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UAE affiliate ends 2016 with 25 entrepreneurs from 17 companies
Highlighting the development of the entrepreneurial landscape in the UAE and the value of mentorship to business growth, Endeavor UAE has ended 2016 with the addition of 10 new high impact entrepreneurs from five companies to its portfolio, in the past 12 months. The local affiliate of the global non-profit organization focused on catalyzing long-term economic growth, Endeavor UAE now has a total of 25 entrepreneurs from 17 companies in its program.
Among the 2016 intake for Endeavor are: SouqAlMal’s Ambareen Musa; RightBite’s Nathalie Haddad; BMB Group’s Mohamad Ballout, Bilal Ballout and Mohamad Khachab; Panache International’s Vishal Shah; Wavetec’s Ahmed Fraz and Tobias Bessone; as well as RAW Coffee Company’s Kim Thompson and Matt Toogood. The range of companies, from disposable packaging products through to F&B, financial display solutions and online product comparison, highlights the diversity of opportunity for business success.
Applying a proven “mentor capitalist” model, Endeavor board members and mentors help selected entrepreneurs overcome barriers to growth by providing the key ingredients to success: mentorship; networks; strategic advice; talent; skills; access to smart capital; and inspiration.
“There is no doubt the UAE is a fertile breeding ground for budding entrepreneurs and innovation across a diverse range of sectors. People are highly educated; the region is resource rich, logistically advanced and well located; and the leaders are committed to the development and diversification of economic growth. But more importantly, we are seeing a direct correlation between business growth and mentorship in the region, as well as the ancillary benefits of having someone to lean on professionally, and we are doing everything possible to amplify this for the benefit of the region” said Noor Shawwa, Managing Director, Endeavor UAE.
“We were delighted to witness the success of our entrepreneurs throughout the year. These are brilliant leaders and passionate professionals, and I have no doubt that we are helping to develop the next generation innovators who will drive the Middle East’s economy,” he added.
Highlighting the increasingly important role the private sector plays in generating sustained employment and economic growth in the region, Endeavor UAE also held its first Scale-Up UAE event in the first quarter of 2016. The event proved successful in bringing together a network of highly experienced entrepreneurs, mentors and investors from the UAE and abroad, and confirmed regional appetite for expert-led interactive panel discussions on issues faced by entrepreneurs at every stage of scaling their business.
In little over three years since its formation, the UAE affiliate has grown to encompass an impressive network of internationally recognized entrepreneurs and some of the region’s most prominent business leaders. Endeavor UAE’s full portfolio of entrepreneurs includes:
- Michael Lahyani, Propertyfinder.ae
- Derv Rao, Ravi Bhusari, and Brian Sigafoos, Duplays
- Mona Ataya, Mumzworld
- Shahine and Shahriar Khodjasteh, Dubai Desert Extreme (DDE)
- Ayman Fakoussa and Dipesh Depala, The Qode
- Idriss Al Rifai, Fetchr (formerly MENA360)
- Dr. Sassan Dieter Khatib Shahidi, German Imaging Technologies
- Wadih Haddad, The Box
- Riath Hamed, Balqees Honey
- Aly Rahimtoola, Harmony Cosmetics
- Abhishek Shah, RSA logistics
- Nathalie Haddad, Right Bite
- Bilal Ballout, Mohamad Ballout, and Mohamad Khachab, BMB Group
- Ambareen Musa, SouqAlMal
- Vishaal Shah, Panache International
- Ahmed Fraz and Tobias Besson, Wavetec
- Kim Thompson and Matt Toogood, RAW Coffee Company
The only non-profit organization supporting high-impact entrepreneurs in the region, Endeavor UAE selects, mentors and accelerates entrepreneurs to transform communities, create quality jobs and inspire the next generation of leaders.
Globally, the Endeavor organization now has 25 affiliate chapters around the world and has selected over 1,403 entrepreneurs from 875 companies, and provided over 30,000 hours of counsel and mentorship to selected entrepreneurs from 2015-2016. The UAE affiliate was established in 2013.
For more information on Endeavor UAE, please visit: http://www.endeavoruae.org/
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About Endeavor UAE
Established in 2013, Endeavor UAE is an affiliate of the global nonprofit organization that has pioneered the concept of high-impact entrepreneurship in emerging markets around the world. The organization transforms economies by identifying and supporting high-potential (or "high-impact") entrepreneurs. Practicing a tested “mentor capitalist” model, Endeavor affiliates help entrepreneurs overcome barriers to growth by providing the key ingredients to success: mentorship; networks; strategic advice; talent; skills; access to smart capital; and inspiration. Guided by Endeavor, these entrepreneurs generate sustainable economic growth and jobs, become role models, and help nurture a culture of entrepreneurship, which spurs investment and encourages people to innovate and think big.
For more information please go to www.endeavoruae.org
© Press Release 2017
