Mohamed Tohami is a bestselling author, 6x Stevie® Award-winning entrepreneur, and the Middle East’s leading voice on passion-driven entrepreneurship.
For more than 20 years, his books, programs, and talks have helped thousands of people rethink success, build businesses around what they love, and create lives with more freedom and impact.
At the heart of all his work is one core belief: Freedom of Choice — the freedom to choose how you work, how you live, and what success means to you.
Amal Enan is a multi-asset investor and institution builder with over two decades of experience deploying capital across public and private markets, fixed income, real estate, venture, and fund investments in emerging markets.
Amal serves as Chief Investment Officer of the American University in Cairo’s Endowment, where she constructs and oversees a diversified portfolio spanning multiple asset classes with the dual mandate of preserving intergenerational capital and sustaining access to education. Alongside this, she is a Partner at 500 Global, a USD 2.4 billion venture capital firm, where she leads the country’s operations early-stage investments in Egypt across sectors.
Amal’s most distinctive expertise lies in identifying and backing first-time fund managers. As Executive Director of the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund — which she joined as its first employee and grew to over USD 300 million under management — she seeded four first-time fund managers, providing not just capital but the institutional scaffolding needed for emerging managers to scale. This work positioned EAEF as one of the most consequential catalysts for private capital formation in Egypt.
Prior to EAEF, Amal built her investment foundation at the International Finance Corporation, structuring debt and equity transactions across MENA infrastructure, and at the leading regional investment bank, EFG-Hermes. She also served at Egypt’s Ministry of Finance, where she shaped macroeconomic reform policy and engaged international institutions on sovereign fiscal matters.
Amal holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Master’s in Environment and Development from the London School of Economics, and a Bachelor’s in Economics from Cairo University. She is a CFA Charterholder, a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum, a MELI Fellow at the Aspen Institute, and a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She is the founder of The Lotus Collective, dedicated to women’s access to finance and climate solutions. She serves on the boards of One Bank, The Suez Canal Container Terminal, UEFFIC, and SmartCare Medical.
An Egyptian construction engineer and entrepreneur, who launched Egypt’s first online content magazine with the intention of sparking happiness at a challenging time for the nation in 2011: what started off as Disalata, evolved into Tayarah in 2014 to become Egypt’s first untraditional advertising boutique and veteran content hub that he co-founded and currently heads as Managing Director, where he continues to mindfully add value to brands and targeted audiences through innovative creative formats and optimized productions, and collaborations with Egypt’s most acclaimed brands, agencies, and celebrities.
Leveraging on his passion for storytelling and impacting people and societies, in 2022, Bassiouni embarked on his first hosting experience through an original round-table digital format, “Khatwetein Li Wara, aimed at inspiring aspiring Egyptian entrepreneurs by providing proof that dreams are attainable through showcasing the raw, humane, and authentic stories of some of the most acclaimed businessmen in different industries across the country.
Bassiouni has an aptitude for scouting talent, both, on the corporate and creative levels, where he has a record of nurturing skills through training and creative incubation before directing them into areas of growth and sustainability.
Head of Fintech & Startups Partnerships Digital Banking Innovation & Retail Support
Saib Bank
Egypt
I am a results-driven fintech leader and innovation strategist dedicated to bridging the gap between traditional banking infrastructure and the rapidly evolving tech ecosystem. Currently, I serve as the Head of FinTech and Startup Partnerships at SAIB (Société Arabe Internationale de Banque), where I spearhead the integration of cutting-edge technologies—such as AI/ML models, automated supply chain financing, and next-generation onboarding frameworks—to drive scalable institutional synergy and bank-wide digital transformation. Throughout my career, I have held pivotal leadership roles at prominent financial institutions, including Arab Investment Bank (aiBANK) and ALEXBANK (Intesa Sanpaolo Group). In these positions, I successfully managed P&L portfolios, spearheaded high-performing retail asset divisions, and designed comprehensive wealth and bancassurance propositions. Driven by a commitment to financial inclusion and forward-thinking governance, I actively contribute as a member of both the Federation of Egyptian Banks (FEB) Fintech Committee and the Saib AI Committee.I hold a BA in Commerce from Cairo University and am a dual-certified professional from The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII - London). By fostering agile, data-driven collaboration, I focus on transforming core operational processes and scaling mutually beneficial commercial solutions that unlock sustainable business growth.
