreneur ME 2025
• 50 Visionary Women – Entrepreneur ME 2025
• Web3 & Digital Finance Trailblazer of the Year – Finance World 2025
• The Innovator – Mastercard ME 2024
• 100 Most Influential People in Dubai – Arabian Business (2023 & 2024)
• Inspiring Female Business Leaders – Arabian Business 2022
• Women of Influence in the Arab World – CEO Middle East 2021
• General Counsel of the Year – Middle East Legal Awards 2020
• Woman of the Year – Big Project Middle East 2019
• Legal CEO of the Year – CEO Middle East 2019
• General Counsel of the Year – Oath Middle East Legal Awards 2019

Ahmed Abdi Omer

VP - Customer Experience
e&

An International digital transformer in ICT marketing and business development with a wide range of experience in the core digital and Telecommunication industry starting from All major telecom verticals to Managed services ,ICT products and digital solutions.

Specialised in delivering major Business Transformation, System deployments and product & services End to end implementations.

Proven leadership skills involving managing, developing and motivating teams to achieve their objectives. First-class analytical, design and problem solving skills. Dedicated to maintain high quality standards.

.. thriving with passion, style, compassion, generosity, kindness and finally with humor.

Pooja Vithlani

Founder
Takeem

My passion is delivering products that solve hard problems and/or address high-value, mission-driven opportunities. For the last several years, my focus has been on developing high-functioning product managers, leaders, and teams, who deliver high-impact platform and product solutions that have led to extreme growth.

Seasoned and committed product management expert with 20+ years of global expertise in machine learning-powered optimizations, omnichannel initiatives, and launching large-scale platform innovations across both early-stage and mature technology companies.

Proven track record of leading high-performing, cross-functional, global teams to deliver ambitious product visions and exponential growth in highly competitive industries.

Passionate about developing world-class, empowered technology professionals and delivering innovative B2C, B2B & B2B2C product solutions that end-users love and keep coming back to.

Effective trainer, coach and facilitator for product & platform vision development, data-driven, scientific methodologies paramount to effective product development, and establishing strong, collaborative stakeholder partnership practices.

An outspoken advocate for female representation, career growth, and leadership in tech and promoter of women supporting women in professional ventures.

Muneeb Farrukh

Director of Product at Bayut & dubizzle
Bayut

Khulood Alawadhi

Director of Advanced Technology Services
Moro Hub

A highly committed and passionate leader with 18 years of experience in spearheading and optimizing complex Technology/IT Infrastructures and dynamic critical operational environments. I'm passionately devoted to driving transformative change and achieving tangible outcomes in innovative organizations. With proven track record, I've successfully implemented strategic government initiatives and have led multi-functional teams through digital transformations to meet demanding business requirements and enhance organizational efficiency. As the Director of Advanced Technology Services at Moro Hub, I lead the development and management of AI-driven solutions, digitization initiatives, and data services, overseeing the creation of innovative products and technology solutions. My focus is on ensuring alignment with strategic objectives to drive innovation and support the digital transformation of Dubai’s government, public, and private sectors.

Hans Henrik Christensen

Vice President
Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus FZCO

Passionate about building ecosystems and seeing them thrive with international teams. Years of international success founding and operating businesses. Known for leading and creating high-performance teams in challenging environments. Well positioned as an experienced mentor, investor and program leader in corporate and governmental entrepreneurial initiatives.

Manal Rifki

Venture Partner
IVC Fund

Manal Rifki is a Venture Partner at IVC Fund, a leading Taiwan-based VC backed by entertainment heavyweights such as Bandai Namco, Sega Sammy, SBI, and Animoca Brands. IVC has invested in over 200 companies, playing a pivotal role in shaping the next wave of entertainment, media, and digital culture innovations.

In addition, she is Director of Strategy & M&A at Rakuten, the Japanese conglomerate, where she leads strategic Acquisitions and growth initiatives across Telco, AI and digital ecosystems.

Manal is also an established academic and policy advisor. She lectures in Entrepreneurship and Digital assets at Tokyo International University and has conducted in-depth research on Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) through her Doctoral studies.

As a seasoned public speaker, she has delivered keynotes and participated in over 100 stages worldwide, sharing her insights on investment, venture capital, digital transformation, and financial innovation.

Manal is the upcoming Book of Innovation in Islamic Finance (Routledge, 2025), and previously co-founded Klumi Ventures, the first fully regulated Web3 VC in ADGM, specializing in early stage Web3 startups.