Operator · Investor Connector · Market Builder

I help platforms enter and dominate
MENA & Southeast Asia
without burning years or capital.

I've done it from 0 → 100M users inside markets most teams misread. Most startups fail here not because of product, but because they misunderstand distribution, regulation, and human behavior on the ground.

If you're entering MENA or Southeast Asia and want to avoid 12-24 months of costly mistakes, let's talk.

The Short Version

Not a consultant. An operator who's done the work.

Co-founded Tiki, scaled to 100M+ users in India as CEO. #2 social app by consumer spending.
Led Bigo Technology's Middle East expansion. Doubled regional revenue in 7 months.
Navigated regulatory and market entry across 15+ countries in high-friction regions.
Built local distribution systems where Western growth playbooks consistently failed.
Increased OYO Hotels' direct share vs OTAs by 50% across 6 Southeast Asian markets.
Deployed oBike across 10 countries. 500K bicycles. 650K signups in Malaysia in 6 months.

"Most companies fail in MENA not because of product, but because they apply Western growth logic to non-Western trust systems."

How I Help

What you get when you work with me.

Not frameworks from someone who's never run a P&L. Operator-level counsel from someone who's been in these rooms, made these calls, and knows where the bodies are buried.

Market Entry Strategy

Which market, in what sequence, and what to build before you arrive.

Gov & Regulatory Navigation

Real relationships with investment authorities and licensing bodies.

Distribution & Growth

Creator ecosystems, partnerships, and growth loops that actually work locally.

Strategic Partnerships

Warm introductions to capital, partners, and operators across the region.

Fit Check

Is this for you?

This is for you if:

  • You're entering MENA or Southeast Asia and need someone who's been in the room
  • You're post-PMF but stuck trying to scale without local traction
  • You're burning money on paid growth without real distribution
  • You need government access, not just a strategy deck
  • You want operator-level counsel from someone who's run a P&L at 100M-user scale

Not for you if:

  • You're still searching for product-market fit
  • You want frameworks instead of execution
  • You're optimizing for vanity metrics
  • You move slowly or aren't fully committed to the market
  • You want a passive advisor, not an operational partner

Track Record

Built from the inside. Not observed from the outside.

Tiki
2020 - 2023
100M+
Users
Co-Founder & CEO

India's #2 social app by consumer spending. 32M MAU, ~70% D1 retention on less than $5M against $900M in competition. Built the creator economy playbook from scratch.

Creator EconomyIndiaShort Video0 to 1
Bigo Technology
2020 - Present
$500M
Regional Investment
Director, Strategic Growth — Middle East

Doubled regional revenue in 7 months. Led cross-functional operations: brand, gaming, government relations, LEAP 2024. Amman and Singapore.

Middle EastLive StreamingGov. Relations
OYO Hotels
2018 - 2020
50%
Direct Share vs OTAs
Head of Growth Marketing & Partnerships

Increased direct share vs OTAs by 50%, reducing dependency on Booking and Agoda. Scaled across 6 Southeast Asian markets. Team from 20 to 100+.

Southeast AsiaMarketplaceGrowth
oBike Bicycle Sharing
2017 - 2018
500K
Bikes Deployed
Head of APAC Strategy & BD

10 countries. 650K signups in Malaysia in 6 months. Singapore to Europe in under two years.

APACMobilityExpansion

Full portfolio →

Engagement

Three ways to work together.

Monthly Retainer
Strategic Advisory

Bi-weekly sessions, async access, quarterly deep dives. You leave with specific moves and the relationships to execute them.

Success Fee
Deal Facilitation

Investors, government authorities, distribution partners. Real introductions. You pay nothing until the deal closes.

Equity / Hybrid
Equity Advisory

For early-stage companies I believe in. Part of the founding team during the 0-to-1 phase.

I only work with a small number of founders each quarter. Full details →

Case Study

The Creator Platform Playbook

How we scaled Tiki to 100M users in India with a fraction of our competitors' budget. The full system: creator flywheels, status economies, content tribes.

Writing

The thinking behind the work.

All essays →

Next Step

Ready to move?

Include what you're building and which market you're targeting. I respond to specifics, not general intros.

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Explore

Go deeper.

Different paths depending on what you're looking for.

Elsewhere

Still Learning

Thinking, decisions, and the space between building and becoming.