Title: Founder and CEO Carerha
Jessy Radwan is the founder and CEO of Carerha, a female focused career platform empowering women economically and fostering inclusive workplaces. With a degree in business administration and economics from the American University in Cairo, Jessy has built a successful career in sales, business development, and marketing, working with leading companies such as Palm Hills, Orascom Development, and Inertia.
Driven by a passion for promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace, Jessy founded Carerha to bridge the gender gap and create a more equitable work culture. Carerha provides comprehensive courses, programs, and events designed to enhance women’s qualifications for the job market or empower them to start and scale their own businesses. Furthermore, Carerha offers a range of employer services for companies in order to contribute to fostering diverse and inclusive workplaces.
Cem Tarık Yüksel has been serving as the General Manager for North Africa, Levant, and Iraq at Unilever since April 2024, based in Cairo, Egypt. In this position, leveraging his 38 years of experience, he leads the company’s strategic direction and operations across a diverse and rich region, with a focus on sustainable growth, advancing organizational capabilities, and strengthening Unilever’s presence in one of its most dynamic markets.
He has served several years as Gulf Countries Managing Director from 2016 and served as different managing director positions in the region. Earlier, in 2009, he was appointed Vice President of Customer Development in Türkiye. During this period from 2010 until 2020 , He had a dual responsibility serving as Customer Development Lead for the NAMETRUB (North Africa, Middle East, Turkey , Russia , Ukraine, Belarus and Central Asia ) region, where he advanced market strategies, drove sales growth, and strengthened customer relationships.
Earlier, in 2006, Yüksel served as Vice President of Human Resources for Turkey, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Iran, where he shaped HR strategies with a focus on talent development, employee engagement, and building high-performing teams. In 2003, he took on dual roles as Vice President of Technology and Vice President of Planning and Logistics for the Operational Group Ice Cream and Frozen Foods Europe at Unilever, overseeing operations, planning, and technological advancements.
In his earlier stages of his career, in 1998, Yüksel was appointed Supply Chain Director for Algida Ice Cream at Unilever Türkiye. He began his career with Unilever in 1987, holding various supply chain management positions in Turkey and Italy, where he gained broad operational expertise in logistics, planning, and manufacturing, experience that shaped the strategic yet hands-on leadership style he continues to apply today.
Yüksel holds a degree in Electronics Engineering from Boğaziçi University and an MBA from Istanbul University. He further enhanced his expertise through post-graduate studies in Digital Business at Columbia Business School and MIT Executive Education. He is the ex-President of Futurist Association and Consultancy Board member currently.
Nada Shaheen is the Managing Director of
GB Ventures, the corporate venture capital
arm of GB Corp, one of the leading industrial
groups in the Middle East and Africa. As the
first Egyptian woman to lead a corporate
venture capital fund in Africa, she plays a
pioneering role in bridging corporate
innovation with high-growth startup
ecosystems across emerging markets.
With over a decade of experience in
entrepreneurship, venture capital, and
innovation, Nada has worked with
institutions including the Central Bank of
Egypt and the European Union, and now
leads strategic investments across fintech,
mobility, logistics, and industrial
technologies. A serial entrepreneur, she
brings an operational lens to investing and
actively mentors early-stage founders across
Egypt and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Nada is a member of Global Women in VC
and a frequent speaker at leading
international technology and investment
forums across Africa and the Middle East.
Omar El-Shenety is a Managing Partner at Zilla Capital, a leading investment bank in the MENA region. With 20 years of experience in investment banking and strategy consulting, he leads a team of seasoned bankers to deliver value-added solutions to clients across various sectors and markets.
He holds a Global Executive MBA from Columbia Business School and London Business School, a Master of Laws from King's College London and a Bachelor’s degree in economics from the American University in Cairo.
