Nader Amiri: Building elGrocer, Exiting to Etisalat & Launching Homegrown Ventures

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The MENA Startup Show

Samer Bejjani

11 episodes

6 days ago

Where founders, investors & experts share their authentic experience building and growing MENA startups. 🔍 No fluff, no sugar-coating, just real conversations about the actual challenges faced by MENA startups and the true reasons behind their growth and success with the people building in our region. 🎬 Hosted by: Samer Bejjani — a founder, growth marketer, and angel investor with 15 years of experience in building startups. Currently bootstrapping and scaling a profitable startup studio and helping 100+ MENA startups grow at Growth Levers. 📧 For feedback: hello@themenastartupshow.com

Entrepreneurship

Business

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All content for The MENA Startup Show is the property of Samer Bejjani and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Entrepreneurship

Business

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Nader Amiri: Building elGrocer, Exiting to Etisalat & Launching Homegrown Ventures - E5

The MENA Startup Show

1 hour 34 minutes 31 seconds

11 months ago

Nader Amiri: Building elGrocer, Exiting to Etisalat & Launching Homegrown Ventures - E5

Nader Amiri, an entrepreneur and angel investor, shares his journey from brand management roles at Kraft Foods and Coca-Cola to founding El Grocer and now leading Homegrown, a venture focused on accelerating the FMCG and CPG ecosystem in the MENA region. Nader reflects on the challenges and rewards of his entrepreneurial path, particularly the hurdles faced while scaling El Grocer and navigating the impact of COVID-19. He also shares valuable lessons learned from his first startup, including the importance of timing, building a strong team, and the power of strategic partnerships. As he discusses his latest venture, Homegrown, Nader reveals his vision to spark innovation in the region’s consumer products sector, emphasizing the need for resilience and community-driven growth. Samer and Nader explore the dynamics of building and exiting a business, making calculated risks, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Key takeaways: - Timing and execution are critical in startup success, especially during challenging periods like COVID-19. - Building strong partnerships and focusing on team dynamics are key to overcoming early-stage hurdles. - The FMCG and CPG space in the MENA region presents immense opportunities for innovative solutions. - A successful exit requires balancing emotional investment with strategic decision-making. - Founders should embrace speed, risk-taking, and learning from both successes and failures. Chapters: 00:00 Nader Amiri, From Corporate to Angel Investing 00:52 The Birth of elGrocer 02:06 Starting in Corporate 03:56 Entering the CPG World 06:44 Building the Team and MVP 08:55 Launching and Scaling elGrocer 12:29 Marketing Strategies and Growth 15:43 Going All In: Leaving Corporate 18:25 Crowdfunding Success 35:21 Personal Insights and Background 44:42 Navigating Uncertainty in Business 44:59 Operational Challenges and Solutions 45:39 Impact of Global Events on Business Deals 46:19 Adapting to Market Changes 48:06 Strategic Decisions and Competitor Analysis 49:47 Exploring Acquisition and Investment Opportunities 58:24 Lessons from Competitors and Market Timing 01:09:50 Founding Homegrown and Future Plans 01:18:31 Building the FMCG Ecosystem 01:32:16 Conclusion and Open Invitation