Ayoola is an Engineer and social entrepreneur. He co-founded Cycled Technologies in 2016 to deliver waste management products and services that help buildings and municipalities recycle more and reduce logistics expenses. Since then, he has led operations at the company and championed the development of the Cycled Self Sorting SmartBin Technology which earned him an “MIT Technology Reviews Innovator Under 35” recognition. Ayoola also holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and by virtue of his scientific exploits, he was involved in the development of the Non-contact Multiphysics Probe, which is a groundbreaking addition to the toolkit of the Human Atlas Project -- the world's most ambitious genetic research project. Prior to co-founding Cycled Technologies, Ayoola served as the Executive Director of Nordoest which was the Middle East’s Representative of Innovation Norway — the Norwegian Government’s most important instrument for innovation and development of Norwegian enterprises. He also served as the Technical Director of Nordic Innovation Hub — a cleantech incubator in Masdar City Abu Dhabi, set up as a collaboration between the five Nordic countries and supported by Nordic Innovation. Ayoola will be speaking in the founder panel about passion and mission building through his venture.

Joel Alexander is the Co-Founder & CEO of CrowdPad, formerly working where they're building the next wave of social media by ensuring that creators are able to monetize since day 1, immune to deplatforming and demonetization plays by big-tech platforms.

CrowdPad recently raised $2.5M backed by Balaji S, IVC, Ali Abdaal, FTX Ventures (Serum Ecosystem Fund) & others, was featured as one of Sifted's 13 European Web3 Startups to Watch, and was also named a top creator economy company by both Antler & SpeedInvest (not investors in CrowdPad).

His background includes working for several top European startups in the creator economy & edtech categories, he is also a bit of a YouTuber himself having hustled his way into VC & Tech by doing podcasts with YC-backed founders.

Joel will be speaking in the founder panel about passion and mission building through his venture.

Barbara Scheck is Professor of Entrepreneurship at Munich Business School / Germany and Visiting Faculty at NYUAD. She is the Co-Founder of several startups in the impact space and focuses on the financing of social enterprises, impact and mission-related investing, and impact assessment in her research.

Other significant experiences include consulting for a social venture capital fund and projects for development cooperation agencies on social entrepreneurship. This, together with the time she has spent on startup workshopping, leads her to have tangible awareness of startup roadmapping and key building blocks.

Barbara will be leading workshops in NYUAD Slush'D.

Simran is the Co-founder of BluePhin Technologies, Co-founder of Airtap, a startup Advisor, a UNGC Youth Ambassador, and a Finance graduate from the American University of Sharjah. She is a passionate, self-taught techie and social entrepreneur whose mission is to save the planet by decarbonizing our economy and pave the way for green innovation.

Simran has been featured on Entrepreneur ME, CNN, Dubai Eye, and several other sustainability podcasts for her unique journey building innovative solutions for environmental conservation. After doing several startup weekends and continuously taking part in every competition that came her way, she has since won the Sharjah EF Pitch Competition, Unilever's Young Entrepreneur Award, exhibited at GMIS, Gitex Future Stars, and others.

Simran will be leading several workshops in Slush'D x Violet Ventures and will be speaking about her experiences as a young founder in the UAE.

Dr. Bhaskar Dasgupta has extensive knowledge in the entrepreneurship and investment ecosystems in EMEA, having served as the Head of Market Infrastructure, Digital and VC/FinTech for South Asia at ADGM, and as strategic advisors for various Fintech initiatives, amongst many other roles. At ADGM, he was responsible for developing the UAE ecosystem, which saw a substantial increase in Digital Banking, Venture Capital, FinTech, and Sustainable Finance companies listed in ADGM.

Amongst the companies he serves as a Strategic Advisor for include Peregrine Digital (decentralized investment platform), RuDo Wealth (personal finance management), Masary Capital (MENA’s first Emirati owned blockchain and crypto joint venture platform), Saffe (facial recognition technology), and Sheikh Hamdan Bin Ahmad Al Makhtoum’s Private Office.

