Entrepreneurship |

Economic Development |

Innovation |

Entrepreneurship | Economic Development | Innovation |

About Impact MENA

Impact MENA

is a

Regional Consulting and Advisory firm established to
deal with the local & regional Challenges

in the

Entrepreneurship and Innovation ecosystem

providing services to

Governments, Universities, Non Profit Organizations, Investors,
High Growth Businesses and other stakeholders

in the

Middle East and North Africa

Founders

Farhan Kalaldeh

  • Farhan Kalaldeh is the CEO and Co-Founder of Impact MENA, a Regional Consulting and Advisory firm providing services to investors, governments, Universities and other stakeholders in the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem in the Middle East and North Africa.

  • Over the last 15 years, Farhan has been involved in designing and implementing entrepreneurship programs on the national and regional levels (Levant, GCC and North Africa). His work covered a wide spectrum of activities from culture development and awareness activities, specialized capacity building programs, venture creation programs, to highly customized growth programs.

  • Farhan was also the Executive Director for Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship (QRCE) from 2010-2014. QRCE is a National Center of Excellence established in 2004 as part of El Hassan Science City to help develop Technology Entrepreneurship in Jordan. Prior to that, Farhan was the Excellence Manager and Project Manager at Economic Zones World (EZW) and Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) in UAE. Before that, Farhan was the “Investing In Technology” Program Manager at the Arab Science & Technology Foundation (ASTF) based in UAE and was responsible for initiating & managing ASTF programs aimed at developing Technology Entrepreneurship in MENA region. At ASTF, Farhan developed, launched & managed the first Pan Arab/Regional Technology Business Plan Competition in partnership with Islamic Development Bank and Intel. Before joining ASTF, Farhan co-founded a software company in Jordan specializing in banking solutions. Farhan started his career in Business Development and Project Management at several startups companies in Jordan.

  • Farhan studied Electrical Engineering at Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT) and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and completed the Executive MBA program at Lancaster University (LUMS). Farhan is a Certified Project Manager (PMP).

Khaldoon Tabaza

  • Khaldoon Tabaza is the Managing Director of iMENA Holdings, a consumer online businesses holding company focused on the Middle East and North Africa. In January, 2010, Abraaj Capital acquired Khaldoon's pervious firm, Riyada Ventures, a venture capital firm that he established in 2005, which won the award for the best venture capital in MENA in 2008 and 2009.

  • Throughout his career, Khaldoon has been involved in 60+ SME and Venture Capital engagements, including co-founding, managing, and advising SME firms and investment funds in Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and United States. Sectors of expertise include technology, media, telecommunication, Internet, and healthcare.

  • A self-made entrepreneur, Khaldoon in 1994 established Arabian Communications and Publishing. In 1997, he started Arabia Online, the first regional portal focused on the Arab world, attracting investments from the likes of Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, Intel Capital, and HP. In 2000, he lead the establishment of IDEAVELOPERS, Egypt's first technology incubator and early stage fund. During the period from 2003-2005 Khaldoon worked for a Saudi Arabia based group to build Internet business. In 2005, he started Riyada Ventures. Riyada Ventures was acquired by Abraaj Capital, and he joined the Abraaj Capital Group. Firms that Khaldoon has invested in personally, Managed, or cofounded include NetAdvantage, OneCard, Arab Advisors Group, MediaScope, KindiSoft, and Gate2Play, Shawweet.com, and iKitab. In 2006, he was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

  • Khaldoon holds a Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery degree from the University of Jordan. He has also completed the Young Global Leaders Leadership and Policy education component at Harvard University’s Kennedy School. In 2010, he was selected as a Kauffman Venture Capital Fellow.

Track Record

Entrepreneurship Development 12

Regional Programs 6

National Programs 6

Venture Creation Programs/Activities 22

Incubation Advisory Services 8

Venture Development 10

Entrepreneur & SME Services 4

Enterprise Growth & Other 21

Sponsored Investments 3

SME Strategic Advisory Services 10

SME Financial Advisory Services 8

Total 55

Impact MENA builds on the track record of its founders in engagements where they had a key role as Founders, Directors, Managers, or Advisors to different organizations in the region.