Fundraising Fox

Issa Aghabi

Investor

Managing Director at Access Bridge Ventures

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

About

Issa Aghabi is the Founder and Managing Director of Access Bridge Ventures, an early-stage fund focused on the MENA region that invests in companies at Pre-Seed and Seed stages and has deployed into more than 25 companies. He has invested in MENA's technology ecosystem since 2006, previously leading IFC's venture capital activities across the Middle East and North Africa and working with the World Bank on entrepreneurial frameworks in Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt. His earlier track record includes over 75 investments, more than $150M in MENA venture funds under management, the UAE's first accelerator, and exits including Souq, Mumzworld, Jawaker, and Vezeeta.

Experience

  1. Access Bridge VenturesManaging Directorcurrent2020 — presentUnited Arab Emirates
  2. VariousBoard Member / Observer / Investorcurrent2006 — presentGlobal
  3. Middle East Venture Capital AssociationFounding Member2018 — 2021Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  4. IFC - International Finance CorporationHead of MENA and Pakistan Venture Capital Investments and Funds2016 — 2021Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  5. twofour54Head of Investments & Strategic Partnerships2014 — 2016Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates
  6. National Net Ventures (N2V)Head of Investments & Business Development (Deputy CEO)2012 — 2014UAE, KSA and Jordan
  7. Yahoo!Consultant - BD and M&A2012Dubai
  8. twofour54 Abu Dhabi - Media and Entertainment HubVenture Captial Associate2010 — 2012United Arab Emirates
  9. IV Holdings / Accelerator Technology Holdings / Silicon BadiaInvestment Associate2008 — 2010Amman , Jordan
  10. Awraq Investments - Investment Arm of Cairo Amman BankAsset Management Group Equity Analyst2005 — 2008Amman, Jordan
  11. HSBCCommercial and Corporate Personal Banking Representative2004 — 2005

Education

  1. City St George’s, University of LondonMaster of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Strategy2011 — 2013
  2. Concordia UniversityBachelor's Degree, Commerce - Major: Management Information Systems; Minor: E-Commerce2001 — 2004
  3. Amman Baccalaureate SchoolInternational Baccalaureate Diploma1999 — 2001

Skills & more

Venture Capital99Portfolio Management15Due Diligence13Valuation7Financial Modeling22Deal Structuring6Deal Sourcing6Market Research11Strategic Partnerships39Entrepreneurship66Business Development64Business Strategy53
+12 moreDigital MediaNegotiationInvestment ManagementDeal ExecutionInvestmentsStrategyStart-upsStrategic PlanningFinanceE-commerceBusiness PlanningManagement

Languages Arabic · English

From Issa's professional profile.

Colleagues at Access Bridge Ventures

Aly Ramadan
Investment Team at Access Bridge Ventures
Hamed Mahmoud
Investment Team at Access Bridge Ventures
Imad Ghandour
CedarBridge Co-Founder & Managing Director and Access Bridge Ventures Co-Founder at Access Bridge Ventures
Magellan Makhlouf
CedarBridge Co-Founder & Managing Director and Access Bridge Ventures Co-Founder at Access Bridge Ventures
Omar Taha
Investment Team at Access Bridge Ventures
Rakan Alrashed
Director at Access Bridge Ventures

Frequently asked questions

Where does Issa Aghabi work?
Issa Aghabi is Managing Director at Access Bridge Ventures.

Same school

Also attended City St George’s, University of London57

Iby KhanManagement Accountant at NorthzonePeter KennedySenior Adviser at Burda Principal InvestmentsSvetlana BenderVice President, Artificial Intelligence & Behavioral Science at Flare Capital PartnersJoseph MaillardCOO at QuantonationEdvinas KiskisGeneral Counsel at Kibo VenturesSameer VaswaniAdvisor at Rocana Ventures

+ 51 more

Also attended Concordia University104

Harley FinkelsteinInvestor at Felicis VenturesDavid NaultGeneral Partner at Luge CapitalZack UrlockerInvestor at Index VenturesMarie-Alix MotteCommunity Associate at Partech VenturesCagdas YildizInvestment | Simya VC at 212Domenic Del VecchioPrincipal at Panache Ventures

+ 98 more

Also attended Amman Baccalaureate School6

Sarah Abu RishehPartner, Investments at Nuwa CapitalNatasha Abu KhaderOryx Fund at Salica InvestmentsAya DarwazehAssociate at Endeavor CatalystMohammed Al TalibSenior Analyst, Public Equity at Ajeej CapitalElio PascarelliCEO at AudiogenEmilio PascarelliCOO at Audiogen

Shared employers

Also worked at Middle East Venture Capital Association12

Athary AlmubarakChief Strategy Officer at SVCStephanie Nour PrincePartner, Network and Operations at Nuwa CapitalOmar AlmajdouieFounding Partner at RAED VenturesIvo DetelinovOryx Fund at Salica InvestmentsSonia WeymullerCo-Founder and General Partner at VentureSouqOmarManaging Partner at DASH Ventures

+ 6 more

Also worked at IFC - International Finance Corporation96

Hark AhluwaliaAssociate at RevolutionSofia DahouneInvestor at DaphniKavita GuptaSpecial Advisor at Buckhill CapitalKanika MayarPartner, Investment & ESG Officer at Vertex Ventures Sea Management Pte. Ltd.Gary KhoengPartner, Investment at Vertex Ventures Sea Management Pte. Ltd.Paul AselVenture Partner at NGP Capital

+ 90 more

Also worked at twofour544

Angus PatersonVenture Partner at Iris CapitalKhaled TalhouniManaging Partner at Nuwa CapitalDana LabinPartner at Leo Capital VenturesFaisalManaging Partner at Further Ventures

Also worked at Yahoo!278

Jess LeePartner and Chief Product Officer at Sequoia CapitalMike SpeiserManaging Director at Sutter Hill VenturesFrédérique DameInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Marcie VuPartner at GreycroftIsabelle PhelpsPartner at Lerer HippeauPaul LevineOperating Partner at Sapphire Ventures

+ 272 more