Dr. Bhaskar Dasgupta will be leading the session on the MENA ecosystem together with Devika Raveendrean and will be speaking about the UAE economy, common sectors, key customers, fundraising, and startup environments.

Devika Raveendran is the Founder and CEO of DR Partners- a boutique corporate and wealth structuring advisory practice headquartered in Dubai with presence in Abu Dhabi and Delhi. As a Private Clients lawyer with diverse experience working for global trust companies and multifamily offices, she has been actively advising family enterprises in structuring their personal and business wealth using multi-generational & jurisdictional legacy structures, engaging with members for implementing family governance, coaching the rising generation for leadership & business succession along with crafting residency & relocation plans for ultra-high net worth families.

Devika is a cross border structuring expert advising families and corporates on consolidation of complex business ownership and restructuring for externalization of ownership to create tax optimized businesses. As a strategic advisor, she has been leveraging her 15+ years of experience in legal and corporate advisory to help early-stage companies & founders optimize their market entry in the region & facilitate access to capital from her well-established network of investors.

Amongst the several entities where she serves as an Advisory board Member, Sterve is the first-ever AI-powered integrated platform in the Middle East & Africa region for MSMEs to manage their commerce and finance through one app. The other notable startup is Mirathi that uses innovative technology for safekeeping of cryptos and seamless transfer of digital legacy.

Devika will be hosting the session on the MENA ecosystem together with Dr. Bhaskar Dasgupta and will be speaking about an overview of key legal considerations for business owners in the UAE, ranging from licensing to residency.

Aman Merchant is a mission-driven serial parallel entrepreneur, futurist, investor & advisor with 25+ years of experience across 12 ventures in education, social impact, and disruptive innovation. Aman is the Chief Provocateur at Radicle, passionate about transforming industries, cities, and lives through ideating and launching ambitious platforms for solving the wicked system problems that challenge humanity today.

While co-curating RewirEd (global education summit) for Dubai Cares, he launched the MENAP region’s first Edtech collective (ReimaginED Collective), having previously managed a Global Grand Challenges program for Expo2020 & a disruptive innovation program for Dubai Airport Free Zone, curated Abundance 360 Dubai (CEO Summit with Singularity University) with Dr. Peter Diamandis, launched Epiq360 (regional e-commerce & coaching platform for wellness/longevity/peak performance), and co-founded & led Impact Hub Dubai (global entrepreneurial network for positive impact).

Aman is a member of both the Young Presidents Organisation (YPO) & Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO), he holds a 1st Class Masters (Hons) Degree from Oxford University & is also a Stanford Business School & London School of Economics alum. An Entrepreneur Mentor in Residence at London Business School since 2014, he is the MENA region’s 1st Impact Investing Fellow at AVPN, UAE’s 1st Fellow with OnDeck Edtech, as well as a certified Peak Performance coach from the Flow Genome Project. He serves on the Global Council on SDG4 and was part of the investment committee at a $100m global impact fund (ExpoLive). Flow, biohacking, venture creation, system thinking, moonshots, global education systems & edtech are some of his research and teaching interests which he is pursuing at NYUAD.

At Slush’D, Aman will be hosting workshops and sharing insights stemming from his background and passion for societal and corporate problem-solving, innovation, and technology.

Peter Vesterbacka is an entrepreneur from Helsinki, Finland, at the core of the Finest Bay Area. Branded communities co-created and initiated by Peter include the HP Bazaar, Mobile Monday, Slush and Startup Sauna to name a few. He was the Mighty Eagle at Angry Birds for many years taking that brand to unprecedented heights. Peter is also currently adjunct professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Tongji University, one of the leading universities in China. In 2011 Time Magazine named Peter one of the 100 most influential people on the planet.

HE Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal is Executive Chairman of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), an entity tasked with leading the continued transformation and economic diversification of the emirate of Sharjah.

Marwan Al Sarkal was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shurooq in 2009 at the time of its establishment as per the Emiri Decree no.2 of 2009 that was issued by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. In his capacity as CEO, he intensified efforts to drive and lead the investment and cultural growth and development of Sharjah.

