A Journey Rooted in Innovation and Impact
Sherif Abdelaty’s professional journey is a testament to the power of vision, resilience, and strategic foresight. With over two decades of experience spanning corporate management, strategic turnarounds, and venture building, Sherif has emerged as a pivotal figure in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s entrepreneurial landscape.
Early Foundations and Entrepreneurial Spirit
“Sherif’s academic background in engineering laid the groundwork for his analytical and problem-solving skills. However, it was his innate entrepreneurial spirit that propelled him into the business world. He began his career in the construction and real estate sectors, founding and scaling two companies in Egypt and the UAE. These ventures saw significant growth across the region, marking Sherif’s first major milestones in the business realm.
Venturing into AdTech with dKilo
In 2020, recognizing the transformative potential of technology in advertising, Sherif co-founded dKilo, an Egyptian AdTech and IoT startup. Under his leadership as Chief Performance Officer, dKilo introduced innovative solutions that redefined smart advertising in the region. The company’s success attracted significant investment, including a $3.2 million seed funding round led by Upturn Ventures, aimed at expanding its reach into the Saudi market.
Strategic Leadership at DillX
Sherif’s strategic acumen was further evident during his tenure as Chief Operating Officer and Board Member at DillX, a regional consulting powerhouse. He played a crucial role in aligning the firm’s board strategy, driving commercial and operational growth, and expanding its footprint across seven MEA countries. “His leadership was instrumental in the firm’s growth and cross boarder expansion to markets like Qatar and UAE”.
Pioneering Fintech Solutions with Gainz Financial Technologies
“Currently, Sherif serves as the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Gainz Financial Technologies, a next-generation crowdlending platform. Gainz is redefining SME financing across the Middle East by bridging the $200 billion funding gap.
The company is developing an AI-powered underwriting and credit scoring systems, fostering an investor-centric ecosystem to provide accessible, data-driven financing solutions to SMEs with lucrative returns to individuals. Starting by 4 countries across the GCC and to the MENA region over the next 3-5 years. Allowing Gainz to receive participations from global players like Antler MENAP being their first believer, and many more regional individuals and institutional investment firms in less than 12 months.”
Mentorship and Community Engagement
“Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, Sherif is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs. As a respected mentor on the VC4A platform, he offers guidance in business modeling, valuations, strategic planning, investor readiness and fundraising. His expertise is particularly valuable in navigating volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments, a common challenge for startups in the MENA region, and was ranked among the “Top-10 Fundraising Mentors” in MENA to help entrepreneurs succeed with raising their desired funding needs.”
Educational Pursuits and Continuous Learning
Sherif’s dedication to continuous learning is evident in his pursuit of executive certifications from prestigious institutions. He holds certifications in Strategic Planning & Project Management from the London Business School, Financial Planning & Wealth Management from the Corporate Finance Institute, and Corporate Governance from the Egyptian Institute of Directors. These qualifications complement his engineering degree from the Higher Technological Institute in Egypt, equipping him with a diverse skill set to tackle complex business challenges.
A Vision for the Future
Sherif Abdelaty’s journey is characterized by a relentless pursuit of innovation, strategic leadership, and a commitment to empowering others. Through his ventures and mentorship, he continues to shape the future of fintech and entrepreneurship in the MENA region, inspiring countless individuals to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. Do connect on Linkedin.
