Starting Up with Virtuzone Podcast

Dubai has no shortage of talented and successful business owners. How did they raise capital, and what did they use the money on? We hear from Erika Doyle of DrinkDry, and Rami Tabbara of Stake. 

Are we teaching our kids to be their own boss? Well, we should be. Tom and Neil chat with Raya Bidshahri, Founder and CEO of School of Humanity and Marilyn Pinto, Founder of KFI Global.

Former Dragon's Den Piers Linney warns companies and bosses about the dangers of not having an AI strategy. He is now helping SMEs to navigate its use with his startup Implement AI

Tom explores how some businesses set up their models to help other people. Carl Gough, Founder of meetmagic, talks about their Ramadan campaign with Dubai Cares.  He is joined by seasoned CTO Adrian Hobbs, who's benefitted from the initiative. Plus, Dubai newcomer Marc Black tells Tom why he moved his property and clean energy businesses to the UAE from the UK and Marbella. 

We explore why personal branding matters in business, with Tracy Harmoush, tech entrepreneur and speaker, and social media expert Alexandra, founder of Alex’s House of Social.

Tom and Neil tell us why a great idea and an amazing team aren't enough grow a business. The boring stuff, like setting up systems, will ensure scalability and longevity. 

Yes but with a caveat: We hear from Atinirmal Pagarani, Managing Director of Yogi Group, a Dubai-born family business that spans real estate, property management, facilities services, and construction.

Entrepreneur Simon Squibb has inspired millions of people to achieve their dreams. 

Can you run a fully virtual business out of Dubai?  Ekta Gandhi and Hannan Moti have successfully done it

Tom and Paul explore the leadership landscape of 2025 - and how it can level up in 2026. They're joined by three leaders with different perspectives: Sasha Marashlian, Founder of Imagine FMCG, Farhan Rehman from Rehman Sheriff Group, Nazneen Abbas from Ma’an Legacy & Legal Consultancy

Tom and Neil explore the journeys of two Brits who are coming back to Dubai to live or do business.  After years in the property business, Nicky Way is back in the city to launch his newest venture, Little Biga Pizza. And Jason Leavy finds himself doing business in Dubai to expand his executive coaching business, Prime Performance Labs. 

Elizabeth Morales, Brand Manager of Aura Bakery and Café and Basma Chaieri, founder of Etika Jewels - our featured guests, have built brands that feel premium, emotionally engaging and very Dubai. How did they do it?

A new Visa Global Economic Insight report has found that while luxury spending is slowing in cities like London and New York, Dubai tells a different story.  About 1 in 9 Dubai residents makes a premium purchase every quarter, supported by a huge base of high-earning households. But what really makes a brand luxurious? Manuel Arnaut, Head of Editorial Content at Vogue Arabia, tells Starting Up what really matters to high-end customers.

What does retirement really look like today, and can you design a life you never need to retire from? Tom Urquhart and Neil Petch sit down with aviation legend Habib Fekih, who reflects on life after four decades at the top of the industry.  They also learn a thing or two from Florian Urghetto and Liz Nunez, founders of Easy Wedding, who are living the FIRE lifestyle — Financial Independence, Retire Early.

Our all-female panel tell Tom and Neil how they ditched their pay cheque to take the plunge into starting a new business.

No matter your industry, you can build an AI-powered startup. We have experts in studio who have done it: Nokhez Usman, Psychologist and Founder of MindMe Sonny Sangha, YouTube and software developer

Tom and Paul speaking to biohacking expert CJ Malhotra, business psychologist Amanda White beauty tech entrepreneur Haifa Addas about why all entrepreneurs need to reset and slow down, even amidst a busy business period.

We kicked things off with Dubai Holding’s Innovate For Tomorrow Impact Accelerator 2025 - a platform empowering entrepreneurs to drive real sustainability change. Then, we shifted gears to one of the UAE’s hottest sectors: real estate. Our guests, James Gosling from Exclusive Links Real Estate Brokers and Atif Rahman, Founder & Chairman of ORO24 Developments, broke down how investors and founders tapped into the property boom sweeping across the Emirates.

