Meet the She’s Next
in Publishing 2024 Winner

Oz Erbas Soydaner

Founder and CEO of Sprout

Sprout is about using nutrition science to enhance children's health. They make advanced, intelligent kids' food that's specially crafted to support their growth. The company's upcoming technology tracks and analyzes kids' diets, providing parents with personalized nutrition insights to make better dietary choices for their little ones.

Sahar Karoubi

Founder of Bambuyu

Bambuyu is an impact-driven tissue company based in the UAE. Their mission is to address the pressing issue of deforestation caused by traditional tissue production which contributes to 15% of global deforestation by offering a tree-free tissue alternative.

Jennifer Sault

Founder and Managing Director of Thrift for Good

Thrift for Good is a charity thrift store chain in Dubai, rehoming preloved items to reduce waste and raise funds for children around the world. They donate 100% of their profits to support the projects of the non-profit organization Gulf for Good. Their stores are not only a transparent zero-waste place to declutter your clothes, but also a volunteer-run community hub to find accessible, sustainable and quality clothing while giving back. They are turning the fashion industry on its head!

Nada AlAwadhi

Founder and CEO of The Bookshelf

The Bookshelf is a bilingual book subscription for kids. They curate the best Arabic and English books for parents, to support them in their parenting journey. They also curate themed boxes, reading corners, workshops, and book readings.

Founder of MindTales

In the early stages of her career, Viktoriya Aksionova moved to the UAE to work for a sovereign wealth fund and gained more than a decade of experience in the asset management industry. With a desire to make a difference in the health tech industry, and first-hand experience with common workplace setbacks, Viktoriya realised that what she was trying to overcome mostly stemmed from a limited growth potential mindset. So, she started MindTales, with a mission to transform the region's workplace wellness landscape. The company's main objective is to help individuals and organizations develop a growth mindset that encourages experimentation, innovation, and risk-taking through science-backed activities and coaching. With nothing but positive feedback from clients, Viktoriya is determined to continue making a positive impact through MindTales.

Founder of Kashida Design

Realizing the dwindling trades of local craftsmen in the Levant alongside the scarcity of contemporary, high-quality local design brands spurred the start of her company, Kashida. At age 23, Mirna Hamady co-founded Kashida, a boutique design studio specializing in bespoke furniture, home accessories and corporate gifts featuring contemporary Arabic calligraphy. The company answers a growing need for specialized niche design with a strong cultural context and retains high-quality global standards of production and finish. Mirna hopes to one day scale Kashida internationally as a proud Middle Eastern home décor brand.

Founders of Shift Eco

Shift Eco is a platform that curates honest & impactful eco-friendly products. It helps consumers and organisations go green. Sukriti and Namrata started their company with a mission to make eco-friendly living easy, so everyone can shift to a more sustainable lifestyle. The pair noticed a huge shift in demand for conscious products where consumers wanted to choose better alternatives for their health and the planet. Shift Eco was started to address the pain points of consumers to choose more eco-friendly alternatives by building knowledge and awareness about sustainable living, making vetted products easily accessible and by providing platforms for consumers to discuss key topics about sustainable living. Shift Eco also works with organizations and helps them build an internal culture of sustainability. Their vision is to build a socially responsible culture so that conscious choices become second nature to each of us.

Founders of the Waste Lab

The Waste Lab is a women-owned, impact-driven, and data-led startup in the UAE that works with households and businesses to reduce food waste through nature-based solutions. Lara Hussein and Ceylan Uren, the co-founders of The Waste Lab, started from their home. Although they practiced recycling at home; they could not find a convenient solution to ensure their food scraps would not go to waste and end up in landfills. They soon realised they could turn the planet’s biggest problem, food waste, into a solution that helps regenerate the soil through the application of compost. This would also lead the way for more regenerative farming, food security, organic produce and reversing climate change. With a waiting list of B2B clients, they are looking to scale up and meet the growing demand.