Operating under the wise directives of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, and under the vision of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Shurooq, HE Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal

Played an integral role in transforming Sharjah’s economic infrastructure, diversifying markets and facilitating new investments by leading projects and partnerships across major sectors such as tourism, healthcare, environmental, logistics, real-estate, retail and light manufacturing.

Mira Tabbara is a certified life coach. She holds multiple certifications, including ACC (Associate Certified Coach) and ORSC (Organization and Relationship Systems Coaching) certified facilitator.

With a background of 7+ years in consumer behavior, she brings a deep understanding of human psychology and motivation to her coaching practice.

Mira enables individuals to gain clarity, build confidence, and overcome fear and self-doubt. She has empowered over 100 individuals to pursue their passions and successfully pursue fulfilling careers.

At the core of Mira's coaching philosophy is the belief that everyone has unique strengths and passions. She provides the guidance and support needed to transform those strengths and passions into a dream reality, helping her clients unleash their full potential and create meaningful change and have a sense of purpose in their lives.

A dynamic Co-Founder & PM of an innovative restaurant-based startup in Abu Dhabi. Yedhu's fervent passion for food and hospitality has been the driving force behind his venture. With over 3 years of rich experience in the restaurant industry, he has a proven track record of creating brands that resonate with customers, driving revenue growth, and delivering exceptional products and experiences. His expertise spans from developing customer-favorite menu items to optimizing the FMCG supply chain and enhancing in-store experiences. A collaborative leader, Yedhu excels in working with diverse stakeholders, from chefs to senior leadership, ensuring products meet both customer and business needs. Beyond his professional realm, Yedhu is also a creative and talented fashion photographer, capturing the essence of style and elegance through his lens. His commitment to continuous learning and sustainability reflects in his approach to product management, making him a valuable asset in the food tech world. Connect with Yedhu on LinkedIn and follow his creative journey on Instagram @yedhu_g.

Shamim is an EDTECH specialist, Coach and Advisor to hundreds of Startups. His mission is to reduce the failure rate in all businesses through Education and Mentoring. He started LETSRISE Academy to empower entrepreneurs to cultivate the right mindset and spirit needed to thrive in businesses. He inspired the "Guiding Principles of Entrepreneurship" that drives clarity and motivation needed to break through the endless challenges entrepreneurs face, regardless of stage and industry. He also coined the term "Failure-Based Learning", a method of teaching that develops deep learning outcomes for the audience so that entrepreneurs are not only educated, but challenged to not make the same failures.

Her role is to understand the specific innovation needs of healthcare providers, payers, regulators, and private Pharma/Biotech/Medical devices corporates in the region, identify potential bottlenecks in their digital transformation journey and finally support them in implementing relevant technology solutions from cutting-edge international startups.

Furthermore, she supports the emerging digital health ventures from the region through Plug and Play venture capital arm & invests in promising technology solutions at pre-seed & seed stages. She is also an active angel investor with more than 5 digital health startups in her portfolio.

Finally, as a FoundHER ambassador for the region & founder of a female empowerment non-profit organization (Wovid Diaries), she strives to provide the necessary support & mentorship to female founders from the region & works with key stakeholders in the field to raise awareness on the gaps that exist in female startup funding & how to address them.

Areas of interest: Innovation, Tech, Digital Health, Pharma, BioTech, R&D, VC investment, Angel investment, mentorship, education, Gender equality, female empowerment, emerging markets.

At 500 Global as the Head of Sanabil 500 MENA Seed Accelerator. Ex-founder and a startup consultant fueling my passion in supporting startups and entrepreneurs as they navigate the challenging journey of building successful businesses.

Maher Al Kaabi, a visionary leader, and a seasoned banker with over 30 years of experience in the Banking, IT industry and Family Business. He has extensive expertise in Board Membership, Islamic Banking, Wholesales & Consumer Banking, Risk Management, Finance, Operation & Technology, Sales & Distribution and Business Development. He also has deep knowledge in innovation and trends in the generation and utilization of data sets and of new technologies. Serves on board of several startup companies, a Chairman of Board of Governance of a Star International School and co-founder of Blink.

