From startup founder to VC leader: Marwan Abdelrahman's journey
This week, we spotlight Marwan, Director of Business Operations at Front Row Ventures, as he shares his journey from founding a startup to driving revenue at Canada’s first university-focused VC
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We spoke with Marwan Abdelrahman, Director of Business Operations at Front Row Ventures
What are you currently working on? (this can be job(s), projects, startups, etc)
I am currently working at Capital One as a Business Analyst Intern. More excitingly, I am the new Director of Business Operations at Front Row Ventures, Canada's first university-focused VC deploying a $5M fund. Our team is responsible for generating revenue for the firm, and has generated $100k+ through 4 corporate sponsorships, access to our General Partner (GP) Club membership platform and course sales.
What led you to work on this? What's the "origin story" behind your current job?
My entrepreneurial journey began in 2022 when I co-founded my first startup, a marketplace for home-cooks to advertise and sell home-made meals, which ultimately didn’t succeed. This experience ignited my interest in entrepreneurship and led me to discover VC. Through my VC experience I am hoping to gain more knowledge about the startup landscape and expand my network.
Why are you interested in connecting with MENA's 'global startup community'?
Having grown up and lived in Dubai for 18 years, I’ve always been amazed by the rapid growth and development of the region, and more recently the boom in the startup ecosystem. As I hope to one day return to Dubai, I am hoping to build and maintain a strong network within the MENA startup community.
What's your favorite part of the Viaka Network thus far? Do you have any memorable experiences or helpful connections made that you can share with me?
My favorite part about the Viaka network is the events that are hosted and the people! I will be attending the Toronto Mixer this week so I’m really excited to meet people from the Toronto startup ecosystem.
How can members of the Viaka Network (and beyond) be most helpful to you and your work right now?
Currently, I am focusing on expanding my network and getting exposure to the MENA VC ecosystem. More specifically I am trying to learn about the different VCs in the region, the disruptive startups and opportunities that are present.
Bonus: favorite dish from the MENA world?
Wara2 enab [Warak enab (leaves of grapes; traditionally stuffed with rice and meat or rice and vegetables].
Below is a list of upcoming events from the Viaka Network & beyond over the next couple of weeks:
HAPPENING TOMORROW: Decentralization: A Catalyst for Lebanon's Progress - (Virtual), June 11th. A “Viaka Sessions” event in collaboration with Razor Capital
IN 3 DAYS: Viaka Network Mixer in Toronto- June 13th (In-person, Toronto)
Broader Community:
The Garage Plus 4th Cohort Demo Day- TODAY! - June 10th (In-Person, Riyadh)
Content Marketing Workshop - June 12th (In-Person, Dubai, UAE)
Webinar presented by AstroLabs on Exploring Business Expansion to Saudi Arabia: Economic Landscape, Opportunities & Market Entry Strategies - June 13th (Virtual)
Founder & Investor Eid Mixer - June 13th (In- Person, NYC, US)
Join ABANA’s annual summer reception one of their largest social gatherings of the year - June 13th (In- Person, NY, US)
The Migrant Accelerator’s Demo Day to celebrate innovative start-ups led by talented migrant founders - June 14th (In-Person, Berlin, Germany)
Join North-America's fastest growing tech conference of the year: Collision with over 40,000 attendees annually. The acclaimed conference welcomes innovators, technology professionals, companies and visitors from around the world - June 17th- 20th (In- Person, Toronto, Canada)
Djerba Slush'D: a two-day event, organized by the Westerwelle Foundation in Tunisia, supported by GIZ Tunisia. This event is focused on fostering the growth and expansion of Tunisian startups into the African market - June 21st + 22nd (In-Person, Tunisia)
DLA Piper's Washington, DC office for Middle East-US investment reception with U.S. Commercial Service & SelectUSA Investment Summit - June 23th (In- Person, DC, US)
Productivity Workshop for Entrepreneurs- June 25th - (In-Person, Doha, Qatar)
If you’d like to share an event in this newsletter, we encourage you to join the Viaka Network and share the event with info@viaka.net!
Recent job openings from the Viaka Network & beyond. If you apply, let us know so we can also make a personal introduction.
UNRWA USA are looking for a: Communications Officer or Manager (Washington DC, US)
Checkers Inc. are looking for a FT: Bilingual Marketing Copywriter (Amman, Jordan)
The Growth Company is looking for a FT: Investment Manager (Manchester, UK)
Birdie is hiring a FT: Venture Development Intern (Berlin, Germany)
Seeds is looking for a FT: Investment Associate (NYC, US) Remote
Thirdi is looking for a FT: AI Automation Specialist (US) Remote
If you’d like to share a job posting in this newsletter, we encourage you to join the Viaka Network and share the event with info@viaka.net!
If you are curious about journeys similar to Marwan's, check out this read from Primary.VC where Marisa Bass shares lessons from her transition from seasoned operator to healthcare investor. From creating CLEAR’s healthcare vertical to investing in the future of healthcare, she offers advice on embracing learning curves and leveraging operational experience in investing.
That’s it for this week. Thank you! 👋
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