Evren Ucok
Evren Ucok
Co-founder and Chairman of Trendyol
Yousef supports the region's best early-stage tech founders with his 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur and investor. Since becoming Managing Partner in 2015, Yousef has been instrumental in growing the firm and also serves on the board of prominent companies in the portfolio including MaxAB and Marti.
Co-founder and Chairman of Trendyol
Yousef supports the region's best early-stage tech founders with his 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur and investor. Since becoming Managing Partner in 2015, Yousef has been instrumental in growing the firm and also serves on the board of prominent companies in the portfolio including MaxAB and Marti.
Co-founder and Chairman of Trendyol
Yousef supports the region's best early-stage tech founders with his 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur and investor. Since becoming Managing Partner in 2015, Yousef has been instrumental in growing the firm and also serves on the board of prominent companies in the portfolio including MaxAB and Marti.
Youssef Salem
Youssef Salem
CFO ADNOC Drillings
Previously, Youssef was CFO of Swvl and AIQ, MENA’s first AI unicorn and CFO & Director at Swvl. With 13 years at Moelis, he executed over $100 bn of capital raises, financings, M&A, and restructurings across >60 transactions. Youssef is a the founder of Qora71, a CFA Charterholder, Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, Hub71 Entrepreneur in Residence, and adjunct professor. Recognized in Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30, he advises multiple tech companies and funds.
CFO ADNOC Drillings
Previously, Youssef was CFO of Swvl and AIQ, MENA’s first AI unicorn and CFO & Director at Swvl. With 13 years at Moelis, he executed over $100 bn of capital raises, financings, M&A, and restructurings across >60 transactions. Youssef is a the founder of Qora71, a CFA Charterholder, Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, Hub71 Entrepreneur in Residence, and adjunct professor. Recognized in Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30, he advises multiple tech companies and funds.
CFO ADNOC Drillings
Previously, Youssef was CFO of Swvl and AIQ, MENA’s first AI unicorn and CFO & Director at Swvl. With 13 years at Moelis, he executed over $100 bn of capital raises, financings, M&A, and restructurings across >60 transactions. Youssef is a the founder of Qora71, a CFA Charterholder, Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, Hub71 Entrepreneur in Residence, and adjunct professor. Recognized in Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30, he advises multiple tech companies and funds.
Michael Lahyani
Michael Lahyani
Founder and CEO of Property Finder
Founder and CEO of Property Finder, launched the Middle East’s first real estate classifieds in 2007, driving the region's proptech evolution. Under his leadership, Property Finder secured $120 million from General Atlantic in 2018 and raised $90 million in debt financing in 2024, alongside a share buyback from BECO Capital. A graduate of HEC Lausanne and the first Middle Eastern Endeavor entrepreneur, Michael has been recognized among Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 CEOs and was awarded the UAE passport in 2020.
Founder and CEO of Property Finder
Founder and CEO of Property Finder, launched the Middle East’s first real estate classifieds in 2007, driving the region's proptech evolution. Under his leadership, Property Finder secured $120 million from General Atlantic in 2018 and raised $90 million in debt financing in 2024, alongside a share buyback from BECO Capital. A graduate of HEC Lausanne and the first Middle Eastern Endeavor entrepreneur, Michael has been recognized among Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 CEOs and was awarded the UAE passport in 2020.
Founder and CEO of Property Finder
Founder and CEO of Property Finder, launched the Middle East’s first real estate classifieds in 2007, driving the region's proptech evolution. Under his leadership, Property Finder secured $120 million from General Atlantic in 2018 and raised $90 million in debt financing in 2024, alongside a share buyback from BECO Capital. A graduate of HEC Lausanne and the first Middle Eastern Endeavor entrepreneur, Michael has been recognized among Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 CEOs and was awarded the UAE passport in 2020.
Mohamed Ballout
Mohamed Ballout
Co-founder and CEO of Kitopi
Kitopi operates 200+ locations with 6,000+ employees. Previously, he co-founded BMB, spearheading its growth across 32 markets and establishing the first fully-automated ethnic sweets manufacturing unit before selling his shares to a private equity group in 2016. Mohamad holds a double major in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Warwick and a Master’s in Management from Imperial College London.
Co-founder and CEO of Kitopi
Kitopi operates 200+ locations with 6,000+ employees. Previously, he co-founded BMB, spearheading its growth across 32 markets and establishing the first fully-automated ethnic sweets manufacturing unit before selling his shares to a private equity group in 2016. Mohamad holds a double major in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Warwick and a Master’s in Management from Imperial College London.
Co-founder and CEO of Kitopi
Kitopi operates 200+ locations with 6,000+ employees. Previously, he co-founded BMB, spearheading its growth across 32 markets and establishing the first fully-automated ethnic sweets manufacturing unit before selling his shares to a private equity group in 2016. Mohamad holds a double major in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Warwick and a Master’s in Management from Imperial College London.
Litesh Lalchandani
Chief Strategy and Finance Officer at Tabby
Since the seed stage, Litesh has led the raise of over $1.4 billion in debt and equity, pioneered an institutional asset-backed securitization program, and cemented Tabby’s leadership in GCC fintech. Previously, he was VP at Greenstone Equity Partners, with early roles in private equity and deals advisory in New York. Litesh holds an Honors Bachelor’s from Fisher College of Business and completed HBS’s executive entrepreneurship program.
Chief Strategy and Finance Officer at Tabby
Since the seed stage, Litesh has led the raise of over $1.4 billion in debt and equity, pioneered an institutional asset-backed securitization program, and cemented Tabby’s leadership in GCC fintech. Previously, he was VP at Greenstone Equity Partners, with early roles in private equity and deals advisory in New York. Litesh holds an Honors Bachelor’s from Fisher College of Business and completed HBS’s executive entrepreneurship program.
Chief Strategy and Finance Officer at Tabby
Since the seed stage, Litesh has led the raise of over $1.4 billion in debt and equity, pioneered an institutional asset-backed securitization program, and cemented Tabby’s leadership in GCC fintech. Previously, he was VP at Greenstone Equity Partners, with early roles in private equity and deals advisory in New York. Litesh holds an Honors Bachelor’s from Fisher College of Business and completed HBS’s executive entrepreneurship program.
