Exel by Merak

Faisal Sedrani is CEO of Exel, where he works on building scalable startup ecosystems in Saudi Arabia and designing innovation programs that help startups enter the Saudi market. He is co-founder of Smart Deer Co., an EnvoTech robotics company addressing desertification, and founder of Jewelern, a digital jewelry brand, and previously held a leadership role at AstroLabs supporting global entrepreneurs entering the Saudi market. He holds an MBA in Marketing Intelligence and Big Data from the University of Gloucestershire, a bachelor's in architecture from King Saud University, and PMP and CMI certifications.

Othman Alhokail is a co-founder, vice chairman, and shareholder at Merak Capital, with over 18 years of experience across technology and investment gained through work with government and private entities. He founded and manages KCC Group, a holding company focused on technical contracting and trade serving public and semi-governmental clients in Saudi Arabia. He previously led business development for EY and Thomson Reuters in Saudi Arabia, and holds a BA in Finance from King Saud University and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin.

Abdulelah Alshareef is a Vice President at Merak Capital, where he leads the Venture Capital team and helps shape and execute the firm's VC investment strategy. He has experience in the technology and telecommunications sectors. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from King Saud University.

Rema Alyahya is VP of venture capital portfolio management at Merak Capital, where she leads post-investment strategy and execution across the firm's venture funds, overseeing portfolio company performance, reporting, and follow-on rounds for more than 30 companies. Before Merak, she was head of strategy at SRMG and later helped launch and run operations at SRMG Ventures. Earlier in her career she worked at Boston tech companies including Wise Systems and SmartBear Software, and she holds a BS in business administration (entrepreneurship and new venture management) from Northeastern University.

Adham Elsawy is a Finance Manager who provides advisory support to startups and growth-stage companies through accelerator programs in Saudi Arabia, including Merak Capital's Exel Accelerator, Plug & Play, and VMS. He previously served as CFO at Walaplus and oversaw financial operations at Steer Studios, a gaming subsidiary of SAVVY, where he handled budgeting, P&L modeling, and financial governance alignment.

Afaf Abu Sabha has a background in event coordination, marketing, and guest engagement, having supported large-scale events and conferences with several agencies. In her role as Executive Assistant, she supports daily operations and team functions.

Deema Almutairi is an Associate whose work centers on talent development and innovation. She designs and delivers programs in startup enablement, program design, and community building, focusing on developing skills and creating opportunities for emerging innovators.

Faisal Al Tamami is a Computer Science graduate of Prince Sultan University working as an IT Innovation Platform Specialist with experience in AI, cybersecurity, and IT solutions. He has worked with MasterWorks, Qoyod, and Merak Capital, helping startups and organizations build and scale technology solutions.

Faisal Alsharari works on startup growth and ecosystem development. He co-developed the Middle East's first Metaverse Academy in collaboration with Meta and Tuwaiq Academy, and developed skills through the Misk SPARK Fellowship and Startup School in areas including business modeling, MVPs, and fundraising. He focuses on supporting founders and the technology sector in Saudi Arabia.

Kassandra Attara leads innovation programs across the MENA region, focusing on growth and transformation initiatives. She has prior experience at Astro Labs and MIT Enterprise Forum Pan Arab, with expertise in program design, stakeholder management, and innovation-led growth.

Mohammed Abu Jubara is an industrial engineer with over eight years of experience focused on strategic planning, technical project definition, and data-driven market reporting. His work centers on connecting technical expertise with strategic value.

Expert in portfolio monitoring and investment analytics; supports investment decision-making.