Fundraising Fox

Sharif El-Badawi

Investor

Partner at Falcons

United Arab Emirates

Writes $50K – $100K checks · typically $75K

About

Sharif El-Badawi is the Founding Director of MENA AI and an investor and advisor to technology startups across the MENA region and the US. He previously founded Plus Venture Capital, a seed-stage investment firm in MENA, and managed the 500 Falcons fund, which invested in over 180 startups across 15 countries from 2017-2020. His earlier career includes roles at Google leading partnerships with venture capital firms and startups, and work in performance advertising, as well as founding multiple companies in the consumer internet and B2B sectors since 1998; he also co-founded AdMob, which was acquired by Google for $750 million.

Experience

  1. mena aiFounding Directorcurrent2025 — presentDubai, United Arab Emirates
  2. LGNDManaging Partnercurrent2024 — presentGlobal
  3. HuupeAdvisorcurrent2021 — presentLos Angeles, California, United States
  4. Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation FundAdvisory and Decision Committee2024 — 2026Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  5. Impact Entertainment MediaFounding Board Member and Advisor2021 — 2024Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  6. Dubai Future District FundFounding CEO2021 — 2024Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  7. Plus Venture Capital (+VC)Investment Committee Member and Advisor2020 — 2022Middle East and North Africa
  8. Plus Venture Capital (+VC)Founding Managing Partner2020 — 2021Middle East and North Africa
  9. 500 GlobalManaging Partner2016 — 2022
  10. MAGNiTTAdvisor2015 — 2017
  11. GooglePartner Lead, VCs and Startups2015 — 2016
  12. GoogleHead of Performance Solutions Activation2010 — 2014
  13. AdMobManager, Performance Ad Sales2009 — 2010
  14. HBS Favors / HerBabyShower.comGM2005 — 2009
  15. The DiBari GroupSenior Associate2007
  16. FramecasterFounder and CEO2005 — 2007
  17. SoftScopeFounder and CEO2002 — 2007
  18. AdMobConsultant2006
  19. Digital RoadVP - Technology and Development2002 — 2003
  20. Vertical Blue, Inc.VP - Business Development1998 — 2002Los Angeles, California, United States

Skills & more

SaaS3Web 2.01Google Adwords3StartupsPerformance MarketingFund ManagementMergers & Acquisitions (M&A)Corporate DevelopmentCorporate Venture CapitalFundraisingNew Venture DevelopmentStrategic Partnerships99
+12 moreStart-upsMobile DevicesCompetitive AnalysisMobile MarketingBusiness DevelopmentMobile AdvertisingMobile ApplicationsE-commerceProduct ManagementDigital MarketingProduct DevelopmentIPO Readiness

Languages Arabic · English

From Sharif's professional profile.

Network1

Ali Qaiser
MENA at Salica Investments

Investors connected to Sharif in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Sharif El-Badawi?
Sharif El-Badawi is the Founding Director of MENA AI and an investor and advisor to technology startups across the MENA region and the US. He previously founded Plus Venture Capital, a seed-stage investment firm in MENA, and managed the 500 Falcons fund, which invested in over 180 startups across 15 countries from 2017-2020. His earlier career includes roles at Google leading partnerships with venture capital firms and startups, and work in performance advertising, as well as founding multiple companies in the consumer internet and B2B sectors since 1998; he also co-founded AdMob, which was acquired by Google for $750 million.
Where does Sharif El-Badawi work?
Sharif El-Badawi is Partner at Falcons.
What check size does Sharif El-Badawi write?
Sharif El-Badawi typically writes checks of $50K – $100K.
Where did Sharif El-Badawi go to school?
Sharif El-Badawi studied at UCLA (BS, Neuroscience and Philosophy); UC Irvine (MBA, Entrepreneurship); Stanford University (Venture Capital and Angel Investing).

Same school

Also attended UCLA499

Ben HorowitzCo-founder & General Partner at Andreessen HorowitzRon ConwayFounder of SV AngelKirsten GreenFounder and Managing Partner at Forerunner VenturesVlad TenevCo-founder & CEO of RobinhoodRyan KingCo-founder of ChimePaul FieldingFinance & Operations at General Catalyst

+ 493 more

Also attended UC Irvine120

Christian BuergerPortfolio Development at Intel CapitalJonathan GiegCommunity Manager at Pantera CapitalRyan LaurinManaging Director at Marlin Equity PartnersPascal KroteePrincipal, Ph.D. at RiverVest Venture PartnersZack IsaacsonVenture Partner at Rackhouse Venture Management LpCameron BaharVenture Partner at Think+ Ventures Management, Llc

+ 114 more

Also attended Stanford University2,000

Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders FundReid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockDavid SacksCo-founder & General Partner at Craft Ventures; former White House AI & Crypto CzarKeith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesGarry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorAlfred LinPartner at Sequoia Capital

+ 1,994 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Plus Venture Capital (+VC)6

Hasan HaiderFounder and Managing Partner at Plus VCNour AllamPrincipal at Plus VCMoustafa YousriInvestment Analyst at Plus VCZahid ZahidDirector of Value Creation at Plus VCBedour AlmullaMarketing & Partnerships Manager at Plus VCHani AzzamVenture Partner at Plus VC

Also worked at 500 Global145

Kaz TeradaVenture Advisor at Monta Vista CapitalChristal NgAssociate at Golden Gate VenturesDemi ObayomiPrincipal at Sapphire VenturesGbenga AjayiPartner, Head of Africa and Middle East at QED InvestorsJustin LedbetterChief Operating Officer, Marlan Space at Cortado VenturesJessica KohSenior Executive Director, Investment at Vertex Ventures Sea Management Pte. Ltd.

+ 139 more

Also worked at MAGNiTT2

Sietse van de KerkhofInvestment Manager at STVSanjana HedgeInvestor at Huntington Angels Network

Also worked at Google1,715

Ron ConwayFounder of SV AngelElad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalKai-Fu LeeChairman of Sinovation Ventures and CEO of 01.AIBrian SingermanCo-founder of GPx; Partner Emeritus at Founders FundJess LeePartner and Chief Product Officer at Sequoia CapitalTomasz TunguzFounder & General Partner at Theory Ventures

+ 1,709 more