El-Shenety is an Adjunct Faculty at the American University in Cairo, where he teaches finance and economics. He is also a Research Consultant at the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies, where he focuses on the connection between economic developments and financial markets.
He is passionate about analyzing and addressing the key economic issues facing the Middle East region and regularly publishes articles and reports in various media outlets and platforms. His mission is to leverage his expertise and network to support the development and growth of the region and its people.
Dalia Abou Omar is an Egyptian entrepreneur, TV anchor, and media professional working at the intersection of entrepreneurship, technology, and the future of food. She is the Founder of Proteinni, a food technology company transforming the protein industry through innovation in processing, preservation, and access to high quality protein products.
With a long standing career in media and a deep engagement with Egypt’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, Dalia has worked closely with founders, investors, and innovators, gaining a first hand understanding of what it takes to turn ideas into businesses.
Her work today focuses on bridging media, business, and technology while exploring how innovation can address real world challenges and create scalable opportunities across the region
Belal Zahran is the Chief Revenue Officer at Foodics overseeing the company’s revenue strategy, commercial growth, and regional expansion across key markets, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Kuwait, and Jordan. Since joining Foodics in August 2021, Belal has played a pivotal role in driving the company’s growth and strengthening its regional presence. Before serving as Chief Revenue Officer, he was the Regional Managing Director of Foodics Egypt & the UAE, where he led commercial expansion, built strong teams, strengthened customer and partner relationships, and developed growth strategies tailored to each market.
Belal began his career in banking, working with HSBC and CIB for five years before transitioning into the startup ecosystem. In 2012, he joined Bayt.com, where he climbed the ranks to become Country Manager for Egypt, leading the company’s strategic and operational activities.
Belal holds an MBA from ESLSCA Business School in Paris. Passionate about the F&B industry’s potential, he believes in technology’s role in driving business growth, improving restaurant operations, and supporting the sector’s digital transformation across the region.
Nour El-Shaeri is the Founder and CEO of IA — Investment Analyst AI, an AI screening and evaluation layer built for venture funds and accelerators, and Chief Business Officer of GATEIT, where he leads the commercial side of enterprise AI deployments. He leads startup and venture capital coverage at Arab News, the Middle East's leading English-language daily, reporting on the founders, funding and policy shaping the technology economy across Saudi Arabia and the wider region, and serves as Strategic Communications Director at PACEHAUS. His work sits where capital, technology and narrative meet — turning information into intelligence, and intelligence into decisions that hold up under scrutiny.
International Shooting Coach & Former Olympic Athlete specializing
in 10m Air Pistol and 25m events with over 18 years of experience.
Proven success in training elite athletes for Gulf, Arab, Asian, World
Cups, World Championships, and Olympic competitions. Holder of
ISSF C & D Coaching Certificates, with strong expertise in
performance analysis, training program design, and mentoring
athletes of all levels (youth, junior, senior). Skilled in guiding local
coaches, implementing modern coaching methods, and fostering
athlete motivation to achieve excellence.
I am Dr. Ayat Abdelhady, holding a PhD in Health Club Management. I am also the Founder and Owner of A90 for Health Services.
I have more than 15 years of extensive practical experience in the health and fitness industry, with a strong background in the management, operation, and development of health clubs and fitness facilities.
In addition to my professional experience, I have conducted and contributed to several studies and research projects related to the management and development of health clubs and the fitness industry. This combination of academic knowledge and practical experience has given me a comprehensive understanding of the industry and its operational, managerial, and developmental requirements.
Dr. Mohamed Kholief is the CEO of Integrated Knowledge Dynamics (IKD) and a senior consultant specializing in AI business integration, innovation, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, strategy, and emerging technology ecosystems. With a strong foundation in agile methodologies and professional certifications including EFQM, COBIT, and ITIL, he has contributed to major digital and innovation initiatives across government, startups, manufacturing, financial services, culture, and the sports and entertainment sectors.
His expertise increasingly extends into SportsTech and esports, with a focus on the intersection of artificial intelligence, immersive technologies, digital platforms, gaming, and sports innovation. His work encompasses the development of technology-enabled sports and esports ecosystems, VR and simulation-based experiences, digital fan engagement, innovation-driven business models, and the application of AI and data to improve sports operations, experiences, and commercialization. This combination of technology strategy, entrepreneurship, and ecosystem development positions him particularly well to advise sports organizations, federations, startups, investors, and governments on the emerging SportsTech economy.
