By Daoud G in Business — 01 Jul 2025

How I Support Founders: From Idea to Revenue, and Beyond

Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside founders, startups, and innovation teams across the UAE, MENA region, and beyond. Whether launching coworking spaces, advising venture programs, or helping businesses navigate expansion into new markets — my focus has always been practical, values-driven support that helps founders move forward with clarity.

If you're building a startup and considering bringing on an advisor, here’s a snapshot of the areas I specialize in — so you can decide how I can best support your journey.

🧠 Strategy & Execution

From refining your idea to scaling into new markets, I can support with:

Business model design and validation
Go-to-market planning (especially for the UAE and GCC)
Customer development and traction strategies
Pricing, monetization, and revenue models
Strategic partnerships and ecosystem navigation

🚀 Pre-Seed to Seed: The Founder Journey

I work closely with founders across the full startup journey from pre-seed to seed, including:

Idea clarity and market validation
Traction and customer acquisition
Revenue modeling and early monetization
Pitch and fundraising preparation
Team building and culture shaping

This is the stage where everything feels both possible and overwhelming — and I love being the steady advisor that helps founders focus, prioritize, and move forward with confidence.

📈 Investment Readiness & Fundraising

I’ve designed and run investment readiness programs, and can help you:

Build or refine your pitch deck
Craft a compelling investor narrative
Prepare financials and projections
Navigate early-stage valuation and deal structuring
Understand and approach investors across the Gulf and MENA region

🏢 Business Setup & Operations

For founders looking to enter or grow in the UAE or GCC, I bring experience in:

Business setup, licensing, and visa facilitation (Free Zones & mainland)
Coworking space and business center operations
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) and scalable processes
Budgeting, forecasting, and lean operations

📣 Sales, Marketing & Growth

Growth isn't just about ads or hacks — it’s about alignment. I support founders with:

B2B lead generation and CRM systems
Messaging, positioning, and ethical brand storytelling
Community building and content-driven growth
Workshop design, event programming, and network development

🌍 Regional Insight & Values Alignment

Deep understanding of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and broader MENA startup ecosystems
Fluent in Arabic and English
Experience working across both local and international founder teams
Aligned with Islamic values and ethical business practices

🤝 Ways to Work Together

Here are a few ways founders typically engage with me:

Deep-dive strategy sessions – to troubleshoot or plan specific challenges
Fractional advisor role – ongoing support through your growth phases
Project-based work – fundraising, market entry, pitch readiness, etc.
Mentorship & coaching – if you just need a clear mind and experienced guide beside you

If this resonates with where you are — or where you’re heading — feel free to reach out. I’m always open to meeting mission-driven founders who are serious about building the right way.

You can message me directly or explore more below

Let's Talk

Barak Allahu feekum,
– Daoud