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Founder Stories

Get Inspired by Real Founders

Discover the journeys, challenges, and insights of entrepreneurs who turned their visions into thriving businesses.

Chedomir "Chad" Stefanović

Founder at Wodd Custom Drums

From Wood to Rhythm: How Chad Turned Drum-Making into a Global Craft

Chedomir "Chad" Stefanović, founder of Wodd Custom Drums, didn't just follow the beat — he built it. From a family ropemaking legacy to crafting custom drums for customers around the world, his journey is a blend of tradition, creativity, and fearless craftsmanship.

Rohan Karnataki

Founder & CEO at Xporience

From Chaos to Clarity: How Rohan Karnataki Is Reshaping the Event Tech Industry

Rohan Karnataki, Founder & CEO of Xporience, has spent the last two decades turning bold ideas into impact. What started as a solo mission—armed with wireframes and resilience—is now a globally recognized event-tech platform powering some of the region's biggest exhibitions and conferences.

Polina Varfolomeeva

Founder at Ation Law

From Licensing Powerhouses to Legal Simplicity: The Story Behind Ation Law

From negotiating deals with Netflix to building her own legal agency, Polina Varfolomeeva, the founder of Ation Law is redefining how legal support should work for fast-moving companies. This is a story of insight, initiative, and starting with usefulness over perfection.

Maria Pavani

Founder at Três Marias

Maria Pavani on Building Três Marias: A Coffee Brand with Soul

Maria Pavani arrived in Dubai with just AED 800 and a dream. Today, she's the founder of Três Marias — a brand that's more than coffee and milk; it's a lifestyle rooted in intention, emotional resilience, and deep self-discovery.

Dimitrios Kalaitzidis

Founder at Your Mellon

From Football to Founding: How Dimitrios Kalaitzidis Is Building a Platform to Bridge Opportunity Gaps

After a promising football career was cut short by injury, Dimitrios Kalaitzidis turned to entrepreneurship with a mission: to connect international talent with real job opportunities in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Sachin Shukla

Founder at UPDEED

From Oil & Gas to Global Impact: Why Sachin Shukla Built UPDEED

After nearly two decades leading global transformation in Oil & Gas, Sachin Shukla built UPDEED — a tech-enabled platform where changemakers and purpose-driven organizations can gain visibility, build community, and drive scalable impact.

Jilna Shah

Founder & CEO at Throda Skincare

From Skin Struggles to Skincare Startup: How Jilna Shah Built Throda with Purpose

After nearly a decade in tech sales, Jilna Shah made a bold leap—turning her personal skin struggles into a purpose-driven brand. She shares how she launched Throda Skincare from scratch and why she flew to Paris to secure the perfect packaging.

Anthony Abou Antoun

Founder at Artists and More Entertainment

From $500 to 2,500 Shows: Anthony Abou Antoun's Mission to Redefine Entertainment in the Middle East

At 19, Anthony Abou Antoun started with just $500 and a big idea. A decade later, he's running the Middle East's only ISO-certified entertainment production house, crafting world-class shows and leading a $20M cultural revival.

Sultan Bandar

Founder at Trell

From Freight to Fintech: How Sultan Bandar Pivoted Trell to Solve Cash Flow Challenges in Logistics

What happens when a logistics tech founder realizes the real problem isn't moving goods, it's moving cash? For Sultan Bandar, that realization sparked a bold pivot from digital freight forwarding to fintech. Today, Trell provides Shariah-compliant invoice financing to help logistics businesses solve cash flow challenges and grow faster.

Shahid Khan

Founder & CEO at Doctak.net

Bridging Healthcare with Tech: Shahid Khan's Journey with Doctak.net

After nearly 20 years in pharmaceutical sales, Shahid Khan saw a gap in how doctors access tools, knowledge, and collaboration. His response? Doctak.net — a smart, AI-powered platform reshaping the way physicians and medical students connect, learn, and grow.

Syed Waheed

From JetParcel to Ship966: Redefining Logistics with Precision and Purpose

We spoke with Syed Waheed, CEO of Ship966, about building a logistics brand driven by customer trust, operational excellence, and Saudi Arabia's evolving business landscape.

Lubna Naeem

Founder & CEO at Hxperts Management Consultancy

Leading Change with Purpose: Lubna Naeem's Journey from Healthcare to Entrepreneurship

After over 15 years in hospital operations and strategy, Lubna Naeem saw a gap in the market: businesses needed personalized, region-focused consulting to navigate complex growth challenges. That realization led her to start Hxperts.

Jovanka Dorovic

Founder at Eco-Art

Creativity Is a System: How Jovanka Dorovic Builds Brands That Last

Jovanka Dorovic didn't just launch a design studio—she created a system where creativity becomes a strategic asset. As the founder of Eco-Art, she helps teams build not only great brands, but the internal frameworks that keep them growing.

Hashim Basheer

Founder at Zaper Inc.

Building AI for Construction: Hashim's Journey with Zaper Inc.

Hashim Basheer, founder of Zaper Inc., shares his journey from software design to creating AI solutions for the construction industry. He talks about building products that integrate seamlessly with on-site operations.

Hamza Khan

Founder at ReAlign (Software Agency)

From Freelance Gigs to Building a Successful Software Agency: The Journey of Hamza Khan

Hamza Khan, a software developer turned entrepreneur, shares his journey from working freelance to building his own software agency. With over a decade of experience, he reveals his biggest lessons and insights into the startup world.

Jessia Lloyd

Founder & CEO at ReAlign

Jessia Lloyd: Building ReAlign to Revolutionize Healing and AI

Jessia Lloyd, the founder of ReAlign, shares her inspiring journey from overcoming personal challenges to creating a holistic AI startup. Her mission: to integrate technology and ancient wisdom to make healing accessible to everyone.

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