Squatwolf founders Wajdan and Anam tell Katie and Neil what it takes to run a global fitness empire with your spouse. Plus, Al Ryum Group CEO Rafael Khanoyan describes how he took over his father's business and grew it across the country. 

Katie and Virtuezone Chairman Neil Petch explore the tricky topic of raising capital for your business, with our guests:  - Helen McGuire founder of The Founder Sanctuary and partner of Identifii (EYE), mentor, and champion of women entrepreneurs - Mohamed Khaled - founder of Hotdesk, the "Airbnb for offices" - Simon Davies - founder of ORK-TA (Aucta) Group, who for 34 years has been connecting founders to capital, fund the largest accelerator for fund managers in the GCC.  

Georgia joins Paul Bryson, MD of Virtuzone, discuss how bosses can effectively manage their employees with our dynamic panel:  Sebastian Bedu - GM, International SOS  Shane Philips - CEO, The Philips Group  Adel Ghazzawi - Co-Owner, Cove Beach

Michelin-starred Chef Jason Atherton tells Tom and the Virtuzone team how he runs a global restaurant business, and what's new at Row on 45, his two- Micheline star bespoke fine dining venue.

John Casey, Managing Director of TaxReady.ae tells you everything you need to know about the UAE's corporate tax rule, and what you need to know to stay compliant ahead of the September 30 deadline.

Tom and Paul speak to brilliant entrepreneurs on the show who have either been there, done that, or are experiencing the journey of growing slowly but surely.  Haider Al Assam, Co-Founder of Maiz Tacos and Good Burger Maria Vitoratos, Founder of MV Careers Maria Pruna, Founder of My Car Care 

05 Sep 2025. Starting Up with Virtuzone returns after the summer break with one big question: how do you stand out in a crowded market? Tom and Neil speak to KCal founder Andreas Lindgreen Borgmann about building one of Dubai’s first healthy meal plan brands. Plus Chef Nick Alvis and Sam Amidi of Mortgage Finder, two experienced individuals sharing their secrets to building a business that truly stands out.

Abdulla Ajmal, CEO of Ajmal Perfumes, told Starting Up about his plans to further grow the scent empire that his grandfather started in the 1950's,. Plus, we get business advice on business longevity from Guillaume Giroux, CEO of Dubai Immo and Tristan Lowe, CEO of Escrow Made Easy. Finally, we look into the big Labubu trend - is it going to fade soon? What's the next big thing, and how can businesses take advantage of it? 

Three brave entrepreneurs share their failure stories, and how they turned things around to achieve success. Dan Bolton, Founder, Be Creative  Kane Andrews, Founder, The Rock Star Group  Nithin Mathew Thombil, Founder, Wheels AHOY and AHOY Modz

With snacks across 65 markets, UAE snack brand Hunter Foods is making waves across the world. The secret? Understanding the market and innovating flavours, according to Founder and Managing Director Ananya Narayan. And what if the brand was YOU? Seif El Hakim, author, speaker and entrepreneur and Founder of The Alpha Movement, tells us how he was able to build a personal brand that the world can resonate with. 

Just how big is the online beauty industry in the UAE? What are the opportunities for small business owners? noon Beauty VP Ritika Jain tells us.

Experts Kian Golzari and Nas Mansurali tell us how to source and sell products online, and build a brand people won't forget.

Our panelists share how company values are formed, and why we need them to make difficult decisions.  David Ribott, Managing Partner at Ribott Partners  Christian Moufarrej, Founder and Managing Partner, Pet's Kitchen

Shuja Jashanmal, Group CEO of the Jashanmal National Company, tells Tom and George why starting as a salesman made him the business leader he is today. His son Seth also shares his aspirations for the family business as he prepares to start his career journey.  

These successful empire builders managed to turn a burnout moment into a business breakthrough: Vadim Fedotov, CEO and Co-Founder of Bioniq Emma Burdett, CEO and Founder of WILD: Women in Leadership Deliver & WILD Talent Maria Pavani, Founder of Tres Marias Coffee

Tom and Neil discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of dealing with clients and customers. They're joined by: Vishal Menon, founder of Fireflies ME, Charles Dersahakian, Managing Partner at CVML Riyaz Sutterwala, CEO and founder of View Emirates Sports Club

Tom and Neil explore the power of belonging in a community with those who have built thriving and solid ones. 