As a board member, lecturer, and strategic advisor, Dr. Kholief contributes to digital culture, innovation, and transformation at both national and international levels. He has led strategic initiatives across Egypt and the Middle East, strengthened digital and entrepreneurial ecosystems, supported technology commercialization, and fostered international collaboration between governments, industry, academia, startups, and technology partners.
His experience with international organizations including UNDP, USAID-funded programs, and GIZ demonstrates his ability to navigate and lead complex, multi-stakeholder projects in international environments. His academic credentials include a Doctorate from Maastricht School of Management, complementing his extensive professional experience and strengthening his leadership in AI, digital transformation, innovation strategy, entrepreneurship, and SportsTech.
Clinical Nutrition Consultant Researcher of Human Genetics, NRC Acting head of Nutrition Program, MSA University President of GPNA
MSA university
Egypt
Clinical Nutrition Consultant Researcher of Human Genetics, National Research Centre (NRC)
Acting head of Nutrition Program, MSA University
President of Giza Physicians Nutrition Association (GPNA)
MARWA ABOUELSEOUD
GENERAL MANAGER | ALEXANDRIA ANGELS
Angel Investing • Investor Relations • Startup Ecosystems • Strategic Partnerships
EXECUTIVE PROFILE
Marwa Abouelseoud is the General Manager of Alexandria Angels, an angel investor network connecting investors,
entrepreneurs, startups, venture capital firms, family offices, corporates, and ecosystem stakeholders across Egypt and the wider
MENA region. She leads the network’s strategic direction and operations, with responsibility for investor engagement, deal flow,
partnerships, and ecosystem development, focusing on expanding access to capital for high-potential technology and technology-
enabled startups.
Her experience spans business development, investor relations, entrepreneurship, strategic partnerships, startup ecosystems,
and investment. At Alexandria Angels, she works across the investment journey - from startup sourcing, screening, and due
diligence to investor engagement, fundraising, and post-investment support. She also develops relationships with financial
institutions, corporates, government entities, development organizations, and regional ecosystem partners to facilitate
investment opportunities, strategic partnerships, and cross-border collaboration.
INVESTMENT & NETWORK HIGHLIGHTS
30+
3
2
EGYPT • MENA • GCC
REGIONAL REACH
PORTFOLIO STARTUPS
FULL EXITS
PARTIAL EXITS
LEADERSHIP & ECOSYSTEM IMPACT
Capital Connect
Marwa leads Capital Connect, an investor engagement
platform bringing together angel investors, VCs, family offices,
corporates, founders, and ecosystem leaders. Through
investor matchmaking, startup showcases, networking, and
strategic discussions, the platform is designed to create
meaningful investment relationships and connect regional
capital with entrepreneurial opportunities.
Mint Incubator
She also oversees Alexandria Angels’ involvement in the Mint
Incubator, supporting startup incubation, investment
readiness, investor connectivity, and ecosystem engagement.
This work helps identify promising entrepreneurs and
strengthen their access to investors and the wider business
ecosystem.
Regional Partnerships
Her work extends across regional and international initiatives
involving investors, founders, financial institutions, corporates,
government institutions, development organizations, and
international partners. These engagements help build stronger
bridges between Egypt’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and
regional and international investment networks.
Speaker & Judge
Marwa has contributed to the entrepreneurship and business
ecosystem as a speaker and judge at Gulfood, and has served
as a judge at WAM and in U.S. Embassy startup initiatives,
evaluating entrepreneurs, innovative businesses, and
emerging startup opportunities.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Angel Investing • Investor Relations • Startup Investment Readiness • Business Development • Strategic Partnerships • Ecosystem Development •
Cross-Border Investment • Entrepreneurship • Stakeholder Engagement
EDUCATION Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, 2001
MARWA ABOUELSEOUD • EXECUTIVE
Reine Metlej is an award-winning entrepreneur, environmental engineer, and consultant with extensive regional and international experience in entrepreneurship, sustainability, and innovation.
