Professional Summary
Zuhair Shamma is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zest Equity, an infrastructure company specializing in private market transactions, particularly secondary market transactions for startup shares. He holds a Master's degree in Finance from IE Business School and a Bachelor's degree in Engineering & Business Studies from the University of Warwick.
Professional Background
Experience and Roles
- Investment Banking and Private Equity:
- Over 10 years of experience with transaction exposure of approximately US$16 billion across multiple sectors.
- Previously co-managed a US$200 million tourism-focused fund in the United Arab Emirates.
- Held positions at financial institutions including UBS, Delta Partners, Dubai Holding, and Certares.
- Entrepreneurship:
- Launched a food delivery business backed by Rocket Internet in the United Arab Emirates.
- Angel Investing and Venture Capital:
- Active angel investor with stakes in companies such as Washmen, BondoBD, and SpaceX.
- Serves on the Investment Committee at Clara Ventures, a micro-VC fund investing in MENA-based startups.
Zest Equity
Zest Equity, co-founded by Zuhair Shamma in November 2021, is an innovative platform enabling startup founders, employees, and investors to execute secondary transactions of their shares. This provides much-needed liquidity and transparency in the startup ecosystem, especially in regions where exits can take 7-10 years. The platform also promotes employee retention by offering financial incentives through share liquidation.
Co-founder: Rawan Baddour
Zuhair co-founded Zest Equity with Rawan Baddour, who has extensive experience in management, strategy, investment banking (M&A, advisory, asset management), and organizational restructuring. Previously, Rawan led the investment banking subsidiary of the Capital Bank of Jordan and is an active investor in both public and private markets.
Publications and Media
Zuhair Shamma's insights into the startup ecosystem and secondary transactions have been featured in:
- Podcast: "Conversations with Loulou" - Discusses the benefits and skepticism around secondary market transactions. [Listen here](https://conversationswithloulou.com/podcast/zuhair-rawan-on-building-zest-equity/).
- YouTube: "Building Zest Equity" - Detailed discussion on Zest Equity's mission and market impact. [Watch here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYVAwM4MvQs).
- PitchBook Profile - Overview of Zuhair's professional background and roles. [View profile](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/person/238246-03P).
- LinkedIn Activity - Regular updates and insights from Zuhair on Zest Equity and market trends. [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/zest-equity_54-zuhair-rawan-on-building-zest-equity-activity-7071370729614684160-7WOz).
- Blog Posts and Articles - Insights on launching tech startups and secondary market trends. [Read more](https://dfdf.vc/how-to-launch-a-tech-startup-as-non-technical-founders-lessons-from-zest-equity/).
Additional Information
- Zest Equity's Vision: Enhancing the transparency and liquidity of private market transactions, especially in the MENA region, which is instrumental for valuing startups, benefiting employees, and retaining talent.
Zuhair Shamma’s comprehensive expertise in finance, investment banking, and entrepreneurship underscores his capability to lead Zest Equity toward revolutionizing the private market landscape, providing actionable insights for potential engagements and collaborations.
