Ones to watch

Entrepreneurs whose startup ventures hold strong potential and are making waves in the UAE

Amir Milad Founder and CEO, Karma Media

The Egyptian national began his professional life as a social media specialist in Etisalat Egypt. Having moved to the UAE in 2014, he embarked on his entrepreneurial journey in 2019 with digital marketing agency Karma Media. The company offers multimedia production, creative writing and design, social media, PR, digital marketing and web development. A verified partner on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp Business, Snapchat, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google Services, Karma’s clients so far include Huawei, OPPO, Union Properties and Ajman Municipality, among others. Looking ahead, Milad’s vision is clear: “I believe that Karma stands for doing the right thing and then we can expect the good to come back.”

Jad Antoun and Khalid Ashmawy Co-founders, Huspy

Recognising the gap in the property technology (proptech) space, Jad Antoun – who previously worked with Beco Capital – and Khalid Ashmawy, who was with Uber and Microsoft – launched Huspy in August 2020. The web and app-based licensed mortgage platform, which offers home financing products with no paperwork, claims that it can offer a quote in under one minute and close the transaction “three times faster” than the traditional process. Huspy says it has already reached more than $200m in annualised gross merchandise value with over 150 transactions. Last month, Huspy also attracted what it claims is the one of the largest seed rounds ever raised by a startup in the MENA region, although the size of the deal was not disclosed.

Ritesh Tilani and Alper Celen Co-founders, Joi Gifts

In March, UAE-based gifting platform Joi Gifts expanded into its eighth country, Qatar, after raising $750,000 as part of a pre-Series A funding round expected to close in May 2021. The startup, which claims to be the region’s largest online gifting marketplace, is now “profitable”, according to cofounder Alper Celen. Launched in late 2015 by the two seasoned investors, Joi is an online platform that offers a range of gifts including fresh floral arrangements, chocolates and cakes, gourmet gift baskets, jewellery as well as personalised gifts. It is aiming to launch a concierge service in H2 of 2021.

For its founders, the mission from the start has been to create “a seamless and enjoyable experience from start to finish to offer the true art of gifting”.