Works extensively with various ministries in future technologies, circular economy, and sustainability of family businesses by training NextGen on Venture Studio Module. He is on the advisory board of:

• UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
• Middle East Energy
• MENA Power Projects

Mr. Maher is a sought-after keynote speaker and panelist who shares his expertise and insights on various topics at events covering various topics (FinTech, Building Digital Economy (AI, metaverse, blockchain, web3, etc.), Circular Economy, Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Sustainability of Family Businesses (supervise venture studio program for UAE NextGen’s), Banking & Finance, Corporate Governance, and Investments).

He is an advisor to the Group Chairman of Al Serkal Group of Companies (165+ year old family) and serves as an Independent Board Member. He advises the Board on developing a more structured governance model and reviewing and refining the structure of the group with the objective of creating a more flexible, robust and efficient organization that will be better placed to respond to future business opportunities. He also applies his expertise in transitioning businesses digitally.

Hisham is an ecosystem builder and business consultant with extensive experience in the entrepreneurship sphere as part of top-tier startup incubators and accelerators. He has advised founders across the venture life cycle on how to build, fund, launch and grow startups in different business verticals.

Yana Abramova is a Managing Partner at Pretiosum Ventures, a venture capital firm with a particular focus on the Future of Businesses: business infrastructure your company should care about. Despite only launching Pretiosum Ventures in 2019, she has already had a number of high-profile exits within the portfolio.

Prior to launching Pretiosum Ventures, Yana worked in a $1.5bn investment fund and advised start-ups on their expansion into the UK.

She sits on the Cambridge Judge Business School Alumni Board.

Yana is multilingual and speaks five languages, including French, Spanish and Mandarin.

Mustafa is a visionary leader, Co-Founder, and CEO of EYouth Company, a prominent educational organization in Egypt that has positively impacted the lives of over 1,800,000 students, equipping them with essential skills for the labor market. With a team of more than 190 employees and a valuation of over 18.5 million USD, EYouth has established itself as a leader in the education sector.

Mustafa's educational journey includes earning an MBA from AASST in Egypt in 2021. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Entrepreneurship from the University of Connecticut in the USA, which he completed in 2016. Additionally, he graduated with a degree in Electrical & Communications Engineering from Assuit University in Egypt in 2016. Mustafa's diverse educational background has equipped him with a strong foundation in business, entrepreneurship, and technology.

Throughout his career, Mustafa has demonstrated his commitment to youth development through his role in managing over 25 successful programs in collaboration with more than 120 international and national organizations. His outstanding leadership and strategic abilities have resulted in securing over 86 million USD in funding, allowing him to make a significant impact on the lives of young individuals.

Currently working as a Principal at Global Ventures, Jules Chasles oversees the Value Creation side of the firm. As part of his role, Jules supports founders on various aspects of their entrepreneurial journey, including fundraising, strategic guidance, talent management, and other strategic business needs. In addition, Jules identifies investment opportunities for the fund, conducting due diligence of target companies, and helping to manage portfolio companies.

Prior to joining Global Ventures, Jules gained experience in the VC industry as a Venture Capital Analyst at Outlierz Ventures, a Morocco-based fund dedicated to African startups, and as a Private Equity Analyst at AfricInvest Group, assisting the team with legal and financial due diligence, business modeling, financial valuation, and deal flow notes, among other responsibilities.

Jules holds an MBA from HEC Paris, an MSc from Bocconi University, and a BSc from Warwick Business School.

Fares is Partner at Wamda Capital, one of the leading venture capital firms in the region with over $200m under management. He is also co-founder at Tuhoon, the Arab World's leading mental health platform.

Hany Sayed is a dynamic leader with over 19 years of experience in Technology, Business Transformation, Consultancy, Training, and Mentorship. He has left an indelible mark on the tech and digital business landscape, having collaborated with notable companies like Microsoft, Crayon, Midis Group, Bespin Global, New Horizons, and Global Knowledge. Hany is a recognized influencer in the industry, spearheading business transformation as the Group Chief Information Officer of D&B Properties Group, a conglomerate of 10 real estate companies with a workforce exceeding 500.

