Diala J. Daoud

Why It Took Me a Whole Year to Start Posting on LinkedIn – Part 2 Because I'm Lebanese. Every time I sat down to create a #content calendar or planned posts for my #startup, something terrible happened back home. Tragedy would strike, and suddenly, focusing on my professional goals felt trivial. How could I talk about growth, business, or entrepreneurship when my heart was aching for my people? I still remember exactly what terrible events back home coincided with major milestones for our startup. Most recently, as I was preparing for a very important investor pitch, my family’s house was bombed (while family member were at home). It was a gut-wrenching moment, trying to balance the horror of what they were going through with the pressure to stay focused on the pitch. How do you do that? How do you stay present and professional when your heart is breaking? The weight of constant instability, the unshakable anxiety about the future—it’s not easy to balance those emotions with the drive to build something here, from the ground up. It was hard to keep pushing forward when all I could think about was what my family, friends, and fellow citizens were going through. But here's the thing—I’ve realized that staying silent isn’t the answer. Speaking up, sharing, and connecting are part of building resilience. Resilience!!! One day, while discussing personal branding with Mohtashim, he said something that really hit me: "What makes you special is all the heritage you hold and the experiences you’ve had. That makes you the most resilient person I've ever known." That was deep.   And he was right. Resilience is what keeps me going, what keeps me focused when everything feels like it’s falling apart. It's more than just a personal trait—it’s the legacy of my people. For generations, the Lebanese have fought to resist, to survive, and to thrive despite every hardship. That strength runs through my veins. It's something I carry with me every day, and now I realize it’s something I want to channel into everything I do—including the content we create at SalamKidsTV. In a way, what I’m doing here is more than just building a brand or a business. It’s about bringing a glimpse of that resistance alive. It’s about telling stories, sharing insights, and sparking conversations that, at their core, are rooted in resilience. My heritage, my struggles, and the strength of my people are the things that make me unique—and that’s the message I want to put out into the world. #EntrepreneurshipJourney #PersonalBranding #MentalStrength #GlobalVoices

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After discovering a 1,100% surge in Arabic searches for "how to improve my mental health," Fares Ghandour decided to launch a startup to tackle mental health challenges across MENA. When it comes to mental health solutions in the region, the problem lies not in the demand… But in the lack of supply. When Wamda Capital decided to not raise another fund, Fares decided to make a rather unconventional switch - from investor to operator. Recognising that a global shift in mental health awareness was taking place in the wake of the pandemic, Fares wanted to ensure that the Arab world was not left on the outside looking in. So, he co-founded Tuhoon, with Aymane Sennoussi and Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa. Tuhoon, which translates to “it gets better” was launched to provide reliable, affordable mental health services tailored to the local cultural context and Khaleeji dialects. Inspired by the success of apps like Calm and Headspace, Tuhoon launched a self-help app in March 2022, focusing on two specific areas: 1️⃣ Sleep 2️⃣ Stress Calm’s success with sleep stories and guided meditations (now the world’s first mental health unicorn) validated that addressing a specific pain point is more successful than trying to tackle multiple areas initially. Focusing on sleep was an extremely effective way to attract users to mindfulness and wellness platforms, as insomnia is a common issue without the stigma or taboo of depression and anxiety. Whilst addressing stress has allowed Tuhoon to target organisations looking to improve employee wellbeing and productivity. Tuhoon now counts telecom operator Zain Group, American Express, and Riyad Bank among its customers. The company has continued to build on its corporate solution, introducing pathways on work-life balance, productivity, and resilience since launching. The startup is currently at the seed stage, with $2.5 million in funding from self-funding, angel investors, Wamda Capital, and UAE-based Nuwa Capital, and has plans to venture into a hybrid model with clinical psychology and counselling clinics offering in-person and virtual appointments. And, Tuhoon is by no means the only startup addressing mental health challenges in MENA. Other self-help and wellness platforms in the region include Tawazon and MindTales. And that's before even getting into the digital on-demand therapy platforms operating, like لبيه | Labayh and O7 Therapy, to name but a few. In this week’s FWDstart deep-dive, we’re looking at how a wave of startups like Tuhoon and others are addressing mental health challenges in MENA, and the current state of digital mental healthcare in the region. 📌 Subscribe to get the deep-dive here: https://lnkd.in/eVbWNJNp

