DERIVATION, DISRUPTION, DIFFERENTIATION ENSURING SINGULARITY AMID THE MARKETING CLUTTER SUCCEss SPEAKS FOR ITSELF RAMZY ABDUL-MAJEED AND MARKUS THESLEFF The co-founders of Whissle Hospitality Group are all set to take their enterprise to the next level BUILDING A (GREAT) COMPANY CULTURE INVESTING IN THIS NOW WILL PAY RICH DIVIDENDS LATER Reinventing HEALTHCARE in the mena It’S IN ITS NASCENT STAGES, BUT THE REGION HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A HUB FOR HEALTHCARE OF THE FUTURE SEPTEMBER 2017 | WWW.ENTREPRENEUR.COM/ME | UAE AED20 SEPTEMBER 2017 CONTENTS 18 Lachlan Jackson, founder, Ecocoast 24 18 28 60 INNOVATOR: INNOVATOR: START IT UP: ‘TREPONOMICS: SUCCEss SPEAKS FOR RISING TO THE OCCASION ECOSYSTEM PRO itsELF The marine industry may not Reinventing healthcare in Experience matters Ramzy Abdul-Majeed and the most popular of industries the MENA It’s not the shopping Markus Thesleff, co-founders for entrepreneurs to get into- Healthcare tech may be in platform, but the shopping of Whissle Hospitality Group but Ecocast founder Lachlan its nascent stages, but the mindset that really matters, are all set to take their Jackson managed his way into region has the potential to says Ahmed Galal Ismail, enterprise to the next level. it (and is now there to stay). be a hub for the sector in CEO, Majid Al-Futtaim the future. Ventures. 70 34 START IT UP: ‘TREPONOMICS: Q&A PRO Beware of the underdog Money talks Nooruldeen Agha, founder Suhail Masri, VP of and CEO, Elabelz, on the Employer Solutions at e-commerce startup’s track Bayt.com, offers a primer on record and what makes it how you can determine your one to watch out for. employees’ salaries. 25 Okku Japanese restaurant, bar & lounge SEPTEMBER 2017 ENTREPRENEUR 3 Entrepreneur ME ARCHITECT dps W406xH273 E.indd All Pages 8/22/17 11:55 AM Entrepreneur ME ARCHITECT dps W406xH273 E.indd All Pages 8/22/17 11:55 AM CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2017 44 40 ‘TREPONOMICS: TECH: MARKETING SHINY Inspiring trailblazers #TamTalksTech Cadillac’s new brand Gadgets and doodads campaign “Arabs of New that you might’ve missed York” celebrates innovative out on, sourced by a tech minds from the Middle East. aficionado. Yes, it’s okay to want them all… and no, 42 it’s not our fault. CULTURE: TRAPPINGS ‘Trep gear 41 Galaxy Note8 45 Cadillac’s “Arabs of New York” campaign with Mohamed Fairouz The executive selection for the entrepreneur on your list that has everything. 50 68 Okay, maybe for a little self- CULTURE: TECH: reward as well. DESIGN MOBILE TECH Form follows function From concept to launch 46 Design Haus Medy CEO Want to launch an app in ‘TREPONOMICS: Medy Navani explains how the MENA region? ESQUIRE GUY you can attract, engage and Andy Meikle, founder of Productive meals retain the right people for sports app 10, offers a The Esquire Guy writes on your enterprise, using your useful roadmap you can navigating the tricky terrain office space. follow. of a business lunch. 68 Andy Meikle, founder, 10 8 ENTREPRENEUR SEPTEMBER 2017 CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2017 54 The link between entrepreneurship and happiness, by the in5 team 74 48 START IT UP: CULTURE: Q&A LIFE Shazam for cars Master the fundamentals UAE-based AI-powered James Clear makes the Seez app is all set to change case for why you need to the way you buy cars. do more of what already works. 64 FRANCHISE 36 78 58 Keep it local ‘TREPONOMICS: START IT UP: CULTURE: As the Partner & Operator PRO STARTUP FINANCE LIFE of McDonald’s chain in the Put the consumer in the “We got funded!” The two words every UAE, Rafic Fakih explains driving seat A look at how STARZ PLAY leader must use the importance of localizing Kunal Kapoor, founder of Arabia and Wego secured Colin Cauffield, Executive your franchise approach. The Luxury Closet, believes their latest fundraising Director, Upper GCC at EFS that for luxury brands wins- and what one can Facilities Services Group, 14 to thrive in the current expect to see from them in on the power of using EDITOR’S NOTE market landscape, they the future. “Thank You” at work. By Aby Sam Thomas must embrace digital. 