Founders Club

06/19/2026

06/13/2026

06/11/2026

Recognizing leaders driving entrepreneurship and venture capital across the GCC.

Fadi Ghandour has spent more than four decades helping build the foundations of the Middle East's startup ecosystem. In 1982, he co-founded Aramex, transforming it from a regional courier startup into one of the region's leading logistics companies. In 1997, he took the company public on Nasdaq, making Aramex the first company from the Arab world to list on a U.S. stock exchange, before later listing it on the Dubai Financial Market.

After stepping down as CEO in 2012, Fadi shifted his focus toward entrepreneurship and venture capital. He was an early investor in Maktoob, whose acquisition by Yahoo became one of the defining milestones in the region's technology sector and a landmark moment for entrepreneurship across the Arab world. He also played an active role in supporting a generation of startups that helped shape MENA's digital economy, including companies such as Souq and Careem.

Through Wamda and Wamda Capital, Fadi has spent the last decade helping entrepreneurs access the capital, mentorship, research, and ecosystem support needed to scale. Beyond investing, Wamda has contributed to strengthening the region's startup ecosystem through founder education, industry research, community-building initiatives, and engagement with investors and policymakers across multiple markets.

His impact extends beyond venture capital. As Founder and Chairman of Ruwwad for Development and a Founding Board Member of Endeavor Jordan, Fadi has championed entrepreneurship, community development, and opportunity creation across the region.

Today, as Executive Chairman of Wamda Group, Fadi remains one of the most influential voices in venture capital and innovation across the GCC and wider MENA region.

At FCI, we recognize the people shaping the next chapter of global investment.

06/09/2026

A few words from Leo Kittay, FCI Chair, New York City, at our Annual Founders & Investors Networking Event in Riyadh.

06/07/2026

Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu, represented by Partner Leo Kittay, and JazRock signed an MOU at the FCI Annual Networking Event in Riyadh on May 17th.

JazRock, led by Chairman Zain Aljafari, is a Riyadh-based private fund and accelerator with a portfolio of venture-backed Saudi companies positioned for regional and global expansion. As its portfolio continues to grow, Fross Zelnick will provide intellectual property expertise to help support companies scaling across the GCC and into international markets.

The agreement is focused on ensuring JazRock's portfolio of Saudi venture-backed companies can scale across the GCC and into international markets with their brands properly protected from day one.

FCI brings the right people into the same room.

Learn more: foundersclubint.com

06/06/2026

Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu, represented by Partner Leo Kittay and Takadao signed an MOU at the FCI Annual Networking Event in Riyadh on May 17th.

Takadao, led by CEO and Co-Founder Morrad Irsane, is a Saudi-based fintech building Shariah-compliant, blockchain-powered financial services spanning cooperative savings, loans, and insurance. Backed by Tim Draper and expanding across Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America, Takadao's portfolio companies will gain access to world-class intellectual property expertise to support their global expansion.

The agreement is focused on strengthening the ability of venture-backed companies to build and protect their brands as they scale into international markets.

FCI brings the right people into the same room.

Learn more: foundersclubint.com

IP

06/05/2026

Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu and ClubsHub signed an MOU at the FCI Annual Networking Event in Riyadh on May 17th.

ClubsHub, led by Bader Rajab, is a Saudi platform building structured ecosystems for clubs and universities across the Kingdom, supporting youth leadership, community governance, and measurable social impact. As ClubsHub expands its footprint across the GCC and beyomd, Fross Zelnick will provide intellectual property expertise to help support its long-term growth and international expansion.

The agreement is focused on equipping ClubsHub's community of university clubs and youth-led ventures with the IP foundation they need to grow beyond Saudi Arabia and into global markets.

FCI brings the right people into the same room.

Learn more: foundersclubint.com

05/29/2026

On May 17th, we witnessed the power of meaningful connections in action.

The FCI Networking Event brought together an exceptional community of entrepreneurs, investors, founders, and high-growth scale-ups under one roof with a shared goal: building relationships that move ideas, businesses, and opportunities forward.

The energy in the room reflected what happens when ambitious people and ecosystems align. Conversations went beyond introductions and evolved into discussions around partnerships, investment opportunities, market expansion, and creating long-term impact.

A special thank you to our incredible hosts and partners, including and Center of Digital Entrepreneurship, for helping create a platform where innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration can thrive.

As part of the event, we were excited to announce a collaborative initiative between a leading intellectual property law firm that helps brands protect their IP and expand globally with the right legal foundations in place, , , and . The initiative is designed to strengthen the international expansion capabilities of Saudi venture-backed companies by helping equip high-growth brands with the intellectual property protection and strategic support needed to scale confidently across the GCC region and into global markets.
This is only the beginning.

Riyadh continues to demonstrate why it is becoming one of the most exciting hubs for entrepreneurship, investment, and innovation globally.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to making the evening such a success. We look forward to building on these conversations and turning connections into action.

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