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Part 2 of Lucky's episode "Day in the Life" Listen to what Ayman had to say about #fintech #startups navigating the #funding landscape and some #tips and #tricks on maintaining #productivity and achieving long-term success #WRK+ #TheGrEEKCampus #Dayinthelife #Ecosystem #startups #fintech #founders

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I’m thrilled to join an incredible lineup of experts, innovators, and leaders to explore AI's transformative power and its future impact at the elite World Summit AI, kicking off in #Doha Qatar, for the very first time in Middle East. As a Director of #Innovation, I’m taking a balanced approach to AI's role in #Healthcare breaking down myths, asking the tough questions, and discussing how to navigate the fine line between ambitious expectations and realistic applications. One day, #AI will undoubtedly transform the way we practice #Healthcare. However, the key lies in preparing for that future now building the right strategies, infrastructure, and mindset to harness its full potential. Let’s #connect, #share insights, and #explore the many opportunities and challenges AI brings. #Together, we’ll shape the future of AI and innovation. Hamad Medical Corporation Ministry of Public Health - Qatar #Itqan #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Doha #Qatar #AIForGood #WSAIQatar #AIRevolution #DoAIDifferent #AILeadership #QatarAI

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Lebanon has been without an elected leader for over two years, and the country has long been plagued by political gridlock and sectarian rifts. Newspaper An Nahar responded to the lack of leadership with an unprecedented move: it created an AI President. With the generative AI-powered entity, An Nahar aims to fill the power vacuum with a force driven by transparency, integrity and data-driven decision-making. The AI President was trained on 90 years of journalism by An Nahar, providing it with a nuanced understanding of Lebanon's complex history and current challenges. The idea is that extensive training data — coupled with a bot's presumed objectivity and lack of personal agenda — positions the AI President as an impartial force capable of cutting through sectarianism, entrenched interests and partisan politics. https://lnkd.in/d8hnxPPr

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🎙️ Just released a fascinating conversation with Michael Lints, Partner at Golden Gate Ventures, on The We Are Innovation Podcast. Highlights: • Deep dive into Golden Gate's new $100M MENA fund based in #Qatar • VC landscape in the post-zero interest rate era • Key traits of successful founders Michael's 20+ years of experience across two continents offer invaluable insights for entrepreneurs and investors alike. #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #Podcast Listen now: https://lnkd.in/d4mgande

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Now that I spend a fair bit of time in Qatar Doha and get asked ever so often about #angelinvesting ecosystem and environment in the region for all the angels back home in India here’s an interesting article. #dohaangels #startupinvestingdoha #angelinvestingqatar #startupintestingqatar #Indiaangels

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For all the entrepreneurs out there (or those thinking about it) – this podcast episode is a gem. 🎧 Margreet Magdy مارجريت مجدي shares her insights on navigating the startup world, taking risks, and building a supportive ecosystem in the MENA region. Whether you’re just starting out or already in the game, this one’s worth a listen! For those like that prefer Spotify- https://lnkd.in/dqYMZwig Moses Shawaly #startups #mena #entrepenuership #startupecosystem #vc #incubators

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Summary: Despite Saudi Arabia's history of human rights abuses, there is a growing interest from U.S.-based investors to invest in startups in the Middle Eastern nation. General Catalyst is planning to invest in a fintech startup, Lean Technology, and other firms such as Coatue Management and Andreessen Horowitz have recently backed Saudi Arabian startups. Key takeaways: Despite concerns about the country's human rights record, some U.S. investors are showing a willingness to invest in Saudi Arabian startups, potentially driven by the country's large and growing market. General Catalyst investment in Lean Technology is a significant step in this trend, as it is the firm's first investment in a Middle Eastern nation. Other U.S. firms, such as Coatue Management and a16z, have also recently backed Saudi Arabian startups or expanded their presence in the country through investments in related industries (such as co-living). Counter arguments: There may be ethical concerns about investing in a country with a record of human rights abuses and suppressing dissent. The motivations behind these investments may also be driven by the goal of gaining access to the huge Saudi Arabian market, rather than solely supporting the growth of the country's startups. #venturecapital #vc #venture #startups

