Daoud A

Daoud Ghannam is a venture builder, startup advisor, and ecosystem operator with 15+ years of experience helping founders and organizations launch, grow, and scale across emerging markets. Based in Dubai, he supports startups, accelerators, and mission-driven organizations with go-to-market strategy, market entry, partnerships, fundraising readiness, and operational execution — with a strong focus on turning strategy into measurable progress.

Daoud founded uMake, a community-centric innovation hub that became a launchpad for entrepreneurs and builders. Through uMake, he designed and delivered programs, facilitated investor-founder connections, and led 300+ ecosystem events engaging more than 40,000 participants. He also served as Director of Founder Institute Palestine, where he supported early-stage founders through structured acceleration, mentorship, and investor preparation.

Across his career, Daoud has advised 300+ founders and operators, combining hands-on entrepreneurial experience with a pragmatic coaching style that emphasizes clarity, accountability, and results. His work spans venture support, investment readiness, and ecosystem development, including collaborations with regional and international partners. He is a recipient of the Founder Institute Global Startup Leadership Award (2021) and an alumnus of the U.S. Department of State’s IVLP (Tech Innovation, 2022).

Daoud’s edge is his ability to bridge contexts: founders and investors, emerging markets and global standards, and strategy and execution — helping teams move faster without losing integrity or focus.