As a visionary, Hany has also co-founded and served as the Chief Information Officer of Evolve Network Hub, a thriving Startup Hub, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. He has an impressive track record of founding or co-founding four startups across diverse sectors, including eCommerce, Technology, Education, and Fashion. His innate talent for nurturing talent extends to his role as a Digital Mentor with the Founder Institute and as an Angel Investor in real estate, stocks, and crypto ventures.

Hany's expertise isn't confined to boardrooms and startups; he has been a Certified Trainer for technology giants Microsoft and Amazon since 2007, imparting knowledge through over 450 courses to more than 5,000 students worldwide. His dedication to education extends to universities like Zayed University, Qatar University, and the American University of Cairo, where he's been a featured speaker for years.

Committed to the community, Hany is not only a public speaker but a seasoned community builder with over 15 years of experience. He holds a master's degree in Digital Business and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Global Crisis and Risk Management, cementing his reputation as a forward-thinking expert in an ever-evolving world.

Rami Aljundi is a seasoned entrepreneur with 14 years in the startup world, co-founding three businesses.

His media company collaborated with giants like Google and Microsoft, while his software venture serves the government and energy sectors in the UAE.

Today, Rami is the Assistant Director of Innovation Programs at StartAD in NYU Abu Dhabi.

A business consultant; have gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in different aspects of Management. Graduated as a Mechanical Engineer; completed an MBA in 1986 and ABD for PHD. Research was on the Integration of Finance in the Retail Industry Attended and conducted various training courses for “Al Futtaim Motors”, “Oman National” and “Al Futaisi Group” in the UAE from 1977 to 2000.

I have held various positions in various industries. Those positions include: Managing Director, Regional Manager for a group of companies, and working with The UAE Embassy at Washington D.C.

From 2000 to present:
A business consultant, assisted in establishing medium sized companies. Also provided entrepreneurship consulting to several local institutions, mainly for customers of “Khalifa Fund”; a government fund established to support and develop small and medium enterprises. Those customers were looking at either starting up their own companies/ businesses, or potentially purchasing other existing companies. Also provided consultancies related to analyzing companies’ balance sheets, P&\amp;L’s, etc.

From 1990 to 2000:
I established the “Al Futaisi” Group, which was a group containing companies from various industries. Those included: Automotive, Marine, Tire, Furniture, and Stationery. I created all the job descriptions, along with goals and metrics for all the high level managers in the group, regardless of the department (Finance, Marketing, Sales, and HR)

Suraya Turk is Managing Partner of Legal Circle, a forward-thinking UAE-based law firm providing startups, SMEs, multinationals and government entities with optimal legal and commercial solutions. Legal Circle has positioned itself as a leading legal firm in the technology sphere, providing expert advice to diverse clients navigating this ever-changing regulatory landscape.

Suraya has held the role of Managing Director with both international and local law firms in the UAE, and prior to that enjoyed a highly successful career as a qualified lawyer in Australia. This background provides her with a wealth of experience advising clients on a global platform as well as establishing top-performing legal firms and specialist legal teams.

Suraya is focused on cementing Legal Circle’s strong reputation as an agile, adaptive and innovative law firm that provides outstanding levels of service to clients. She is passionate about working with startup founders, investors and women in business to enable them to achieve and exceed their business goals.

With a passion for making a positive change in her community, Latifa Bin Haider is a social entrepreneur with drive, dedication, and discipline, she focuses her efforts on creating startups that address societal needs for the future. She has a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration degree from the prestigious American University of Sharjah.

While at university she launched her first startup, Mental Health AE. A platform with the simple aim of raising awareness about mental health, wellness, and associated stigma in the country. With humble beginnings and a great team of volunteers, Mental Health AE today boasts thousands of followers and members. With more than 100 events, and excess of 40 podcasts episodes. They have created a voice for those who were too fearful to speak and a safe space for those who had none.

