Opening remarks from Viaka, setting the stage for a day of insight, connection, and cross-border collaboration.

A founder turned investor, Elizabeth Yin has helped shape how the next generation of entrepreneurs think about scaling and fundraising globally. From her early days at 500 Startups to building Hustle Fund into one of Silicon Valley’s most active pre-seed firms, Elizabeth has backed thousands of founders around the world and championed a more inclusive, transparent approach to venture investing.

In this keynote, she shares lessons on building economic bridges across markets, navigating early-stage growth, and rethinking how capital flows across ecosystems—insights especially relevant for founders and investors connecting the MENA region with North America’s startup landscape.

The MENA diaspora isn’t just participating in Canada’s innovation economy — it’s shaping it. This session spotlights the founders, fund managers, and ecosystem builders who are launching funds, scaling ventures, and influencing policy through a uniquely cross-border lens. We’ll explore how dual-market fluency, cultural capital, and transnational networks are driving new pathways for growth between Canada and the MENA region.

Speakers:

• Rasha Katabi, Brim Financial, CEO & Founder

• Abdullah Snobar, DMZ, Executive Director

• Samer Abughannam, Layla, Founder

• Nouhaila Chelkhaoui, Scale Without Borders, Founder & CEO

Moderated by Emile Maamary, Co Founder of Steadiwear

From boardrooms in Toronto to startups in Dubai, capital is moving faster, and more strategically, across borders. This panel unpack the evolving dynamics of the MENA–Canada funding corridor: who’s writing the checks, what kinds of deals are getting done, and how mandates are shifting on both sides. We’ll explore shifting mandates, emerging fund structures, jurisdictional frictions, and the trust required to move money and build partnerships across markets.

Speakers:

• Ghassan Halawa, Founder & CEO, parachute16

• Hani Azzam, Principal, Propeller

• Elizabeth Yin, GP, Hustle Fund

• Marc Ghobriel, Capital Corporate Advisor, Inovia

Moderated by: Sunil Sharma, Techstars

Candid conversation with Noura Sakkijha, the visionary behind Mejuri, the global fine jewelry brand redefining luxury through accessibility, authenticity, and community. Noura will share her journey of disrupting a legacy industry, scaling a purpose-driven D2C brand, and leading with creativity and conviction in today’s fast-evolving consumer landscape.

AI is hot — but hype doesn’t close deals. This panel brings together investors from MENA and Canada to unpack what they’re really looking for in AI startups. We’ll compare market expectations, explore adoption curves in each region, and dig into what separates a fundable AI venture from a feature that won’t last. Whether you're building or backing, you’ll walk away with a clearer picture of what it takes to stand out.

Speakers:

• Moien Giashi, Principal, GreenSky Ventures

• Mohamed El Abshihy, Graphite Ventures

• Tammer Kamel, GP, Antler

• Mohamed Aburawi, Founder & CEO, Atarona Ventures

• Khrystyna Penyk, Luge Capital,

Moderated by: Matthew He, Investment Associate, Capital

Great products aren’t found, they’re built. This session dives into how successful startups approach product development from day one: identifying the right problems to solve, talking to users early, and building lean without losing direction. We’ll explore strategies for testing assumptions, prioritizing features, and iterating toward product-market fit.

Speakers:

• Jad Yaghi, Founder, Baselane

• Fatima khamitova, Director, Vector Institute

• Liza Akhvledziani Carew, Founder, Chexy

• Ibrahim Ashqar, Founder, Lumi Ai

• Javed Maqsood, Founder & CEO, High Plains Consulting

Everyone talks about raising, but not enough about why (or if) you should. This honest session breaks down early-stage funding across the MENA–Canada landscape, from VC and angel to grants and debt. We’ll share a founder-readiness checklist, unpack the culture and expectations of fundraising in each region, and help you figure out what capital, if any, makes sense for you.

Speakers:

• Niramay, Innovation Director, CIBC

• Gina El Kattan, Founder, Nuba Tea

• Morgan McDonald, Partner, DLA Piper

• Ahmed Shafik, Co-Founder, Venn

Moderated by: Sultan Mehrabi, MK Capital

You’ve seen the headlines, but what really happens when founders scale across borders? This raw, founder-led session strips away the glossy LinkedIn updates and dives into the real lessons of international expansion. Hear stories of missteps, market flops, legal headaches, and cultural misalignments, and how these founders turned pain into playbooks.

Speakers:

• Ghassan Halazon, Founder & CEO, Emerge Commerce

• Rami Alhamad, Founder & CEO, Alma

• Rami Helali, Founder & CEO, Kotn

• Yanal Dahlieh, Founder & CEO, Peace Collective

Moderated by: Sharn Bassi, Head of Market Strategy & Expansion, Materix Venture Studio

Five startups will pitch a panel of judges for the opportunity to secure investment and introduction to the Viaka Angel Network

Hosted by DLA Piper