Podcasts · Business · Technology

with Loulou

Loulou Khazen

110 episodes

What does it actually take to build, run, and scale a business in the Arab world and how do global events shape it? With Loulou is the only Arab business podcast hosted by an operator and investor with skin in the game. I share my take, and then invite the founders, investors, operators, and thinkers who are shaping the region. Featured 4× on Apple Podcasts Middle East.

Episodes page 1 of 3

  1. Jayesh Patel (Wio Bank): The Playbook Behind the UAE's Fastest-Growing Digital Bank

    · 1 h 00 min · Episode 107

    Jayesh Patel is the CEO of Wio Bank, the digital bank that in less than four years has become the account 1 in 3 new UAE businesses choose and the fastest way to see how AI, ownership and the Gulf economy are actually…

  2. Ahmad AlZaini on Building a $13B Restaurant Operating System From Al Khobar

    · 57 min · Episode 106

    Is the software business dying? Loulou sits down with Ahmad AlZaini, co-founder and CEO of Foodics, at the 11-year mark of the company for the operator's read on the biggest question in tech this year: what happens to…

  3. Peter Middlebrook on Dubai as the New New York and the Return of the Golden Age

    · 52 min · Episode 105

    Is the Middle East entering a new golden age? Loulou sits down with one of the most well-connected geopolitical economists working today for a structural read on the region recorded as the US-Iran 60-day MOU process…

  4. AI, Jobs and the Side Door: A Top MENA Recruiter on Surviving 2026

    · 1 h 03 min · Episode 104

    What happens to your job when the most powerful companies in the world are laying off thousands of people not because they are failing, but because they are betting on AI instead, and your region is also in a war that…

  5. HE Faisal Belhoul on the UAE That Came Out of the War: Capital, the World Cup and the IPO

    · 48 min · Episode 104

    Where do you put your money in the Gulf right now? Loulou sits down with one of the UAE's most experienced investors to read the region as it actually is in June 2026: the regional war still the dominant story, the…

  6. Two top angel investors are DOUBLING down on the GCC, but what are they investing in?

    · 1 h 02 min · Episode 103

    Abdullah Mutawi, Partner & Head of Corporate MENA at Taylor Wessing, and Kushal Shah, Private Markets Investor, join Loulou for a conversation (episode 103) on where opportunity really sits in the GCC today. They…

  7. The $240M startup trying to fix trade in the Strait of Hormuz

    · 53 min · Episode 101

    Gaurav Biswas, Founder & CEO of Trukker, joins Loulou for a timely conversation on what happens to GCC supply chains when the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted. They unpack how cargo was rerouted through alternate ports,…

  8. 9 of 14 MENA Tech IPOs Are Underwater. Now What?

    · 56 min · Episode 100

    Philip Bahoshy, Founder & CEO of Magnitt, and Ziad Awad, Founder & CEO of Awad Capital, join Loulou for episode 100 of With Loulou. Recorded during a period of regional uncertainty, this conversation looks at what is…

  9. Here's why the UAE didn't collapse in the face of US/ Iran war

    · 44 min · Episode 99

    Day 56 of the Iran war. Most international press wrote Dubai's obituary in March. Predictions of a mass exodus, the end of the UAE story, a 15 year setback. None of it happened. 2,800 strikes were fired at this region.…

  10. $212M Gone. Inside the Nana collapse with a Gulf VC

    · 58 min · Episode 98

    A Saudi quick-commerce startup raised $212 million and just collapsed. MENA VC funding fell 37% year-over-year. Late-stage debt is frozen. Khaled Talhouni — Managing Partner of Nuwa Capital, one of the most active GCC…

  11. Special Episode: When War Stops Feeling Far Away | Mo Gawdat

    · 1 h 04 min · Episode 98

    In this special episode, Loulou Khazen speaks with Mo Gawdat about fear, uncertainty, and the psychological impact of war. في هذه الحلقة الخاصة، تتحاور لولو خازن مع مو جودة حول الخوف وعدم اليقين والتأثير النفسي للحروب.…

  12. E97: This Dubai Expat Risked Everything—Then Raised $30M to Build a Global Brand

    · 1 h 02 min · Episode 97

    Discover how Anam Khalid, co-founder and COO of Squatwolf, went from a small-town girl in Pakistan to building a global fitness brand from Dubai. In this inspiring conversation, Anam reveals the sacrifices, challenges,…

  13. E96: أن تكون معروفاً أو أن تُمحى: عن المال والكرامة في عالمٍ تضيق فيه الخيارات | مع خبيرة التواصل والإعلامية نعمة أبو وردة

