Bio_v_0

Rama applies 25 years of technical and communications experience to her passion: social development for Arab Youth. She runs VIP.fund with her co-founder Brian David, a venture  philanthropy fund investing in youth programs and technology startups. In addition to running the VIP.fund, Rama is a principal with Turn8, a Tech Venture Capital Fund.

Prior to the VIP.fund Rama ran Baraka Ventures, investing in a portfolio of social impact and tech startups. Among the portfolio were BarakaBits, the first Middle East social publisher and news media focused on a positive narrative from the Middle East and Baraka Advisors, a communications agency managing PR for causes in the Middle East.

In 2000 Rama co-founded a startup that received $60,000 in funding to buildout data-centers. Prior to that Rama served as a director of product development at Cable and Wireless serving fortune 100 clients.

She holds a bachelor’s degree  in Computer Engineering and a Master’s in Engineering Management from George Washington University.

Rama served on the board of TechWadi, PCRF, PACES, The Impact HUB – UAE , Challenge to Change and Nakhweh.  She advises other non-profits and social-impact businesses. She’s a founding member of Arab Women in Computing and the first regional Women Angel investment Network – WAIN. She currently serves on the board of the Syrian International Business Association.

  • Rama was featured in Forbes Middle East and Arab Women Rising, a Wharton School of Business Publication.

t: @rchakaki

Linked-in – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rchakaki

Slideshare – slideshare.com/rchakaki

Notable Projects

  • Social Impact Strategy Advisor – World Cup Bid 2022 – Qatar
  • Communications Advisor – World Bank Group, UAE Ministry of Labor, Kuwait Ministry of Finance
  • Content Strategy Advisor – Etisalat UAE

 

Seminars, Training Programs, Workshops

  • University of Dubai – Women’s business entrepreneurship
  • American University of Dubai – Guest lecturing for Online Communities Media Course
  • Knowledge Village – Social Media 101 Seminar
  • Zayed University – Women’s entrepreneurship seminar
  • UAE Eco club – Environmental after-school Club
  • Dubai 4 Acumen – Business Plan Competition
  • Women & Social Enterprise – A GCC Opportunity
  • Hani Qaddumi Scholarship Foundation –  Ideathon
  • Building a Social Publishing Platform
  • Crowdfunding for Education
  • Mentor Accreditation Program

Events & Collaborations:

  • Open Diversity Workshop Series @shelterdxb – UAE
  • UNWIRED Technology Radio Show – UAE
  • Pangea Day – www.pangeaday.org – UAE
  • TEDxDubai Sponsorship – UAE
  • TEDxRamallah Sponsorship – Palestine
  • 4site Forum Sponsorship – Lebanon
  • Tawasul Stakeholder Engagement workshop (Adopt a Reef) – UAE
  • Dubai4Acumen Business Plan Competition – UAE
  • C3 – Speed Consulting for Social Entrepreneurs – UAE
  • Center of Excellence Startup Training Program Development – Palestine
  • OSANA Hackathon for Social Good – Lebanon
  • Online Training Webinar Series Development – TechWadi – SF-USA

Speaking Engagements:

Portfolio of Startups

  • BarakaBits
  • Baraka Advisors
  • Baraka Ventures

Notable mentions