About loulou

Since moving to Dubai in 2003, I’ve proudly built a career that is rich in experiences, learning and working in highly dynamic environments. After a decade of working in multinationals and the private sector, I decided that it was time for me to take a chance on myself and go down the path of entrepreneurship. In 2011, I founded Nabbesh.com, MENA’s first and largest merit-based platform connecting talented Arabs with freelance jobs, a business I built with an incredible team, loved, scaled and sold in 2020.

Having experienced first-hand the challenges of launching a startup in a nascent ecosystem, I co-founded Kickstart Studio, a technology advisory firm designed to support non-tech entrepreneurs in scoping and building their initial MVPs and created Kickstart Ventures, a network of angel investors that invests in early stage startups across the globe. Throughout my journey I’ve mentored several entrepreneurs including startup founders with Wamda X, a grant based ideation and incubation program led by Wamda Capital, coached Executive MBA and Masters Students at Hult International Business School and co-ran a Startup Bootcamp with Astrolabs, a capability building company supporting entrepreneurs across MENA.

Most recently, I have been engaged as a digital transformation consultant with a private equity firm with global investments in beauty, education and healthcare and have done advisory work on projects relating to the gig-economy and youth employment in the GCC. I have also launched “Conversations with Loulou”, a bi-weekly podcast highlighting the stories and insights of top entrepreneurs and business leaders. Within 4 months from its launch, the podcast was featured by Apple Podcast under New & Noteworthy for the Middle East.

As my learning journey develops, my vision is to continue to play a role in the advancement of innovation and startups on a regional level via mentoring, investing and spreading knowledge as well as champion causes that are dear to my heart such women’s economic independence.