Bitcoins, Metaverse, and NFTs are terms that have been around for quite some time, and everyone is either investing in, talking about, or wondering what they are!

These terms and more are a part of Web3; A new version of the web has been making some noise in recent times. For many, this is the first time they would have heard about the fact that there are different versions of the web as we know it. The new version is called "Web 3.0," also known as "Web3."

Cryptocurrency is the underlying force of Web3, the asset class laying the foundation for a decentralized, autonomous network, free from corporate governance.

Join us at our Web3 Middle East Summit to explore what Web3 is, how it's changing the internet, and bridging the gap between Web2 and Web3.

We'll host sessions & Q+A's with experts and investors who are at the forefront of building and investing in the next wave of the web.

The event will take place virtually on February 21 at 07:00 PM (KSA and Manama Time), 6:00 PM (Amman and Cairo Time), and 8:00 PM (Dubai Time).

Meet our speakers:

Joseph Dallago, Co-Founder, and CEO at Rain:

Joseph is one of the co-founders and the CEO of Rain. He has spent the past ten years building tech companies with his Rain co-founder AJ.

Both Joseph and AJ followed the Bitcoin revolution closely from the early days, and after university seized the opportunity to get involved directly with it. They knew from their experience with Pi it was crucial to really understand the industry inside out if they were to venture into it, so they immersed themselves within the industry - attending conferences, having meetings with other entrepreneurs in the space, and even taking full-time jobs. Joseph spent two years working for the digital currency exchange Abra, before he and AJ met their other two partners and Rain was formed.

Rain has recently raised $110 million in a Series B funding round co-led by San Francisco-based investment fund Paradigm and Silicon Valley VC firm Kleiner Perkins, and with participation from existing investors including US-based Coinbase Ventures, Middle East Venture Partners, crypto-focused fund CMT Digital Ventures, Global Founders Capital, and Cadenza Ventures.

Talal Tabbaa, CEO at CoinMENA:

Talal is the CEO and Co-Founder of CoinMENA, a regulated cryptocurrency exchange under the Central Bank of Bahrain. He also serves on the Board of Middle East Payment Services (MEPS) in Amman, Jordan, and on the advisory board of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy. He also co-founded Jibrel Network, a blockchain development company based in Zug, Switzerland. Prior to crypto, Talal worked in financial and supply chain consulting services at PwC and managed a private investment fund in Saudi Arabia. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering (Economics Minor) from Purdue University, IN, USA.

Mika Thompson, SVP Finance at BitOasis:

Mika has over 19 years of corporate experience acquired in London and Dubai. Her sector experience includes Technology, Media, Commodities, Security and Hospitality. Exposure to global, multi-billion dollar organizations and start-up environments has developed her strengths for change management, process improvement and implementation of effective internal controls. Since joining BitOasis in 2018, she has worked with the CEO on raising capital with debt and equity instruments and driven significant changes in financial reporting, accounting policies & procedures, along with reporting improvements from the BitOasis platform. Prior to joining BitOasis, Mika spent 4 years at OSN, MENA’s premier pay-TV network.

Mohamed Elkasstawi, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Tribal Credit:

Mohamed Elkasstawi is the Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Tribal Credit, where he leads the blockchain vision, strategy, and execution. From forming strategic partnerships with blockchain firms to building Tribal’s blockchain infrastructure, Mohamed focuses on harnessing the technology to give startups in emerging markets greater access to financial services. He co-founded ZK Capital, a research-focused blockchain investment firm that invests in and mentors startups using the technology. He co-invested with Sequoia, USV, Coinbase VC, and Pantera in pioneering blockchain projects. Mohamed was featured by Scene Arabia as one of “5 Middle Eastern entrepreneurs working with blockchain to transform the future.” He has a BS in Engineering Management from Northern Illinois University, and he studied Entrepreneurship at Stanford.

Salwa Radwi, CEO and Founder at Nuqtah NFT:

Salwa is currently CEO of Nuqtah NFT, pioneering NFTs to the Saudi region to breed a new line of art investors & enabling creators towards the wildest opportunities. With a passion & vision to create a genuine community of art enthusiasts, blockchain advocates & passionate individuals, the end goal is to skyrocket the holistic creative economy in MENA at the pedestal it shouldn’t be at with the power of tech!

Riyad Abou Jaoudeh, Partner at Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP):

Riyad Abou Jaoudeh is a partner at MEVP and has led several VC investments across foodtech, mobility tech, SaaS, marketplaces, crypto, and fintech. He is an Ex-telecom media and technology consultant. Riyad holds an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania the Wharton School.

Phin Mpofu, Director, Partner Success + Community at Startup Grind:

Phin Mpofu is a senior executive at Startup Grind, the world's largest startup community, where he leads the Partner Success and Global Chapter Community teams. His achievements in the community and entrepreneurial space have been recognized by being awarded the CMX Professional of the Year in 2021 and being listed on The Maserati 100.

Meet our moderators:

Vera Futorjanski, CEO & Founder at Veritas Ventures, Digital Platforms & Ecosystems Expert at WEF, Innovation Expert at UN, Responsible Leader at BMW:

Vera is the CEO & Founder of Veritas Ventures. She is an experienced venture and innovation expert who advises governments, corporates, and family offices on investment and innovation activities. She is part of the Expert Group on Digital Platforms and Ecosystems for the World Economic Forum, an Innovation Expert at the UN, and a Responsible Leader at the BMW Foundation.

Dina Al Nabilsi, Business Analyst at Globitel and Chapter Co-Director at Startup Grind Amman:

Dina Alnabulsi is a business analyst at Globitel and Chapter Co-Director at Startup Grind Amman. She previously worked in London’s startup scene. She holds a master’s degree from Imperial College London in innovation, entrepreneurship, and management.

Pakiza Abdulrahman, Head, Investor Aftercare at Bahrain Economic Development Board and Chapter Director at Startup Grind Manana:

Pakiza is the former Head of Startups at the Bahrain Economic Development Board. Project Lead for the StartUpBahrain community and a member of the SME Development Board. Pakiza is also an executive board member at AIESEC Bahrain, a board member of GEN Bahrain, and a founding member of GDG Manama. She manages the Investor Aftercare unit within Business Development to drive growth and sustainability of large investments in the Kingdom of Bahrain across various sectors. Pakiza spent 14 years in the telecom industry in the product development field and played for the national table tennis team for 6 consecutive years.

Meet our host:

Anas AlChalabi, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Specialist

Anas is a Startup & SME Consultant in the Middle East Tech Startup sector focusing on Business Growth & Venture Capital. He managed several Accelerators that funded and supported +300 ventures in Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey. For the past 5 years, Anas led several programs with UNICEF, UNDP, World Bank, NASA, Google, Techstars, Governments, and VCs from the US, EU, and MENA.

We look forward to having you all!