72 Nooruldeen Agha, founder and CEO, Elabelz 10 ENTREPRENEUR SEPTEMBER 2017 60 YEARS OF ADVENTURE AND DISCOVERY CA109244_Superocean Heritage II_203x273_Entrepreneur.indd 1 10/07/2017 08:26 MIDDLE EAST SUBSCRIBE EDITOR IN CHIEF Aby Sam Thomas [email protected] Contact [email protected] to receive CEO Wissam Younane [email protected] Entrepreneur Middle East every issue MANAGING DIRECTOR Walid Zok [email protected] DIRECTOR Rabih Najm [email protected] CREATIVE LEAD Odette Kahwagi MANAGING EDITOR Tamara Pupic STARTUPS SECTION EDITOR Pamella de Leon PO Box 502511 Dubai, United Arab Emirates COLUMNIST Sindhu Hariharan P +971 4 4200 506 | F +971 4 4200 196 COLUMNIST Tamara Clarke COLUMNIST Shoug Al Nafisi For all commercial enquiries related to Entrepreneur Middle East contact COLUMNIST Erika Widen [email protected] EVENTS LIAISON Mark Anthony Monzon CONTRIBUTING WRITERS All rights reserved © 2016. Opinions expressed are solely those of the contributors. Suhail Al Masri Kunal Kapoor Entrepreneur Middle East and all subsidiary Colin Caulfield Moustafa Mahmoud publications in the MENA region are officially licensed Fida Chaaban Ross McCammon exclusively to BNC Publishing in the MENA region by James Clear Andy Meikle Entrepreneur Media Inc. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or Rafic Fakih Medy Navani transmitted in any form or by any means without written Ahmed Galal Ismail Alexander Rauser permission of the publisher. Abdulwahed Juma Wissam Youssef Images used in Entrepreneur Middle East are credited when necessary. Attributed use of Printed by Raidy Emirates Printing Group LLC copyrighted images with permission. All images not credited otherwise Shutterstock. www.raidy.com In addition to our print edition, we’re bringing EntMagazineME you all sorts of industry news on our web mediums. 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EntrepreneurMiddleEast Witness the revolution first hand with billionfloor $in business. 2017, serendipity It’s not allcan on happen the show at Smart Manufacturing, Global Smart Cities, straightthe freshest from R&Dideas products, in the Future prototypes Tech Hall and floor1 inof 1002017, events serendipity in GITEX can Fringe happen at Plus,Robotics the latest and inVehicle AI, VR Tech.and AR EntMagazineME the freshest ideas in the Future Tech Hall 1 of 100 events in GITEX Fringe Plus, the latest in AI, VR and AR EntMagazineME Dubai attracted USD 7 billion in Foreign Direct Investment in 2016, with 73% directed to tech projects EntMagazineME GITEX TechnologyDubai attracted Week USD 7 billion gives in yourForeign business Direct Investment access in 2016, to these with 73% game-changing directed to tech projects initiatives GITEX Technology Week gives your business access to these game-changing initiatives CALL US TODAY FOR ACCESS TO THE MIDDLE EAST & AFRICAN MARKETS CALL US TODAY FOR ACCESS TO THE MIDDLE EAST & AFRICAN MARKETS To find out how about this year’s participation opportunities contact us on +971 4 308 6282 / 4090 / 6566 / 6077 To find out how about this year’s participation opportunities or [email protected] contact us on +971 4 308 6282 / 4090 / 6566 / 6077 Strategicor [email protected] Sponsor VIP Majlis Lounge Business Exclusive Digital Autonomous & Robotics Partner Finance Vertical Partner Transformation Transformation Title Partner Partner Partner Strategic Sponsor VIP Majlis Lounge Business Exclusive Digital Autonomous & Robotics Partner Finance Vertical Partner Transformation Transformation Title Partner Partner Partner Finance Online Registration Official Official Official Airline Official Courier Organised by Vertical Title Sponsors Publisher Publication Partner Handler Partner Finance Online Registration Official Official Official Airline Official Courier Organised by Vertical Title Sponsors Publisher Publication Partner Handler Partner EDITOR’S NOTE ACCELERATE SME Finding common ground CONTRIBUTE. ENGAGE. GROW. Conflicts are to be expected at startups and, as an entrepreneur, you need to know how to tackle them n an ideal world, the office (and understand the perspectives shouldn’t be a setting for any of) people on either end of the kind of conflict, but let’s be conflict.