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After a year of hard work, we are glad to finally present our product! SandWalk is a platform on which you can list your projects, pre-sell your product or services, and manage your community. Any type of creator is welcome, from boardgame developers, to innovative B2C startups with products or services to sell direct-to-consumers. Through this concept, we facilitate the processes of acquiring the first 100 customers and validating the business idea, even before heavy investment in product development! Follow our page below for more updates on our progress! 🚀

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Lebanon has been without an elected leader for over two years, and the country has long been plagued by political gridlock and sectarian rifts. Newspaper An Nahar responded to the lack of leadership with an unprecedented move: it created an AI President. With the generative AI-powered entity, An Nahar aims to fill the power vacuum with a force driven by transparency, integrity and data-driven decision-making. The AI President was trained on 90 years of journalism by An Nahar, providing it with a nuanced understanding of Lebanon's complex history and current challenges. The idea is that extensive training data — coupled with a bot's presumed objectivity and lack of personal agenda — positions the AI President as an impartial force capable of cutting through sectarianism, entrenched interests and partisan politics. A statement from #OurAiPresident, presented in a special edition of An Nahar, reads, "Unlike previous presidents, my artificial intelligence is designed to serve the people, and I provide my analytical functions transparently and accessible to anyone looking for answers to the country's complex dilemmas." That transparency is on display on a dedicated website, where citizens can question the bot on any topic. After analyzing historical data and current events, the AI President responds with text and an audio file. Read our Trend Bite for this innovation 👉 https://lnkd.in/dJpmjxEc #generativeai #aipresident #innovation #trendwatching

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Educatly Raises $2.5 Million to Expand Across the Middle East and Africa Educatly, an innovative Egyptian student-recruitment platform, has secured $2.5 million in a recent funding round to support its expansion throughout the Middle East and Africa. This round was led by TLcom Capital LLP and Plus VC, with additional participation from Egypt Venture and the HBAN syndicate. The new funding follows Educatly’s rapid growth, previously accelerated by a $1 million pre-seed round that included backing from Enterprise Ireland and Falak Startups. Read more👇 #Educatly #Edtechstartups #Middleeast #Africa Peter Fagbemi Joan Manuel S. Barbera Omar Assem CertIFR, FMVA®, CFA IF Shivangi Verma Nour Aman Adham Mohamed

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In Tahseen Consulting's #MENA+ #techpolicy insight, you'll read about the #UAE’s Parkin moving into #vertiports, #SaudiArabia’s EVIQ partnering with Ceer on #EV infrastructure, #Egypt’s ELSEWEDY ELECTRIC and Vodafone making #telecom equipment, #Pakistan developing skills centers to boost #GCC employment, the UAE and #Jordan signing a #freetrade agreement, #Oman’s Omran Group OM promoting local products, #Singapore tightening its real estate #AML rules, #Indonesia’s new #AI regulations, and Hyundai Motor Company (현대자동차) planning #India’s biggest #IPO at a $19B valuation. 🇦🇪 #UAE Wynn Resorts gets 1st gaming operator's license 🇸🇦 #KSA Public Investment Fund (PIF) may▲ stakes in Nintendo, other #Japanese firms 🇪🇬 #EGYPT Egypt Post, AXA launch #microinsurance company 🇵🇰 #PAKISTAN delays Pakistan International Airlines #privatization - again   🌍 #MENA NIO and CYVN Holdings form EV JV 🌍 #MENA KSA accounts for 50%+ of September #VC funding 🇹🇷 #TURKEY Trendyol Group hosts TEKNOFEST #ecommerce hackathon 🇹🇷 #TURKEY Germany approves €336M arms deal, 1st big sale since 2019 🇸🇬 #SINGAPORE PowerCred processing 40,000 loans / day, expands to# Philippines, #Malaysia 🇹🇭 #THAILAND LINE MAN Wongnai revenue ▲ 20% 🇮🇳 #INDIA #HNWIs shifted $130B to Singapore in 2023

