Investments
In 2020 I joined the founder of Transform VC, Raed Masri as a partner. Together we planned and implemented a strategy to invest in impactful tech. Our aim is to nurture 1000 tech founders who would impact a billion and make a billion. I have long believed that technology companies must maintain a triple bottom line and report on their impact on the planet and people as they do on profit. The companies I personally invested in over the years have a social or climate impact.
Current and past personal investments:
Ample
Vectara
MINT + LAUREL
A marketplace for artisanal goods made with love and social impact. Co-founded with Mai Barazi and Kinda Hibrawi.
Emonovo
An edTech platform, the first in the Middle East and North Africa to use technology and data to match MENA youth to the best-fit majors and universities around the world.
AYA ANIMATIONS
A children’s media publishing company founded by Sara Sawaf. Produced an animated series titled Aya and Yusuf, rooted in the culture of the Levant, providing values-based learning for children ages 6+.
BarakaBits
The first Middle East digital publishing platform focused on positive news. The site gained rapid popularity for its unique, short and visually engaging content.
Tawasul
A social enterprise providing placebased education to reconnect youth with their natural environment. Tawasul ran programs across 20 UAE schools engaging over 500 youth through diving to learn about the natural underwater world.
Baraka Advisors
A full service digital agency providing PR, Digital Marketing and Advisory services to nonprofits and forprofit businesses with a social impact and/or cause marketing campaigns.
Zeedna
A multi-tenant social networking platform.
Baraka Ventures
The first startup impact tech incubator in the Middle East. Baraka Ventures seeded, and mentored tech startup founders. Baraka Ventures was headquartered in Dubai, with programs across the Middle East. It operated from 2005 to 2014.
Advisory
I take on commercial projects utilizing my experience and align with my values.
Much of what I do lies at the crossroads of business development and communication strategy and is rooted over 25 years of global experience working in technology, communication and social enterprise.
Meet some of my clients
Philanthropy
My philanthropy work today is focused on education and youth empowerment. Over the last 25 years I advised, lead and supported humanitarian organizations serving vulnerable communities globally.
Established in 2015 the VIP.fund ‘Very Important Projects’ fund is a USA 501c(3) non-profit organization supporting marginalized and conflict impacted youth. Our goal is youth empowerment and employment.
edSeed, a VIP.fund crowdfunding platform caters to refugees and conflict impacted students seeking funding for apprenticeship, higher and continued education.
Other organizations I worked with in the humanitarian, education and youth empowerment space include:
Affiliations & Networks