As an entrepreneurship expert and startup trainer, she has designed and delivered training, mentoring, and capacity-building programs for startups, entrepreneurs, and business support organizations across the region. She works closely with entrepreneurs to strengthen their business models, develop practical strategies, and transform ideas into sustainable and impactful ventures.
Reine is also a sustainability consultant specializing in ESG, circular economy, waste management, and sustainable development. Through her work, she supports businesses and institutions in developing innovative, resilient, and future-ready solutions while creating meaningful environmental and social impact.
Her work sits at the intersection of entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability, empowering businesses and entrepreneurs to turn challenges into opportunities and build solutions designed for long-term impact.
AzizSara Aziz is the founder and CEO of Safe Egypt, anorganization dedicated to promoting child protectionand empowerment since its inception in 2012. Sheholds both a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree inPsychotherapy, along with a specialized Diploma inCounseling Sexual Abuse Survivors. With over 14 yearsof experience in child protection, womenempowerment, and mental health, Sara is a certifiedtrainer and counselor for children, adolescents, andfamilies.As a passionate author, Sara has published a series ofchildren's books addressing critical topics such assexual abuse awareness, anti-bullying, healthyrelationships, and sex education. Under herleadership, Safe Egypt has developed variousedutainment and psychological well-being resources,including: “Safeelings Game”, “The Elephant Journal,and other numerous tools and games designed forchildren, youth, and adults. Her focus on practical,family-oriented solutions empowers parents,caregivers, and educators to nurture a healthy,resilient generation. In 2024, Sara was elected as an official member of theNational Council for Childhood and Motherhood andshe also serves on the youth committee of theNational Council for Women.
Coach Ehab Nosseir | Mental Performance Coach for athletes
Mind under pressure
Egypt
Ehab Nosseir is a Mental Performance Coach for athletes and the founder of Mind Under Pressure (MUP), a coaching practice focused on the psychology of performing under pressure. His approach centers on investigation rather than generic motivation: understanding the athlete, identifying the pattern behind a performance problem, forming a working hypothesis, and developing the specific mental skill that closes the gap between training and competition.
Ehab brings a rare combination of perspectives to this work. He is an ICF-certified coach (PCC Candidate) with a background spanning strategic operations, business development and commercial strategy across multiple industries. He is also a lifelong competitive athlete with roughly two decades in competitive water polo and current participation as an active Masters swimmer; which means his coaching is tested from inside the arena, not only from behind a desk.
Through Mind Under Pressure, Ehab works with competitive athletes across swimming, waterpolo, football, fencing, squash, kickboxing and other sports in Egypt and the wider MENA region, and is increasingly exploring how athlete data, physiology and technology intersect with the psychological processes that shape performance under pressure. He holds an MBA in Marketing and a BSc in Computer Science.
Nataly is an Investment Principal at Seedstars International Ventures, covering MENA & South Asia. She has +5 years of professional experience across venture investing, spanning fintech infrastructure, B2B SaaS, and vertical AI. She leads end-to-end investments across India, MENA, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and built Seedstars' India investment presence from the ground up. She works closely with the fintech portion of the portfolio and has originated relationships with LPs including DFIs, sovereign investors, and institutional funds.
Dr. Nancy Naguib is a Business Development and socio-economic development strategist with more than 15 years of experience across Egypt and the MENA region. Her expertise spans business development, entrepreneurship, health and community development, institutional strengthening, youth capacity building, women’s economic empowerment, sustainability, organizational growth, and the design and implementation of development programs across multiple sectors.
Throughout her career, Dr. Naguib has worked with leading international and national organizations, including Pathfinder International, GIZ, USAID, UN Women, the World Bank, the European Union, ILO, Oxfam, AUC, Shell Social Investment, and Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population.
She currently serves as Head of Business Development Consulting at the Business Development Institute (BDI), where she leads strategic partnerships, consulting initiatives, learning programs, and capacity-development projects supporting organizations, enterprises, NGOs, and social ventures.
