I build ventures that connect the region's youth to opportunity.
A Syrian entrepreneur closing the gap between learning and earning across MENA, while building Syria's future as it rebuilds. Powered by AI.
130K+
across social media
Years exp.
13+
Students helped
100K+
Years exp.
13+
Backed & recognized by
Backed by
Awards
Fellowships & networks
The story
Built for the region.
Building Syria's future.
As a Syrian entrepreneur, I saw early how wide the gap is between what young people in our region can do and the chances they actually get. Closing that gap became my life's work, and the reason I built Emonovo (formerly MARJ3), now the region's leading study-abroad platform.
But a degree means little without a job. So the mission grew from access to education to access to real work. It became a set of ventures that help the next generation across MENA go from learning to earning, with AI as the layer that makes it scale.
As Syria rebuilds, I'm putting that same mission to work for it, helping create the education and employment foundations its young people need to build their future. That's the work that matters most to me.
2.5M+
Monthly platform users
100K+
Students helped
60+
Startups mentored
My ecosystem
Five ventures. One direction.
Education, employment, and founder community connected by one mission: opening more doors to opportunity.
Education Employment Community
Education access
2013Khatwa
Helping Syrians and international students continue higher education in Egypt.
Study abroad
2017Emonovo
Connecting young people with global education and trusted university pathways.
Learning for work
2026Doroob
Skills and pathways that help Syria's young people move into real work.
Employment
In developmentIn stealth
Connecting talent to the work that's waiting.
Coming soonFounder community
In developmentMRKZ
Where Syria's young founders come to build.
Coming soonIn the media
Interviews, features & talks
A growing record of TV interviews, press features, and stages across the region and beyond.
On TV
TV interview
Al-Qahera News | القاهرة الإخبارية
برنامج جدل
TV interview
القناة السورية · Al Souriya
برنامج إشراقة الصباح
TV report
CNBC عربية
تقرير عن ريادة الأعمال
In the press
Wamda · Feature
In conversation with Sami Al-Ahmad
Read
The PIE News · Profile
Sami Al-Ahmad, Emonovo
Read
Jusoor · Story
Bringing his ideas to life
ReadAlso featured in
On stage
Keynotes, panels, and workshops on education, entrepreneurship, opportunity, and rebuilding.
European Angel Investment Summit
Brussels
BYF Summit
On stage
TCA Training
Workshop
Study Abroad Workshop
Tunis
TEDxAzharUniversity
TEDx talk, 2017
World Youth Forum
Panel discussion
Recognition
Awards & fellowships
Awards
Top 50 EdTech
Named among the region's top education-technology leaders. · MENA, 2023
StartEgypt Grant Winner
Grant awarded through StartEgypt (مصر تبدأ). · 2019
Startup of the Year
Global Entrepreneurship Network, Egypt. · 2018
25 Under 25
Startup Scene's list of young leaders to watch. · 2017
Falling Walls Lab
Participant, Falling Walls Lab Cairo. · 2014
Jusoor Entrepreneurship Competition
Selected in the first cohort. · 2014
Fellowships & memberships
AMENDS Stanford Fellowship
The AMENDS Global Fellows are a network of young leaders from the Middle East, North Africa, and the United States who are working to build a more equal, sustainable, and prosperous world.
Shaper & Former Curator, Global Shapers
Cairo Hub. Independent hubs around the world identify and work on the projects most important to them. Local efforts, supported by a global network, can lead to lasting change worldwide.
ChangemakerXchange Member
ChangemakerXchange is a global community of 800 of the world's most dedicated social entrepreneurs, innovators, and activists from more than 100 countries.
Robert Bosch Stiftung Alumni
The Bosch Alumni Network brings together former and current grantees, fellows, partners, and staff members of the Robert Bosch Stiftung in their shared pursuit of an open, just, and sustainable world.
Amahoro Coalition Fellow
The 12-month fellowship program gives FDP leaders a platform to cultivate and disseminate their ideas on the world stage, expand their networks, seize professional opportunities, and unite as a collaborative and impactful cohort.
Advisory Member, RemoteCoders
Former Board Member. RemoteCoders is a non-profit enabling ICT nearshoring for good. Together with industry partners from Europe, it recruits developers in the MENA region, who train with the support of EPFL. RemoteCoders is supported by the SDC and several foundations.
Bio & press kit
Grab what you need.
Ready-to-use bios for event organizers and press, with media materials available by email.
Sami Al-Ahmad is a Syrian entrepreneur building education-to-employment ventures across the MENA region, powered by AI.
Sami Al-Ahmad is a Syrian entrepreneur closing the gap between learning and earning for young people across MENA. He founded Emonovo, the region's leading study-abroad platform, and Doroob, and is helping build the education and employment foundations Syria's youth will need. His international fellowships and advisory work include Amahoro Coalition, Global Shapers, AMENDS, and RemoteCoders.
Sami Al-Ahmad is a Syrian entrepreneur working at the intersection of education, employment, and AI across the MENA region. For over a decade, his focus has been a single problem: the gap between what young people in the region can do and the opportunities they're given.
He is the founder and CEO of Emonovo (formerly MARJ3), the region's leading study-abroad platform, which he scaled to 2.5M+ monthly users and 350+ university partners, and of Doroob, a learning-for-employment venture. His work has grown from access to education into access to real work, helping the next generation go from learning to earning with AI as the enabling layer. As Syria rebuilds, he is helping create the education and employment foundations its youth will need.
His wider leadership work spans the Amahoro Coalition Fellowship, Stanford AMENDS, the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers, ChangemakerXchange, and the Robert Bosch Alumni Network. He is also an advisory member of RemoteCoders, where he previously served on the board. His work has been recognized among MENA's Top 50 EdTech companies and as Startup of the Year.
Where should we start?
Pick the door that fits. Every conversation begins with a real opportunity to move something forward.
Follow along
Follow the work as it happens.
Workshop rooms, founder conversations, media moments, and practical notes from the field.
130K+
across social media
Find me across social media as @Sami_AlA7mad