From EP 110 Feras Jalbout, Founder & CEO of Baraka · · Smashi Business
“With incredible demographics in the region — roughly 70% under the age of 30 — millennials want brands that resonate with their values, and our aim is to be a local investment platform for millennial investors.”
On , Feras Jalbout, CEO & Founder at Baraka, spoke about demographics during EP 110 Feras Jalbout, Founder & CEO of Baraka on Smashi Business.
Feras Jalbout, founder and CEO of Baraka, has discussed the company's focus on reaching profitability and building a sustainable business. He stated that the company's priority is creating a product that users want, describing product-market fit as something users buy or use naturally without heavy marketing. Jalbout noted a shift in investor focus from growth at all costs to a path to profitability, reflecting global investor sentiment. He also said that Baraka does not give investment advice and that its goal is to educate users about responsible investing, dollar cost averaging, and understanding stocks. Jalbout has spoken about the investment landscape in the Middle East, describing the region's population as underinvested compared to other emerging markets. He attributed this to underdeveloped markets and a cultural taboo around discussing money and investing. Jalbout said that Baraka aims to address this gap by providing local content, Arabic language support, local currency options, and products for Islamic investing. He described the company as a regulated financial institution governed by the Financial Services Authority and noted that it integrated with UAE Pass to allow regulated customers to onboard within a minute.
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