Baytukum, previously known as Baytuki, was Latifa's next venture, a startup with the aim to empower individuals of all ages and income brackets to invest in real estate. Batuki is a crowdfunding platform that enables individuals of all ages and income brackets towards financial prosperity by making micro-investments in real estate. The platform empowers individuals to make informed investment decisions leading to financial prosperity and supports them on their journey towards financial independence. Baytukum Tech Ltd (“Baytukum”) is an entity registered in the  Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and licensed and regulated by the  Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) .

Moritz Gripp, Co-Founder at Futurize and a seasoned Startup Advisor and VC, seamlessly blends his deep-rooted engineering acumen with a flair for innovation and entrepreneurship. Drawing from his rich educational background with a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University and a Master's in Entrepreneurship & Management from Imperial College London, Moritz co-founded Futurize to catalyze young minds into entrepreneurial ventures. This initiative, designed as a venture-builder for universities, bridges the gap between academia and corporates, nurturing early-stage ventures through incubator programs. Under his guidance, these startups have secured a commendable $1.5M in seed capital since 2022. With a robust technical foundation in Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering, coupled with his experience as a Management Consultant at PwC and the inception of a healthcare startup in precision medicine, Moritz consistently strives to drive impactful, innovative solutions in the entrepreneurial landscape.

Padmini Gupta is the Co-founder and CEO of Xare. Xare is one of the fastest growing fintechs globally with now more than 3 million+ users across over 180 countries and transactions worth $2+ billion in 2022. Xare won Entrepreneur’s “Fastest Growing Fintech of the Year” for 2021. Xare has raised over $10 million and is backed by global investors – MS&AD Ventures, MEVP, 500 Startups, DIFC Fintech Fund, and others.

She began her entrepreneurial journey with Rise, a fintech platform democratizing access to essential financial services for millions of migrants globally. Rise was Entrepreneur’s “MENA Fintech of the Year” for 2020. Rise launched Xare which was inspired by Rise’s migrant customers, and allows anyone anywhere to share money with anyone, anywhere. Prior to her entrepreneurship journey, she was an award-winning Banker from California and World Economic Forum Global Leadership Fellow, and an Oxford MBA.

Zain Tarawneh is the Co-founder & Chief Growth Officer at Green Future Project, a B-Corporation committed to revolutionizing corporate ESG strategies through cutting-edge technological and innovative solutions. With an educational background from Concordia University and Goldsmiths, University of London, Zain is at the forefront of merging profit with sustainability, emphasizing their integral connection. A passionate innovator, Zain excels in ideating and crafting sustainable products and services. His creativity is fueled by a blend of in-depth analysis and keen intuition, and he boasts a diverse portfolio spanning arts & culture, F&B, sustainability, fin-tech, fashion, and green energy. With a profound appreciation for design, art, and visual culture, Zain is on a perpetual quest to shape an impact-centric future through his projects and collaborations.

Tarek Fouad stands out as a Partner at Shorooq Partners, playing a pivotal role in Abu Dhabi's startup evolution. His leadership stints at Hub71 and Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) have left an indelible mark, fostering a thriving community of startups and strategic partnerships. An alumnus of Khalifa University with a Master's in Control Engineering, Tarek also boasts credentials as a certified Neuro-linguistic programmer (NLP) and executive coach. Beyond his academic accolades, he's distinguished for his venture capitalist acumen, particularly in gaming, clean tech, and web3 arenas. Tarek's commitment to innovation is unwavering, as he diligently scouts for groundbreaking opportunities, ensures startups are well-equipped to grow, and consistently drives market-transforming solutions.

Prior to launching Fuze, Mo held leadership positions at some of the most prominent fintech and finance companies in the world, including Checkout.com, Visa, Booz & Company, and Emirates NBD. He was also the founder of two fintech startups. Mo holds a Bachelor of Computer Science degree from a Canadian university and an MBA from the prestigious London Business School. Mo's impressive background and deep expertise in fintech and digital assets make him a highly sought-after thought leader and speaker at industry events worldwide.