Dr. Naguib is a consultant specializing in business development, leadership, gender mainstreaming, and organizational capacity building. She holds a Doctorate and Master’s degree in Business Administration from the United Kingdom,
I’m Ahmed hamoda ceo & Cofounder of Joudran company specialized in building warehouses and darkstores across the region starting from Egypt to ksa , Emirates and Bahrain
We help most of the big names in the market of q commerce to build there infrastructure’s in a short time and other services related to operations and 3PL support ,Ai , through a lot of other companies we owned and all related to q Commerce sector
Founder and CEO of GBarena, leverages 17+ years of tech and product expertise to shape the MENA region's gaming landscape. Originally founded to connect gamers, sponsors, and organizers into a thriving esports ecosystem, GBarena has scaled through key acquisitions and partnerships. Today, the platform is expanding its impact by integrating gamification into new frontiers, particularly through educational gaming and school-focused initiatives.
Omar Ellaithy is an entrepreneur and business leader with a background in banking and a passion for building businesses that create meaningful impact.
Today, Omar is the Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Babyfit Academy, an infant swimming academy focused on introducing children to sports and building the foundation for a healthy, active lifestyle from as early as two months old.
Omar began his professional journey in banking at CIB (Commercial International Bank) before transitioning into entrepreneurship and pursuing his passion for building and developing businesses.
A graduate of Cairo University’s Faculty of Commerce, English Section, Omar’s journey reflects his belief in turning ideas into meaningful experiences and businesses that create real value for people and communities.
Nehal Helmy is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Flend, Egypt's first licensed digital NBFI dedicated to SME finance. An economist by training, she brings over a decade of experience spanning entrepreneurship, financial sector development, public policy, and international finance.
Before co-founding Flend, Nehal served as Economic Advisor to Egypt's Minister of Investment and International Cooperation, where she led Egypt's engagement with leading international financial institutions, including the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank, EBRD, OECD, and AIIB. She played a central role in negotiating a US$4.5 billion budget support package, shaping investment and financial sector reforms, and advancing Egypt's sustainable development agenda.
Earlier in her career at the World Bank Group, Nehal led financial sector development initiatives across the Middle East, focusing on expanding access to finance for MSMEs and affordable housing finance in Egypt, Jordan, and Yemen.
Recognized as one of the region's leading female innovators, Nehal was selected for UNDP's Women Innovators Program and IFC's SheWins Arabia, which recognize high-potential technology entrepreneurs driving sustainable impact across the Arab world.
She holds an MSc in Economics from the University of Barcelona and is passionate about building technology-driven financial solutions that unlock growth for underserved businesses.
Youssef Mohsen is an Egyptian entrepreneur and a pioneer of the esports industry in Egypt and the wider region. As a founder of Anubis Gaming, the first professional esports organization in Egypt, the Middle East, and Africa, he helped grow the organization from a small startup into a championship-winning team with world and regional titles, securing major partnerships with brands like Mercedes-Benz and Vodafone along the way.
Today, he is the Founder and Managing Director of Quantum, a premium ecosystem that combines education, esports, talent management, and events to transform gaming in Egypt into a structured and professionally valuable path for young people. Through Quantum, he is working to bring coding, AI, and esports programs to youth across Egypt, turning something millions already love into real skills and opportunity.
His experience spans business development, sponsorships, operations, events, and talent management, built on a track record of taking ideas from the ground up and scaling them.
Dr. Amany Eissa is VP of Artificial Intelligence at Keheilan Asset Management, where she leads AI strategy and conducts due diligence across the fund's deep-tech and capital-markets investments. She is also Co-Founder and Head of Business Development at the Egypt University of Informatics (EUI) in the New Administrative Capital, and an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Computing and Information Sciences. At EUI she founded the university's Centre of Entrepreneurship & Innovation and its Careers & Employability Center. She mentors founders and early-career talent across both. She holds several advisory positions and contributed to Egypt's National AI Strategy workgroup, bridging applied machine learning, venture investment, and higher education. She holds a PhD in Data Science and a Private Equity & Venture Capital Diploma from AUC, and works fluidly across the MENA region and Europe.