FOUNDER CEOs - We focus on synergy.  We direct our private individual investments toward founders with drive, passion and differentiation who will benefit from our skills, experience and network.  Our private individual investment focus areas reflect sectors in which have deep domain experience and a proven track record.  We look to form long term partnerships with founders to build successful brands and businesses.

IMRAN RAUF

Imran is the Managing Partner for Akumen and is based in Dubai. Imran's repeated entrerepreneurial success spans Retail, Manufacturing and Real Estate. From the platform of the family garment buying and merchandising business, he established his reputation as a trusted supplier to international retailers - Gap, Next, River Island, Pepe and Zara. His next venture was a very successful UK Property Sourcing and Management company based in London providing accommodation and associated services to both local and national government. Real Estate Development and Sourcing also formed the basis of Imran's business portfolio in the UAE and has since expanded to include Food and Beverage within this region.

SAMEEM JAFFREY

Sameem's expertise in FinTech (Financial Services technology), commercial deal structuring and global delivery provides Akumen with specialist knowledge and experience in a hugely important sector. Starting his career at Price Waterhouse, Sameem has held numerous senior technology positions at SG Warburg, Swiss Bank Corporation and UBS AG, most recently as the Chief Commercial Officer for UBS Group Technology. He created the Commercialisation and Strategic Investments unit which successfully incubated a number of early stage technology companies. This led directly to the formation of an independent specialist technology private equity investment and advisory firm. Sameem has worked and lived with his family in Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong, New York and London where he is now based.

WHAT WE'VE ACHIEVED INDIVIDUALLY SINCE 2011

  • Successful exit from a chain of fast food restaurants in the UAE

  • Development of four luxury houses in the UK

  • Incubating a Startup technology company in London/Dubai

  • Active involvement in two early stage financial technology startups in London

  • Ultra luxury furniture retail development Europe & Africa

  • MENA representative of a European boutique asset management firm