Mark Chahwan on startup profitability
From E05: From Management Consulting to FinTech Founder & CEO | Mark Chahwan (Co-founder & CEO, Sarwa) · · The Human Orbit
“You need to make it intentional to be profitable; it won't just happen automatically — it was our first profitable quarter and then we stayed profitable ever since, which gave us the freedom to pick and choose partners without being distracted by fundraising.”
On , Mark Chahwan, CEO & Co-Founder at Sarwa, spoke about startup profitability during E05: From Management Consulting to FinTech Founder & CEO | Mark Chahwan (Co-founder & CEO, Sarwa) on The Human Orbit.
About Mark Chahwan
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and CEO of Sarwa, has been active in several public discussions and events in 2025 and early 2026. In a February 2026 conversation with Maurice Gravier, Chahwan discussed market trends, noting that retail investors on Sarwa’s platform have shown more conviction than institutions, buying into assets like the "Magnificent 7," Bitcoin, and commodities despite fears of bubbles. He also highlighted a rise in gold and commodities on the platform. In a January 2026 podcast, Chahwan reflected on Sarwa’s journey, stating that the company achieved its first profitable quarter and has remained profitable since, which he said gave the company the freedom to choose partners without being distracted by fundraising. He also discussed the challenges of building a fintech in the region, noting that UAE banks ranked poorly in client experience surveys and that Sarwa focused on making investing easy. In 2025, Chahwan participated in several interviews and events. In September, he stated that Sarwa solved the problem of getting people comfortable with investing, noting that while 60% of people in the US invest, the figure in the UAE and MENA is closer to 5-10%. He also mentioned that Sarwa has expanded from long-term investing to self-directed trading and crypto savings. In June, during Sarwa’s Investor Day, Chahwan reported that the company had reached $613 million in assets under management and $4.5 billion in trading volume, with 52% net deposit growth in the prior 12 months. He also noted that Sarwa’s shareholders include Mubadala, ADQ, and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). In a March interview, Chahwan discussed Sarwa’s role as the UAE’s first licensed fintech investment platform, stating that the company pioneered opening accounts via selfie for identity verification and that it is working with Nassim Taleb’s team to launch a "Black Swan protection" feature for larger clients.