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The mega event brings together over 1,500 industry leaders, technology experts, partners, and stakeholders to explore cutting-edge technologies driving digital transformation across diverse sectors.
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Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
JAGGAER accelerates its Agentic AI vision with appointment of first Chief Digital & AI Officer
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: JAGGAER, a global leader in source-to-pay and supplier collaboration, is delighted to announce the appointment of Gopinath 'GP' Polavarapu to Chief Digital and AI Officer (CDAO). GP will now only guide but accelerate AI strategy delivering JAGGAER's objective to embed intelligence for a hyper-automated, conversational, and collaborative platform that enhances human decision-making and accelerates business outcomes. In the new role as CDAO, GP will contribute to JAGGAER's end-to-end AI roadmap, encompassing Agentic AI for Jaggaer One Platform and internal employee productivity while building AI capacity with talent acquisition, an AI Center of Excellence, and a hub for AI thought leadership. GP brings with him a wealth of experience in enterprise AI solutions, most recently as the Chief Solutions Officer at and will collaborate with the Chief Product Officer, Jon Lawrence, and Chief Strategic Officer, Pascal d'Arc, to lead the JAGGAER AI transformation initiative. With a passion for technology and innovation, GP also enjoys mentoring emerging AI talent and has a deep commitment to driving transformative business change through the power of artificial intelligence. 'I'm honored to join JAGGAER's exceptional team as Chief Digital and AI Officer,' said Gopinath Polavarapu, Chief Digital and AI Officer at JAGGAER. 'By embedding fine-tuned LLMs, AI Agents and Agentic workflows into the JAGGAER One platform, we will automate spend analysis, contract intelligence, and invoice processing, transforming data into real-time autonomous actions and process automation for spend management. I look forward to working with JAGGAER, our leadership team, and our customers to reinforce JAGGAER's position as the premier vertical AI spend management provider, delivering unmatched efficiency, compliance, and cost savings.' 'While JAGGAER has been leading with AI offerings in the procurement market for years, the addition of GP as our Chief Digital & AI Officer will foster even faster innovation through generational technological transformation. Each member of JAGGAER's leadership team was selected for their unique background and talent to contribute to customer success, and GP is no exception in this regard. The last five years will certainly not be the same as the next five years, and we welcome fresh perspectives to steward us through our next phase of growth with Agentic AI.' said Yancey Spruill, Interim JAGGAER CEO and Operating Managing Director at Vista Equity Partners. About JAGGAER: Procurement's intelligent source-to-pay and supplier collaboration platform JAGGAER is a global leader in enterprise procurement and supplier collaboration, and the catalyst for enhancing human decision-making to accelerate business outcomes. We help organizations to manage and automate complex processes while enabling their highly resilient, accountable, and integrated supplier base. Backed by 30 years of expertise, our proven AI-powered industry-specific solutions, services, and partnerships form JAGGAER One, serving direct and indirect, upstream, and downstream, in settings demanding an intelligent and comprehensive source-to-pay solution. Our 1,200 global employees are obsessed with helping customers create value, transform their businesses, and accelerate their journey to Autonomous Commerce. For more information, visit
The National
3 hours ago
- The National
Why Abu Dhabi-based VC fund EQIQ is betting big on Iraq's tech start-ups
When Mohamed Al Hakim walked into his boss's office in London in the summer of 2014 to submit his resignation, the TV was playing live coverage of ISIS fighters conquering major cities in Iraq 's north and west. His boss's eyes darted between Mr Al Hakim and the screen, struggling to make sense of what he was hearing. 'Are you sure you want to go to Iraq?' Mr Al Hakim recalls his boss's astonished question. Yes. 'Are you sure you're not going to join the fight – on either side?', the boss continued. A firm no. Three months later, Mr Al Hakim left the stability of a real estate career in London to return to his native Iraq – a country spiralling into chaos at that time – to start his own business from scratch. It was not a hasty move; he had contemplated it for two years. Eleven years on, that leap of faith has paid off. Today, Mr Al Hakim is the co-founder of the Abu Dhabi-based EQIQ, an Iraq-focused venture capital fund and venture builder, that is playing a major role in the country's burgeoning entrepreneurship scene. From FinTech and e-commerce to logistics, Iraqi tech-savvy entrepreneurs are reshaping how people shop, pay and do business. They are helping drive Iraq's digital transformation as the country emerges from decades of war and instability. Specific data on the size of the entrepreneurship sector in Iraq and how much it contributes to the local economy are not available. However, according to global start-up research platform StartupBlink, Iraq's entrepreneurship scene has improved with the country moving up one spot on its global ranking for 2025 to 118. It currently holds the 11th position in the Middle East. Baghdad is also among the top 1,000 cities in the world in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025, with annual growth of 64.3 per cent, StartupBlink said. I returned to Iraq to make a difference in the private sector and build something meaningful Mohamed Al Hakim, co-founder of Abu Dhabi-based EQIQ 'Iraq is a promising market and fertile ground that needs many services and projects,' Mr Al Hakim, 36, tells The National at his office in one of Baghdad's newly built high-rise commercial buildings. In 1998, his family left Iraq to move to Sweden, where his father had settled two years earlier. They joined a tide of migrants who fled Saddam Hussein 's dictatorial regime and harsh UN-imposed economic sanctions that followed his invasion on Kuwait. In 2008, he moved to the UK. Mr Al Hakim launched his first venture in the tech space at 15, followed by two other ventures, at ages 17 and 19, before graduating from university. With