    · 1 h 16 min · Episode 96

    لماذا علينا أن نتحدث عن المال؟ ولماذا تكون النساء أكثر عرضة للموت مفلسات؟ في هذه الحلقة، نستضيف الإعلامية العالمية، خبيرة التواصل، ومؤلفة كتاب "The Brilliant Communicator"، نعمة أبو وردة، وهي أيضاً صحفية سابقة في هيئة…

  14. E95: From Refugee Roots to Snapchat VP: Hussein Freijeh on Love, Progress and Authentic Leadership

    · 1 h 28 min · Episode 95

    What does progress mean when you start life as a refugee? In this heartfelt episode, Snapchat's MENA VP Hussein Freijeh opens up about building what his father and grandfather never had. We talk about fatherhood, the…

  15. E94: محمد جودت: لأول مرة، ما لم يُقَل عن النجاح والحياة

    · 1 h 53 min · Episode 94

    ماذا لو كان ما نؤمن به عن النجاح والمشاعر والعمل... مجرد وهم مغلف بإتقان؟ في هذه الحلقة المؤثرة، نستضيف محمد جودت — الرئيس التنفيذي السابق للأعمال في غوغل إكس، مؤلف عالمي الأكثر مبيعًا، وصوت رائد في السعادة وتطوير…

  16. E93: "زينة خوري تتحدث عن الاستثمار بالنفس، العقارات، و"الدراما

    · 1 h 08 min · Episode 93

    شاهد الملايين برنامج “دبي بلينغ” على نتفليكس، حيث نتابع حياة الأثرياء الباذخة في الجانب الصاخب من دبي. لكن ما لا يعرفه كثيرون هو من هم هؤلاء الأشخاص خلف الكواليس، بعيدًا عن الأضواء والثراء. في هذه الحلقة، أتحاور مع…

  17. E92: How to Think Big, Start Small, and Succeed at Anything — Lessons from the Founder of the world’s largest tech event!

    · 28 min · Episode 92

    Paddy Cosgrave, founder and CEO of Web Summit, joins me for a fast-paced conversation recorded live at Web Summit Qatar. We talk about how he scaled a 150-person event into one of the world’s largest tech conferences,…

  18. E91 Special Arabic Episode: عن الشهرة، الفشل، الذكاء الاصطناعي وعظمة المرأة المصرية: حوار بالعربي مع رائد الأعمال المصري محمد أبو النجا

    · 1 h 21 min · Episode 91

    في الحلقة الأولى من البودكاست بالعربي، حبيت اني أتكلم مع صديقي رائد الأعمال محمد أبو النجا المعروف في مصر ب"نجاتي". محمد عندو رؤية في مجال العمل. عندما كان موظف في فوري، قرر إنو يشتري أسهم بالشركة وأدرجت فوري على…

  19. E90: The deal maker: Ziad Awad on compromise, deal killers, negotiation, and Trump’s ‘drill baby drill’ impact on GCC economies

    · 50 min · Episode 90

    We kick off by exploring the broader implications of President Trump’s ‘drill baby drill’ policy and how it could shape GCC economies, from oil markets to capital flows. We then deep dive into the art of deal-making,…

  20. E89: Philip Bahoshy-the startup valley of death, founder burnout, UAE-Saudi ecosystems, M&A drought and venture capital predictions!

    · 1 h 55 min · Episode 89

    I sat down with Philip Bahoshy, founder of MAGNiTT, for a no-holds-barred conversation on the realities of the startup world. We unpack the "Startup Valley of Death," exploring why founders fail, when to quit, and how…

  21. E88: Sky Kurtz: the $300M agri-tech giant, avoiding down round disasters, founder self-sabotage, the hard truth about MENA exits, tariffs, and bad actors ruining a multi-billion dollar industry

    · 1 h 58 min · Episode 88

    In this episode, we dive into the hard truth about why exits in MENA are so challenging, the role of tariffs in protecting domestic production, and how bad actors have tarnished the reputation of an entire industry.…

  22. E87: What It Takes to Win Big (in MENA): Insights from a $35B Founder and Global Investor

    · 1 h 20 min · Episode 87

    Chris Rogers is a global entrepreneur who co-founded Nextel Communications, a wireless connectivity company, in 1987 and sold it for $35B in 2005. In the early 2000s, Chris came to Saudi Arabia to launch Nextel as a…

