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.

LinkedIn ↗Website ↗

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

Education

  1. UCLABS, Neuroscience and Philosophy
  2. UC IrvineMBA, Entrepreneurship2004 — 2006
  3. Stanford UniversityVenture Capital and Angel Investing

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.

Same school

Also attended UCLA374

Ben HorowitzCo-founder & General Partner at Andreessen HorowitzRon ConwayFounder of SV AngelKirsten GreenFounder and Managing Partner at Forerunner VenturesPaul FieldingFinance & Operations at General CatalystMelody MaExecutive Assistant and Lead Receptionist at Trinity VenturesGizem CakilInvestor at OpenView Venture Partners

+ 368 more

Also attended UC Irvine74

Christian BuergerPortfolio Development at Intel CapitalJonathan GiegCommunity Manager at Pantera CapitalRyan LaurinManaging Director at Marlin Equity PartnersZack IsaacsonVenture Partner at Rackhouse Venture Management LpCameron BaharVenture Partner at Think+ Ventures Management, LlcTanya WesleyInvestor at TRANSFORMATION CAPITAL

+ 68 more

Also attended Stanford University1,578

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

+ 1,572 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Plus Venture Capital (+VC)4

Hasan HaiderFounder and Managing Partner at Plus VCNour AllamPrincipal at Plus VCZahid ZahidDirector of Value Creation at Plus VCHani AzzamVenture Partner at Plus VC

Also worked at 500 Global128

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 VenturesDannyInvestor at MGV.VC

+ 122 more

Also worked at MAGNiTT1

Sanjana HedgeInvestor at Huntington Angels Network

Also worked at Google945

Ron ConwayFounder of SV AngelBrian SingermanCo-founder of GPx; Partner Emeritus at Founders FundJess LeePartner and Chief Product Officer at Sequoia CapitalTomasz TunguzFounder & General Partner at Theory VenturesHunter WalkCo-founder & Partner at HomebrewAydin SenkutFounder & Managing Partner at Felicis

+ 939 more

Network1

Ali Qaiser
MENA at Salica Investments

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