We are a group of seasoned professionals, driven by a deep passion for disruptive innovations, strategic growth, and leveraging our resources and networks to help you build and grow sustainable businesses.
We have diverse professional backgrounds and extensive experience investing in and supporting deals between the Middle East and Asia.
Our team is small.
Our network is strong. Backed by prominent industry expert
and business leaders in the community.
Ben Jelloun has over 17 years of global experience providing M&A Strategy and Advisory services to Fortune 500 clients and PE firms in North America, Europe, Middle East, and Greater China. Ben helps companies across the deal cycle, including synergy planning, post-deal value creation, cross-border growth and expansion, etc. Ben also has experience leading a PE platform in the Middle East focused on investing in filmed entertainment.
Mo Chen has over 18 years of professional experience, serving in many senior roles in Private Equity, Asset Management, Mutual Funds, and Consulting. He has extensive experience in deal sourcing, fundraising, and post-deal management, and has developed a strong network of global GPs and LPs. He is especially focused on technology-driven ventures, with extensive connections with Chinese entrepreneurs in the technology and healthcare spaces.
Prior to joining GCCVest, Samir was a Partner at Shorooq Partners where he led the initiative to establish the first dedicated venture debt practice in MENA, a venture debt fund that provides alternative credit solutions for innovative high growth companies in the MENA region. Samir also founded and led Autarky Advisors and its finance arm, Autarky Capital, which was acquired following significant interest in the venture debt space in MENA.
Prior to founding Autarky Advisors, Samir served various roles in the finance sector, including KKR, EY, family offices and his own ventures.
His academic background is in Engineering and Economics, where he holds an MSc. From Imperial College London and received the Jonathan Ziman Memorial Award and the Applied Economics Award for his thesis amongst others. Samir is entirely devoted to the MENA region with a bias towards the Saudi ecosystem.
Hani Alkhalifa has over 15 years of experience as a trusted advisor for public and private sectors, delivering high-impact consultancy services for Governments and Government-owned enterprises in GCC. He often collaborates with multi-national consultancy firms to deliver value through opportunity identification, strategy, governance, and business transformation.
Faisal Haque is responsible for collaborating with GCCVest portfolio companies to accelerate their growth and expansion in the MENA region. He specializes in strategic differentiation, go-to-market, portfolio management, market entry, M&A strategy, and other growth initiatives. Faisal has over 20 years of experience in M&A strategy, and has successfully led large-size regional, cross-border and global transactions.
Abdulraman Haraki has 12+ years of experience in business development and developing business opportunities, initiatives and strategic partnerships in various fields including education, real estate, tourism and electronic & Intellectual Sports
Tony is a founding partner of Baywise Capital, a growth fund focused on technology companies across Asia. He has both an entrepreneurial and investment background.
Tony worked for 5 years at General Atlantic as principal and 3 years as managing director at Hillhouse Capital, where he was co-head of the Internet and software businesses.
› Prior to joining General Atlantic, Tony worked as a senior analyst at McKinsey & Company.
Tony has co-founded the leading fintech company Finvolution (NYSE: FINV).
Tony received an MBA from Wharton School and a Master’s degree in computer science from Shanghai Jiaotong University.
Venture Partner & Senior Adviser
Vivian Chen has been the founding partner of Baywise Partners Limited since 2015. In this role, she oversees critical functions including fundraising, deal evaluation, portfolio management building investor relationships, providing regulatory and compliance oversight and executing exit strategies. Additionally, Vivian holds the role of CFO, where she is responsible for safeguarding the financial health of the fund, directing fund management, managing risk, and leading the finance team.
Previously, Vivian was the Financial Controller at Korn/Ferry International Consulting (Beijing) Ltd. and served as CFO of a Canadian education company. She began her career as a senior auditor at Ernst & Young.
With over 15 years of experience in auditing and financial management, Vivian possesses deep expertise across multiple industries, including high tech, manufacturing, retail, property management and financial services.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in investment economics from Renmin University of China (2000) and a master’s degree in commerce from the University of Sydney (2002).
Will has over 40 years of transactional experience across US and 11 Asian countries, with extensive operational and strategic advisory experience. Will advises private investors and their portfolio companies on legal and related strategic issues arising from fundraising, M&A, leveraged finance and stock market listings, and other forms of exit.
Prior to joining GCCVest, Marco served as Head of Investment and Board of Director at United Talent Ventures, where he was respomsible for overall daily management and supervision of operations to ensure compliance. He also served as Compliance Consultant at Prosynergy Consulting Ltd., where he provided assessment and licensing advice to corporate clients and ROs, including working closely with clients on virtual asset backed projects for potential launch in Hong Kong.
Marco previously held roles as Director at Kingdom Investment Managers Limited responsible for the channel building and preparation of fund setup with focus on investing in Greater China. He was also the Director of CVP Asset Management (subsidiary of Madison Holding Group) and Vice President (Private Equity) at China Merchants Securities (HK).
Marco has a legal background with a LL.B. Law and postgraduate diploma in Corporate Law. He has previously served as Paralegal (Corporate) at Pang & Co.
Prior to joining GCCVest, Joanne was part of KPMG’s Deal Advisory team, where she collaborated closely with the founding partner of the Private Equity and Deals Practice. She led multiple cross-border engagements, providing expertise in target identification, negotiation support, due diligence, business case validation, synergy assessment, and performance improvement initiatives.
In addition to transaction advisory, Joanne has advised clients on business and operational strategy to drive value creation and enhance performance. Her strategic consulting experience includes market entry strategies, digital transformation initiatives, business performance enhancement, and post-integration planning.
Crystal has over 2 years of strategy consulting experience in advising clients in deal strategy and buy-side transactions. She has experience supporting value creation and assessment, due diligence, and target identification and has supported multiple cross-border transactions across industries.
Prior to joining KPMG, Crystal also served in a US search fund focused in the healthcare sector, primarily supporting target identification, due diligence, and investor communications.