  23. E86: Maha Abouelenein: build your brand, bet on yourself and live with no regrets!

    · 1 h 13 min · Episode 86

    I sat down with Maha Abouelenein, powerhouse communicator, entrepreneur, and best-selling author of Seven Rules of Self-Reliance. Maha shares her incredible journey—from starting as a secretary for Naguib Sawiris to…

  24. E85: Talal Tabbaa on the Bitcoin run, Bitcoin ETFs, Altcoins. Is it too late to get in?

    · 1 h 25 min · Episode 84

    I sat down with Talal Tabbaa, co-founder of CoinMENA, to unpack the latest in the crypto world. We dive into Bitcoin’s recent bull run and why ETFs are a game-changer for institutional adoption. Talal shares his take…

  25. E84: Where is my seafood coming from? A conversation on turtles, tech and fishy business practices!

    · 1 h 12 min · Episode 84

    I sat down with H.E. Sheikh Fahim a member of the Executive Council of Sharjah and the Executive Chairman of the Department of Government Relations to talk about his marine conservation work. Sheikh Fahim a.k.a. ‘the…

  26. E83: MENA venture capital crisis management and postmortems with Abdullah Mutawi

    · 1 h 25 min · Episode 83

    I sat down with Abdullah Mutawi, Partner and Head of Corporate at law firm Taylor Wessing and prolific angel investor as the Co-founder and Chairman of Dubai Angel Investors and Saudi Angel Investors and we unpack some…

  27. E82: Charlie Wright: hard work, failure, mindset & the serendipity behind Humantra’s Huda Beauty investment

    · 1 h 23 min · Episode 82

    I sat down with Charlie Wright, Founder & CEO of Humantra, the fastest-growing electrolytes brand in the UAE, now eyeing global expansion after a successful UK launch. Charlie’s journey to Dubai began straight out of…

  28. E81:The families that shaped MENA and what lies ahead for them?

    · 1 h 02 min · Episode 81

    I sat down with Farida El Agamy, an entrepreneur, a lawyer and expert on the MENA family business landscape, to get a peak into the rise and challenges of the families that shaped our region from the Almajdouie and…

  29. Summer Special - Part 3 of 3: What trends are shaping MENA startups today?

    · 7:31 · Episode 82

    Welcome back to work everyone. In this last part of the '3 part bite sized summer special', I revisit my conversations with my guests in the first half of 2024 and distill 3 trends that are shaping MENA startups. If…

  30. Summer Special - Part 2 of 3: What makes a great entrepreneur?

    · 7:47 · Episode 81

    As you gear up for back to school season, I hope you enjoy part 2 of our 3 part - bite sized - summer special. In this episode, I share with you my personal views on what makes a great entrepreneur. Having been an…

  31. Summer Special - Part 1 of 3: Why should you care about startups in MENA?

    · 9:25 · Episode 80

    I hope you’re all enjoying the summer! In this 3 part episode, I will be sharing with you a bit of my raison d’être for doing the podcast. As an entrepreneur and investor living in Dubai, I am heavily invested in our…

  32. E80:Mazen Kanaan on Unilever ouster, House of Pops success, and a Shark Tank deal that went south!

    · 1 h 04 min · Episode 80

    I sat down with Mazen Kanaan, Co-founder and CEO of House of Pops to discuss his incredible journey leading the ice cream business at Unilever in the region, to his abrupt ouster and the subsequent launch of House of…

  33. E79: The art of deal making with private equity veteran Imad Ghandour

    · 59 min · Episode 79

    Imad Ghandour shares his extensive experience in the private equity sector, covering essential topics such as buying, improving, and selling companies in MENA. He delves into the philosophy behind his firm, CedarBridge…

  34. E78:Vadim Fedotov on leading Groupon, founding Bioniq, health & wellness, mental toughness and the right diet

    · 1 h 30 min · Episode 78

    Vadim shares insights from his journey as a professional athlete, how he learned all about mental toughness and breaking your opponent. He shares his journey beyond sports into management consulting in Germany and then…

  35. E77:Courtney Powell on scaling 500 global, investing in MENA, motherhood and entrepreneurship

    · 1 h 12 min · Episode 77

    I sit down with Courtney Powell, Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer of 500 Global to discuss her journey from entrepreneur to global venture capital leader. Courtney shares insights on expanding 500 Global…

  36. E76: The incredible journey of MENA’s e-commerce pioneer, Ronaldo Mouchawar

    · 1 h 35 min · Episode 76

    I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Ronaldo Mouchawar, the trailblazing Co-founder and CEO of Souq.com, which was acquired by Amazon in 2017 for $580 million in cash + $200m in Amazon shares. Ronaldo, a…