a bachelor's degree in Economics, he started a career in investment banking with Goldman Sachs in 2010 and also worked with GreenOak Real Estate before transitioning to entrepreneurship. In Iraq, he cofounded several ventures, including Ideal Financial Services, which created a digital wallet for the country's largest money transfer company and Zain Iraq Islamic Bank, focused on financial inclusion through digital banking. In 2018, he set up and led Careem's operations in Iraq and later also served as the chief executive for its company's operations in Jordan and Iraq, until he left to establish EQIQ. In January 2023, EQIQ completed its first close, raising $15 million from a consortium of local and regional investors. To date, the fund has deployed $8.5 million in five tech-focused ventures, including social commerce start-up, Fedshi, logistics app Boxy, e-commerce platform Wayl and edtech company Corrsy. The fifth is a digital bank that is not yet operational. EQIQ has committed to lead the funding round and take a 20 per cent stake in it. Now, EQIQ is doubling its fund size from $15 million to $30 million to deepen its investments in Iraq's digital economy. It aims to close the fund raise by the end of this year. 'The first $15 million was a market test,' Mr Al Hakim says. 'We saw very positive results, so we are expanding the fund's size to explore even greater opportunities in Iraq,' he added, saying that they are in talks with local and foreign investors. 'Today is best time in the 11 years I've spent in Iraq in terms in security and political stability which has positively impacted the entrepreneurship environment,' he said. He aims to increase the financial returns to investors by 10 folds in the next five years. Iraq is one of the most oil-dependent countries in the world. Oil revenue have accounted for more than 90 per cent of the government's budget. Successive governments have been struggling with overcoming the high unemployment rate and diversifying economic growth. The country has a rapidly growing population, with the youth accounting for at least half of its nearly 45 million people. The unprecedented political and security stability in the country over the past few years has encouraged authorities to launch a series of infrastructure projects and introduce reforms to improve the business environment. However, red tape, corruption and lack of modern laws still pose significant obstacles. 'In general, the country has changed over the past two years,' he said. However, several challenges are still there, including that there is no law for establishing ventures in Iraq and that's the reason for setting EQIQ up in Abu Dhabi's ADGM, he added. Others are the lack of data, mainly on the economy, and a limitation foreign company share in any Iraqi company that must not exceed 49 per cent. "I returned to Iraq to make a difference in the private sector and build something meaningful," he said. "Today, we have the opportunity to start where others left off. We can adopt latest technologies and updates, and begin at an advanced stage."
Zawya
11 hours ago
- Zawya
Engaging Startups and Innovation at the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group 2025 Annual Meetings in Algeria
The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group's 2025 Annual Meetings ( reaffirmed the strategic importance of startups and youth-led innovation in driving inclusive and sustainable development. Through a series of high-impact engagements, The Islamic Development Bank Group emphasized how entrepreneurial ecosystems can address pressing global challenges while unlocking new pathways for economic transformation. 3rd IsDB Startups Innovation Pitch Competition: Catalyzing Change through Innovate Entrepreneurship Held from May 18 to 21, 2025, under the theme 'Diversifying Economies, Enriching Lives,' the 3rd IsDB Startups Innovation Pitch Competition provided a dynamic platform for emerging entrepreneurs to present innovative solutions in key sectors such as digital transformation, climate resilience, and the creative economy. The competition was preceded by a multi-day bootcamp that equipped participants with essential skills and mentorship. Notably, the event featured a strategic Innovation Lab Partnership with the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Startups and Microenterprises in Algeria, and Algeria Venture, highlighting strong local engagement and institutional support for entrepreneurship. Innovate startups showcased their solutions to a global audience, fostering connections with investors, development partners, and policymakers. The pitch sessions not only elevated the visibility of promising ventures but also underscored the role of innovation in enhancing socio-economic resilience across IsDB member countries. Private Sector Forum: Investing in Innovation and Employment Alongside the pitch competition, the Private Sector Forum (PSF) convened key CEO's Governors stakeholders to discuss mechanisms for mobilizing private capital toward sustainable development. A central highlight was the launch of the next phase of the IsDB Group Private Sector Investment Lab, which aims to expand its membership base and scale up job creation efforts through enhanced private sectors collaboration. This initiative reflects the IsDB Group's continued commitment to bridging the financing gap for startups and SMEs while catalyzing impactful investment in high-potential sectors. Outlook: Key Focus Areas Emerging from the 2025 Annual Meetings Building on the insights and momentum from the Algeria-hosted Annual Meetings, the following areas are anticipated to shape the Bank's future direction: Startup Growth and Innovation: Continued emphasis on youth entrepreneurship as a driver of transformation, with increased support for startup ecosystems through incubation, mentorship, and financing platforms. Private Sector Engagement: A reinforced focus on enabling business environments through regulatory reforms, investment facilitation, and strategic partnerships. Climate Action and Sustainable Development: Highlighting startups advancing green technologies, clean energy, and climate-resilient solutions as vital contributors to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For more information and ongoing updates on the IsDB Group's innovation and entrepreneurship programs, please visit the official websites of the: IsDB Group Annual Meetings (AM) Private Sector Forum (PSF 2025) Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB Group).
