Viaka Newsletter: Highlighting a MENA Venture leader and tech community leader!
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Hi everyone! This week, we’re continuing our series of interviews and network highlights. We’re featuring members of the Viaka community who are active in the MENA ecosystem.
Our next feature is Nafez Dakkak. Nafez is the co-organiser of Al-Kindi Club (along with previous feature Layth!) while also working as managing partner at BLDR Ventures. Nafez has amazing experiences and is a great Network member. Read more about Nafez below!
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ndakkak/?originalSubdomain=uk
Al-Kindi Club Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/al-kindi-club/
Interview with Nafez Dakkak
What do you currently do?
I’m the Managing Partner at BLDR Ventures, a venture builder focused on the future of work and learning across MENA. We are a professional co-founder that is helping talent across MENA unlock the region’s potential by solving the most pressing challenges around work and education. We’d love to hear from anybody passionate about the space!
I am also co-organiser of Al-Kindi Club, a community for Arabs working in tech in London, we organise monthly meet-ups and talks to bring the community together and foster collaboration.
What prompted you to go down this career path and how did you get into this field?
I venture built an online learning platform for a non-profit foundation that today reaches millions of learners across the region. This experience really alerted me to the power of education and the latent potential in the region.
What originally got you interested in connecting with the MENA startup ecosystem and other like-minded folks here in Europe?
As a Jordanian-Palestinian, born in Saudi Arabia, who grew up between Palestine and the UAE, I’ve always been passionate about the region. Having spent the last 5 years in London, I’ m keen to create bridges between MENA and the diaspora. There’s a lot for us to work on together!
What types of connections are you looking to make through Viaka? This can be from the MENA side, as well as with other MENA-connected folks in the Viaka Network
I’d love to connect with potential founders passionate about the future of work and learning in MENA and emerging markets. I’d also love to speak to anybody passionate curious about education reform across MENA.
Where will that take you?
I want to see all the latent potential across MENA fulfilled!
Bonus: favorite dish from the MENA world?
My grandmother’s molokhiyeh.
Promising Opportunities from Our MENA Partners
Click here to view list of opportunities curated from the Viaka’s MENA partners.
If you would like to get involved with any of the opportunities, please fill out the form below and indicate what opportunity you are interested in in the “Reason for Joining” section.
Exciting Announcements From Our Network
Below is a list of updates, wins, and asks emanating from members of the Viaka Network in the “West.”
Five One Labs, a startup incubator in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, is looking to hire a Global Head of Operations as the company scales globally. This is a great opportunity to have an impactful role in a growing and meaningful business! See Patricia Letayf’s (co-founder) Linkedin posting here for more information.
Viaka hosted its first virtual “Demo Day” on December 1st. Founders in the Viaka Network presented in front of a jury of investors and serial entrepreneurs.
Viaka is also organizing its first virtual coffee chats for members this month. The concept is simple - fill out a form with your availability and a few topics you’d like to discuss, and we'll introduce you to another Viaka Network member for a 30-minute meeting. You must be a member to attend, so sign up below!
If you’re a member of our Network and would like to share your own update next week, email info.viaka@gmail.com.
That’s it for this week. Thank you!
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