Four MENA Startups That Nailed An Investment These four startups all have one thing in common: they managed to pitch successfully for investment by Jabbar Internet Group.

By Samih Toukan •

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

These four startups all have one thing in common: they managed to pitch successfully for investment by Jabbar Internet Group. Chairman Samih Toukan's primary reason for injecting capital into these MENA startups? "They all have a great team, and unique business models in our region."

1. Arabiaweather.com This site offers free subscription for local weather news, and some news on topics like nature, science, climate, health, ecosystems, and space.

2. Officerock.com This site is an online marketplace based in UAE for office needs catering to SMBs and larger entities.

3. Instabeat.me Founded by a swimmer, this wearable tech startup was developed to monitor heartrate and swimming performance. It's essentially a Fitbit for watersport enthusiasts.

4. Designer-24.com Users can rent high-end designer attire, with free delivery and pickup. The user is sent two sizes of the same gown to determine the best fit.

Learn more what Chairman Samih Toukan looks for in a startup pitch.

Wavy Line
Samih Toukan

Chairman, Jabbar Internet Group

In the year 2000, Samih founded and became the CEO of Maktoob.com, the world’s first Arabic email and largest Arab online community with over 16 million users. In 2009, Maktoob was acquired by Yahoo! in the largest technology acquisition deal in the history of the region.

Following the acquisition, Samih became the Chairman of Jabbar Internet Group (Jabbar.com) a group that founded several leading Internet companies including souq.com, the Arab world's largest ecommerce site. Jabbar today is one of the leading investors in Internet and technology companies in the region.

Samih holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of London and a Masters in Management and International Business from HEC University in France. He has several years of experience with Andersen Consulting in technology consulting, systems development and Internet services. He co-founded Business Optimization Consultants in 1994 and Maktoob in 2000.

Between 2003 and 2005 , Samih was appointed by the Jordanian government as a member of the board of the Social Security Investment Fund (a fund of several billion Dollars). Today Samih is an active investor, investing in many startups in the region and around the world. He also acts as a mentor to many entrepreneurs. Samih is also a founding investor in Oasis500, Jordan’s leading startup incubator.

Furthermore Samih is the Chairman of the board of UnderMyOliveTree, a non profit organization focusing on education support for the unprivileged, and an investor and a member of the board of Ruwwad Micro Venture Fund, which provides grants for entrepreneurs in marginalized communities in Jordan.

Related Topics

Growth Strategies Startups Pitching Startup Financing Jabbar Internet Group

Most Popular

See all
Chevron Right
Starting a Business

5 Tips For Launching a Business While Keeping Your Day Job

Launching a business while holding down a 9-to-5 is no small feat. It's a common path for aspiring entrepreneurs, but it's not without its challenges.

By Nikita Fedorov
Side Hustle

A Simple Household Chore Turned Into a Side Hustle — Now She Earns Up to $24,000 Per Month

Christian Sanya, 44, was working as a medical laboratory technologist in 2019 when she discovered a side gig that would change her life.

By Amanda Breen
Money & Finance

Want to Become a Millionaire? Follow Warren Buffett's 4 Rules.

Too many entrepreneurs are counting too heavily on a company exit for their eventual 'win.' Do this instead.

By Cheryl Snapp Conner
Thought Leaders

Jessica Simpson's Billion-Dollar Secret: 'Being Underestimated Is a Superpower'

Building a fashion empire has taught the pop star that when people assume you're clueless, it only gives you more time to prove them wrong.

By Frances Dodds
Money & Finance

7 Ways to Make Extra Income Even With a Full-Time Job

Want to make more money? Real estate investing, Amazon ecommerce and the sharing economy are waiting for you.

By Sujan Patel
Business News

How to Make Money Online: 32 Proven Ways to Make Extra Money Fast

See how you can make money online, plus more details on how to bring in the bucks quickly.

By R.L. Adams