We’ve grown in number, nationalities, skills, hobbies and humour and have to share it with you. Meet the team!

The past year has been incredible for us and has reaffirmed that we’re heading closer and closer towards completing our  mission of creating a vibrant tech ecosystem in MENA. We’re excited to have our new team members onboard who are some of the most experienced and driven individuals in the ecosystem with a serious make it happen attitude!

Where are you from?
Lebanon

Favourite Book?
Meditations of Marcus Aurelius

What excites you about AstroLabs?
The opportunity of having positive impact on so many people’s lives.

MENA startup ecosystem in one word – Go!
WIP (work in progress)

What’s your favourite productivity hack?
Read some philosophy/meditate first thing in the morning. Clarity and stillness will make wonders to your productivity.

Where are you from?
China – Shenzhen and Hong Kong

Favourite athlete?
Justine Henin (Tennis player) – with mediocre physical conditions she has beaten so many stronger players. Her perseverance was my source of inspiration since childhood.

What excites you about AstroLabs?
How real it is. The team is real, the members are real, the things happening here are real.

Experience of a lifetime?
Going on a 70-day Europe trip without planning in advance.

What’s one thing you wish startups kept in mind?
Focus on the core business. Just do one thing well and you will go a long way.

Where are you from?
My mom is from the US and my dad is Palestinian / Jordanian. I grew up between the US, Saudi and the UAE.

What’s your favourite activity?
I love coding, reading, learning new things and playing with my daughter.

Favourite Book/Podcast?
Too many to choose, but at the moment my favorite books are: 1984 by George Orwell, God’s Debris by Scott Adams and The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. For podcasts, my current favorites are: The Tim Ferriss Show, The James Altucher Show, Syntax, Hardcore History and S Town.

Favourite joke?
Since I’m a dad, I’ll tell you my favorite dad joke.

A man walks into a restaurant and orders the “Pulled Chicken Sandwich”. When his order arrives, the waiter brings him a plate of normal Chicken. “What’s this?”, asked the man angrily. “I ordered pulled chicken and this is just normal chicken!” The waiter apologizes, “Sorry about that, let me fix it for you”. He pulls the plate towards him. “There you go, pulled chicken.”

What excites you about AstroLabs?
I love working for an organization that has a mission to have a positive impact in the region, with its focus on technology education and making it easier for businesses to setup. I really like the team and how we’re against fluff and focus on practical ways to make things happen.

Where are you from?
Saudi Arabia

What’s your favourite activity?
Baking (and experimenting with new kitchen tools)!

Favourite Podcast?
I’m a podcast addict so can’t pick just one. But a few of my favourites are: Hidden Brain, How I Built This, Tell Me Something I Don’t Know and Thrive Global Podcast.

What excites you about AstroLabs?
Positive energy, practicality & eagerness to always create impact!

Experience of a lifetime?
Cycling 350km from Alaqaba to the Red Sea to raise funds for disabled children.

Where are you from?
Saudi Arabia

What excites you about AstroLabs?
Impact on entrepreneurs, positive community and environment, and the great coffee machine 🙂

What’s your favourite productivity hack?
 Plan tomorrow’s tasks at the end of your day & Wake up as early as possible

What’s one thing you wish startups kept in mind?
A great team will take you to the next level! Choose your team carefully

MENA startup ecosystem in one word – Go!
Transitioning

What’s your favorite activity?
Nerdy to say it, but definitely reading. I am thankful I can do it 2 to 3 hours on most days.

Favorite joke?
The nerdier the better. If it’s physics related even better, for example: https://xkcd.com/1473/

What excites you about AstroLabs?
Working with a great team with a similarly low tolerance for BS and surrounded by great entrepreneurs and supporters who appreciate that.

What’s your favorite productivity hack?
Do fewer things.

What’s one thing you wish startups kept in mind?
Working harder and doing more doesn’t matter, it is about doing one thing better than competitors that your customers care about.

Where are you from?
I’m an Iraqi from Chicago who happened to be born in London living in Dubai

What excites you about AstroLabs?
Our team and community of entrepreneurs making a big impact in MENA

Favourite quote?
“You don’t get what you don’t ask for”

What’s your favourite productivity hack?
Schedule shorter, more efficient meetings and do them while walking around the park to keep the blood and ideas flowing

What’s one thing you wish startups kept in mind?
Most companies in the world are bootstrapped.

Where are you from?
The Philippines

What’s your favourite activity?
Reading my favourite manga titles. I’m a big One Piece fan.

What excites you about AstroLabs?
Meeting interesting people. Helping and connecting with members. Everyday is an opportunity for me to contribute, in my own simple ways, to listen, to know who needs what, and to help members help each other solve problems.

Favourite quote?
Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it. – Bill Cosby

What’s your favourite productivity hack?
The 2-Minute Rule. If something takes less than two minutes, do it now and don’t procrastinate. It will clear a lot of things from your To Do list very quickly. Plus it gives you a sense of satisfaction and achievement which fuels your productivity and builds momentum.

Where are you from?
I’m an Indian who grew up in Dubai.

What excites you about AstroLabs?
A mountain of value being shared between people and companies, every day.

MENA startup ecosystem in one word – Go!
Imminent

What’s your favourite productivity hack?
Meditation

Favourite book?
It changes every month, my current favourite is Maus by Art Spiegelman.

Want to learn more about how the AstroLabs team can help you start your business? Get In Touch Here

Also published on Medium.

Written By

Raunak Datt

More from Raunak Datt

Setting Up A Tech Company in Saudi Arabia – Practical Overview

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a market well known but not...

Read More