  37. E75: The business of building startups from Rocket Internet to Antler with Jonathan Doerr

    · 1 h 01 min · Episode 75

    I sat down with Jonathan Doerr, the Co-founding Partner at Antler MENAP to learn about his experience in building, scaling and exciting companies. Jonathan brings a ton of learning from his time with Rocket Internet,…

  38. E74:From corporate America to corporate lunch. The story of MUNCH:ON

    · 1 h 26 min · Episode 74

    Dana Baki is the co-founder and COO at MUNCH:ON, a UAE born startup that was solving the corporate lunch problem. MUNCH:ON which started as LUNCH:ON was utilizing kitchen’s off-peak to deliver affordable meals to…

  39. E72: An insider’s guide to private equity in MENA with Huda Al-Lawati

    · 56 min · Episode 72

    Huda Al-Lawati is a veteran private equity professional across emerging markets having had executive roles at companies like Gateway Partners, Savola and Abraaj. Huda has recently launched Aliph Capital, a private…

  40. E71: AI for everyone, Hassan Sawaf’s journey to a no-code AI

    · 50 min · Episode 71

    When Hassan Sawaf started working on machine learning in the 90s in Germany, no one thought advancements in AI would bring us to where we are today. Not even Hassan himself! In fact, people thought the AI field was too…

  41. E70: What is a hybrid kitchen and how to build one, with Jihad El Eit

    · 1 h 02 min · Episode 70

    'I have my termination letter framed in my office’ that is the first thing that Jihad said to me when I first met him. Jihad El Eit, is the Founder & Group CEO at Kaykroo, the region’s creator of home grown brands like…

  42. E69: A conversation with Steven Bartlett from the Diary of a CEO on fame, authenticity and leadership

    · 50 min · Episode 69

    In this special episode shot live from the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival on February 4th 2024, Steven and I discuss the power of personal branding and authenticity. Steven is a celebrity in the world of podcasts,…

  43. E68: Learnings from investing in 300+ Emerging Market Startups - Allen Taylor, Endeavor Catalyst

    · 1 h 11 min · Episode 68

    I sat down with Allen Taylor, the Managing Partner at Endeavor Catalyst to learn more about their unique approach to investing across the world. Endeavor Catalyst fund is part of the non-profit Endeavor network, the…

  44. E67: Listing on the NASDAQ ahead of an economic downturn and new beginnings - Elie Habib, Co-founder Anghami

    · 1 h 22 min · Episode 67

    I sat down with Elie Habib, the Co-founder of Anghami, the region’s most loved home grown brand! Anghami is a leading music streaming platform catering for the Arab world. We discuss Anghami’s much hyped listing on the…

  45. E66: A deep dive into MENA venture capital trends with Philip Bahoshy

    · 1 h 18 min · Episode 66

    I chat with Philip Bahoshy, the CEO of Magnitt, about the dynamic tech startup scene in the MENA region after a turbulent 2023. We delve into how recent economic shifts affect venture capital and discuss the current…

  46. E65: 2023’s most practical advice

    · 41 min · Episode 65

    In this second part of 2023’s wrap up, we take a look at some of the year’s most practical advice. We hear from top entrepreneurs and venture capitalists about company culture, shutting down a startup, selling a…

  47. E64: 2023’s biggest AHA moments

    · 39 min · Episode 64

    We’re looking back at 2023’s biggest AHA moments and what a tough year it has been. The common theme across the 19 episodes recorded in 2023 was ‘resilience’ and that is representative of the mood for the year. We saw…

  48. E63: Ali Halabi on startup failure, pivot and re-birth. An incredible story of resilience

    · 1 h 17 min · Episode 63

    I sat down with Ali Halabi, Founder & CEO of Volt Lines, a Turkish based B2B mobility platform solving for the daily work commute in Istanbul, a city of 15million people that is notorious for its traffic woes. Ali has…

  49. E62: Dr. Ryan Lefers on building technologies to feed the world sustainably

    · 52 min · Episode 63

    I sat down with Dr. Ryan Lefers, Co-founder & CEO at RedSea a climate tech company founded at King Abdullah University of Science and technology (KAUST) building technologies from the desert of Saudi Arabia to make…

  50. E61: Tomaso Rodriguez on scaling talabat

    · 1 h 03 min · Episode 61

    I sat down with Tomaso Rodriguez, CEO at talabat to learn more about his experience growing the largest food delivery platform across 8 Middle Eastern markets. Talabat was born in Kuwait in 2004 and was sold to global…

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