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It all started when I ventured into online entrepreneurship in late 2020... During the height of the COVID pandemic and the economic crisis in Lebanon, my partner and I co-founded one of the biggest Gen Z news networks in Lebanon today: Tollab Nation. I later explored various ventures on my own, testing ghostwriting, copywriting, graphic design, web design, dropshipping, drop servicing, print-on-demand, selling e-books, and many other models/ideas. In recent years, I have focused on e-commerce. I tested three dropshipping stores worldwide, but none succeeded. So, my partner and I decided to gather some of the money we had already made to join Jad Al Fakhani's course (aka The Engine). Despite some people calling it "overrated," the results speak for themselves. Four years, five different business models, and three online shops later, it finally paid off. I officially launched my first general store in Lebanon on June 1, 2024. Today, my results may not be the best compared to others, but they are the best compared to my past self. This is only the start.

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As we embark in a new Semester, the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business at AUB has vowed to strengthen the #artificialintelligence culture among its #students, #faculty, and #staff. In an ever changing #academic environment, we should learn to befriend #ai tools in order to benefit from their capabilities while acknowledging their #negative #impacts. Quoting this recent publication (https://lnkd.in/dzCKMJRk) , mitigating the negative effects of #generativeAI involves: -Integration of #Blended #Learning Approaches: These approaches involve the integration of ChatGPT with conventional pedagogical methods -Development of #Critical #Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: Educators should incorporate activities that promote the cultivation of critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and self-directed learning in conjunction with the use of ChatGPT -Construction of #Ethical #Frameworks for AI #Design and #Evaluation: Tech companies must institute ethical guidelines governing the development and assessment of tools like ChatGPT, particularly with regard to their use in educational settings

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When will I find the job I deserve? ⭕ One of the well-known sayings in Arab culture is, "Nothing lasts forever" At first glance, it may seem obvious, but it carries a profound truth when you think more deeply about it. The school phase you’re in now will eventually end. The job you’re working at today won’t last forever. Even the goals you’re striving for will be achieved, and then new goals will take their place. No matter how important your current work seems, remember that things will change. Life is constantly shifting, and nothing remains fixed. So, don’t focus solely on the future with today’s plans. We live in a fast-paced world where nothing stays the same for long. Dream big, plan, and pursue your goals, but don’t be too attached to the outcome. Flexibility is your greatest asset in a world where change is the only constant. #yahyaek

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🌟 The MENA Region: The World's Next Silicon Valley! 🌟 The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is rapidly emerging as the world's next Silicon Valley, and I couldn't be more excited about the transformation unfolding before our eyes! 🚀 With a perfect blend of innovation, investment, and youthful energy, MENA is poised to revolutionize the startup ecosystem over the next five years. Here's why: Unparalleled Innovation: From fintech to healthtech, MENA's startups are pioneering groundbreaking solutions. The region's unique challenges drive creative problem-solving, resulting in cutting-edge technologies and business models. Investment Boom: Investors are recognizing MENA's potential, pouring billions into the region. This influx of capital is empowering entrepreneurs to scale their ventures, driving economic growth and creating jobs. Youthful Demographics: With a predominantly young population, MENA boasts a talent pool brimming with digital natives ready to disrupt traditional industries. Their energy and fresh perspectives are fueling a dynamic startup culture. Strategic Location: MENA's geographical position bridges East and West, making it an ideal hub for international trade and collaboration. This strategic advantage is attracting global partnerships and expanding market reach. Supportive Ecosystem: Governments and private sectors are collaborating to create a supportive environment for startups. From regulatory reforms to incubators and accelerators, MENA is becoming a nurturing ground for entrepreneurial success. 🌍 The impact of this transformation on the global startup world will be profound. We can expect: Increased Diversity: New voices and perspectives will enrich the global innovation landscape. Technological Breakthroughs: MENA's unique solutions will inspire advancements across industries. Economic Growth: The region's prosperity will contribute to a more balanced global economy. I'm thrilled to witness and be part of this journey. Whether you're an entrepreneur, investor, or enthusiast, now is the time to engage with MENA's thriving startup scene! Let's connect and explore opportunities together! 💼✨ #MENATech #StartupRevolution #InnovationHub #GlobalGrowth #TechTrends #InvestmentOpportunities #DigitalTransformation #SiliconValleyOfTheEast #Entrepreneurship #FutureOfTech #MENAStartups #TechInnovation #BusinessGrowth

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