Fundraising Fox

Manar Alkassar

Founder

Founder at Kaso

United Arab Emirates

FoundedKaso · YC

About

Manar Alkassar is co-founder of Kaso, an AI group purchasing platform for restaurants, and previously co-founded Helpling, a home-service marketplace, and Qlub, a restaurant payment solution. He served as Managing Director at Rocket Internet and was part of the early team at Sirrix AG, a cybersecurity company that exited to Rohde & Schwarz.

Founder at KasoYC W22

Intro paths

YC

Manar went through Y Combinator (Winter 2022) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.

GP

Their group partner at YC was Tom Blomfield, Monzo and GoCardless co-founder; Y Combinator partner on leave and Anthropic compute-team member. — the partner who ran Kaso's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗

→

In turn, Manar can intro founders to Kaso's investors below.

Kaso's investors · 3

BY Venture PartnersSt Helier · $714K – $70M checksMSA NovoSingapore · $1.5M – $32M checksY CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2022

Experience

  1. Kaso (YC W22)Co-Founder & CEOcurrent2021 — presentDubai, United Arab Emirates
  2. qlubCo-Foundercurrent2021 — presentUnited Arab Emirates
  3. Swiss Founders FundMentorcurrent2026 — present
  4. HelplingFounder & CEO | Helpling Middle Eastcurrent2015 — presentDubai
  5. Rocket Internet SEMD and Head of New Ventures2014 — 2021Dubai, UAE
  6. Sirrix AG Security TechnologiesProject Manager2008 — 2014Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
  7. University of St. Gallen - HSGResearch Assistant2012 — 2013Zurich, Switzerland
  8. Technical University KaiserslauternResearch and Student Assistant2008 — 2013

Skills & more

EntrepreneurshipResearchData AnalysisMatlabSPSSProject ManagementTeamworkMarket ResearchBusiness DevelopmentStataHumorAnalysis
+12 moreLaTeXManagementGermanStatisticsMathematical ModelingEnglishBusiness AnalysisMicrosoft OfficeMarketing StrategyBusiness StrategyManagement ConsultingStart-ups

Languages Arabic · English · German

From Manar's professional profile.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Manar Alkassar?
Manar Alkassar is co-founder of Kaso, an AI group purchasing platform for restaurants, and previously co-founded Helpling, a home-service marketplace, and Qlub, a restaurant payment solution. He served as Managing Director at Rocket Internet and was part of the early team at Sirrix AG, a cybersecurity company that exited to Rohde & Schwarz.
Where does Manar Alkassar work?
Manar Alkassar is Founder of Kaso.
What companies did Manar Alkassar found?
Manar Alkassar founded Kaso.
Where did Manar Alkassar go to school?
Manar Alkassar studied at Y Combinator (W22); University of St.Gallen (Master's program, Business Innovation); Wake Forest University School of Business (MBA program, Business Administration and Management).

Founder mafias

Y Combinator mafia8,773

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y CombinatorAlexis OhanianYC Summer 2005Founded RedditFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded HotspotsTrae StephensYC Winter 2022Founded Pursuit +1

+ 8,766 more

Y Combinator mafia4,716

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Ryan SheaEntrepreneurshipFounded StacksTarek MansourFounded KalshiSuhail DoshiEating beans & riceFounded Playground +1Subomi OluwalanaW22Founded ConvoyDarius "Bubs" MonsefS19Founded Sightbox +3Matthew ScholzFounded Oisin Biotechnologies +3

+ 4,709 more

University of St.Gallen mafia32

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Adrian LocherBachelor of Arts (B.A.)Founded Merantix +1Sahar SaidiGlobal Executive Master of Business Administration (GEMBA)Founded LUS Brands +1Jonas MorgnerM.Sc.Founded TradeLink +1Dominik MatykaDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)Founded NAPChristophe MaireFounded FoodLabsConstantin RobertzBusiness Administration and ManagementFounded Locad

+ 25 more

Rocket Internet SE mafia30

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Aziz JaouhariBusiness Analyst / PO / BO - AfricaFounded WaystoCap +1Tommaso TombaManaging Director LATAM and EuropeFounded Moons +1Lorcan O CathainGlobal Venture Development ManagerFounded Lua Global Inc +1Jevan NagarajahHead of Business Development (UK & Ireland) - PaylevenFounded Better Dairy +1Michael K. AmbrosEntrepreneur In ResidenceFounded Medici GroupDaniel ShinarBoard MemberFounded Zyg

+ 23 more

RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau mafia2

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Andreas LoewMaster's degreeFounded Marengo Therapeutics

Same school

Also attended Y Combinator2,000

Tarek MansourCo-founder & CEO of KalshiSuhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of ParticleSubomi OluwalanaCo-founder & CEO of ConvoyMaroof AhmedFounder at Octopus VenturesJustin SwartPartner at Bitkraft Esports VenturesCollin WallaceGeneral Partner at Lobby Capital

+ 1,994 more

Also attended University of St.Gallen257

Melissa DonohoeVice President at Notion CapitalMarjolaine CatilPrincipal at Newfund CapitalGülce KoçInvestment Manager at IdacapitalDominik MatykaInvestor at Cavalry VenturesChristian NagelInvestor at Earlybird Venture CapitalKarol CieslukAssociate at TCV

+ 251 more

Also attended Wake Forest University School of Business7

Casey TierneyInvestor at LegalTechJake FelmanDirector, Legal at Florida FundersHenry HuAssociate at S2G InvestmentsPatrick PandoInvestor at Reech Corporations GroupConner BrownPortfolio Controller at LFM Capital, LLCKen HuntVenture Partner at Voyager Capital

+ 1 more

Also attended RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau8

Cyril VančuraPartner at imec.xpandStefan KrautwaldFounder & Managing Partner at Latin LeapBaris GuzelPartner at BMW i VenturesChristian GoergenManaging Partner at Catalpa VenturesAndreas LoewPartner at Scion Life SciencesChristoph KarbenkManaging Partner und Vorstand at Capiton AG

+ 2 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Kaso (YC W22)1

Tala Al JabriPartner at HOF Capital

Also worked at Helpling9

Jan MarchewskiPrincipal at Hitachi VenturesLucas MerlePartner at eCAPITAL ENTREPRENEURIAL PARTNERSLise RechsteinerGeneral Partner at Vsquared VenturesFloyd SijmonsEIR at SFU VentureLabsFlorent SimonPrincipal at Play VenturesEduardo KüpperManaging Partner at Airborne Ventures

+ 3 more

Also worked at Rocket Internet SE161

Ian MarshInvestor at DN CapitalGuy Ward ThomasInvestor at DN CapitalPauline BoucherInvestor at DaphniJohn GregerCPO & Portfolio Partner at Burda Principal InvestmentsMichel GlezerDirector at Qualcomm VenturesBenjamin AuschitzkyScaleup Success Manager at Partech Ventures

+ 155 more

Also worked at University of St. Gallen - HSG19

Alexander StoeckelManaging Partner at Joyance PartnersLaura SeifertInvestor at HV CapitalChristian JaagBoard Member at CV VCConstantin RobertzInvestor at FEBE VenturesMartina GromoInvestment Associate at VI PartnersSimon SchminckeGeneral Partner at Creandum

+ 13 more