Does your business struggle with cash flow?  Cash flow is the number one challenge for small businesses. So what's the solution?  Tom and Neil unpack this topic with entrepreneur and finance expert Roota Mittal, We Do Events Founder Reham Damanhouri and Chief Growth Officer Waleed Zouki. 

Tom and Neil discuss the truths and takeaways of moving your business to the UAE. They're joined by guests: Salman Moghimi, CEO of Peyk - attended school in the UAE, started his delivery business in the UK, and now in the UAE, manufacturing multi-purpose robots! Katy Holmes, CEO of British Chamber of Commerce ... supporting a growing number of UK businesses entering the UAE Mousa Azar, CEO of HAWES, a home automation technology company that relocated from Lebanon.

Tom and Neil discuss the qualities of a great leadership, especially in this day and age when workplace hierarchy is seeing a massive shift. They're joined by special guests: James Michael Lafferty, Former CEO of Fine Holdings, Coca Cola and P&G. Olympic coach and trainer. Dr. Corrie Block, Executive Coach and Author of Chief Executive Coach Catherine Jeha, Head of Training, ProClipse Consulting 

From real estate to soft skills, our guests break down what it takes to sell—especially when it’s hard. Plus, the one line they swear by when closing a deal!

The right business partner can help you scale faster, push further, and actually enjoy the ride. But the wrong one? That could be the most expensive mistake of your life. Tom Urquhart and Virtuzone MD Paul Bryson dive into the dynamics of business partnerships with three founders who’ve lived it: Vardhan Kapoor, Co-founder & CEO of Firstwork, Charbel Hachem, CEO of Dayf Homes, and Houda Naji, Founder of JST Ventures.

The viral Dubai chocolate has led to worldwide success and soaring sales.  We discuss the power of  virality with social media experts Anand Raman, Amani Khan and Dhruv Maniar.

Solopreneurship is on the rise in the UAE and it's often glorified as the ultimate freedom—owning your time, making all the decisions, and reaping the full rewards of your work. But is it the best path for everyone, especially when a business has the potential to grow beyond what one person can manage? Tom and Paul unpack the pros and cons of running a business on your own with our special guests:  Lara Gedeah, Founder of Cameo Comms Hiam Salibi, Founder of Producer, Thirteen01 Productions Desma D’Souza, Managing Partner, S&K HR Consulting

Tom and Neil gain some powerful insight from fintech leader Amnah Ajmal and Female Fusion founder Jen Blandos.

Ayman Al Yaman's viral videos have been viewed one billion times. Together with his big brother Ghazy, they tell Tom and George how they turned their social media fame into a money making machine.  Plus, Olly Collis left his cushy job in the UK to move to Dubai and start his own content creation company, Sub60.  He tells his story. 

Alexander Heller, CEO and Founder of Hyperspace, tells us how he built Hyperspace venues Aya Universe and House of Hype, and why Dubai was the perfect place to start his venture.  Plus, Laundryheap boss Deyan Dimitrov tells us how his team can pick up, wash and return your clothes in 24 hours or less. 

Tej Lalvani grew Vitabiotics into a £400 million business. He shares some advice on what to look out for - and what to avoid - when investing in a business. Plus, FIFA sports agent Saif Rubie tells us how he deals with the ups and downs of the industry.

Fadi Amoudi of IQ Robotics tells us how to use automation to grow your business. Plus, Kushal and Sagar of Publish tell us how  to craft the perfect Founder's story.

MUMpreneur: Does the term empower - or patronise - mothers who run their own businesses? We get the thoughts of investor, entrepreneur and mum of four Kelly Marie Hodgkin. Plus, what should your website look like? Monish Chandiramani, Founder and CEO of Yeepeey, offers some advice.

Mermaids of Arabia founder Josephine Adams told Tom and Neil about how she hit rock bottom, and why she kept going. We also discussed a movement that allows small businesses to exchange resources in the wake of the floods with Rana Hijarasouli, founder of The Surpluss. 

The Design House CEO Sharon O' Keefe tells us how she started his design and furniture business while working as cabin crew in Dubai.