Impact Talk with Nadine Zidani

Nadine Zidani
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Impact Talk redefines success by sharing stories of businesses that balance profit with social and environmental impact, proving that purpose and profit can go hand in hand. We amplify the voices of business leaders and entrepreneurs from the MENA region who are shaping a new wave of business.Hosted by Nadine Zidani—an influential advocate for sustainability, impact entrepreneur, and founder of MENA Impact—Impact Talk inspires a fresh approach to business, where generating profit also benefits people and the planet.

  1. Turning Food Waste Into Protein, Fertilizer, and SAF - Dr. Haythem Riahi

    JAN 13

    Turning Food Waste Into Protein, Fertilizer, and SAF - Dr. Haythem Riahi

    Can insects turn food waste into high-value products — and a profitable climate tech business?In this episode of Impact Talk, host Nadine Zidani sits down with Dr. Haitham Al Riahi, Co-Founder of Circa Biotech, to explore how nature-based biotech can transform organic waste into valuable resources — creating both environmental and economic impact.From engineering facilities that raise black soldier flies to processing thousands of tons of pre-consumer food waste, Dr. Haitham shares how Circa Biotech converts waste into three key products: protein for animal feed, organic fertilizer, and a fat byproduct that can be used as feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). In This Episode, You’ll Learn About: • How Circa Biotech generate value out of food waste • How a business can mimic nature’s recycling system • Why industrial climate tech scaling is different from software • The journey behind creating an entirely new industry category • How to approach fundraising when you’re not SaaS • A practical growth path for sustainability ventures • The role of the UAE in supporting impact startups About Our Guest: Dr. Haitham Al Riahi is the Co-Founder of Circa Biotech and a biotechnology and circular economy leader. With a PhD in biotechnology and years of experience across pharma and biotech, he is focused on turning organic waste into valuable resources through nature-based innovation — helping build a thriving circular bio-industry in the UAE.

    51 min
  2. #31-How Ejaby Is Redefining Food Waste Through Supply Chain E-Commerce - Menna Shahin & Maxim Haartsen

    12/17/2025

    #31-How Ejaby Is Redefining Food Waste Through Supply Chain E-Commerce - Menna Shahin & Maxim Haartsen

    Can technology transform food waste into impact at scale?In this episode of Impact Talk, host Nadine Zidani sits down with Maxim Harzen and Menna Shahin, co-founders of Ejaby, a next-generation supply chain e-commerce platform reinventing how surplus and slow-moving inventory reaches consumers and businesses. From tackling food waste and supply-chain inefficiencies to building a startup as a couple, Maxim and Menna share the real story behind Ejaby — including their journey across Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, the role of technology and AI in their model, and how profitability and environmental impact can grow hand in hand. In This Episode, You’ll Learn About: • How Ejaby addresses food waste by intervening early in the supply chain • Why supply-chain e-commerce is a new and critical category • The transition from B2C to B2B — and what triggered the shift • How technology and AI enable scale without warehouses or fleets • Lessons learned from launching in Egypt before expanding to the UAE and KSA • Why revenue growth and environmental impact don’t have to be trade-offs • What it’s really like to build and run a startup as a couple About Our Guests:Maxim Harzen is the CEO and Co-Founder of Ejaby, bringing deep experience in commercial strategy and supply chains across Europe, Asia, and the GCC.Menna Shahin is the COO and Co-Founder of Ejaby, an award-winning tech and sustainability entrepreneur with a background in AI and a strong commitment to social and environmental impact.

    40 min
  3. #30-Can Venture Capital Save the Climate? Lessons from Africa’s Impact Ecosystem

    11/05/2025

    #30-Can Venture Capital Save the Climate? Lessons from Africa’s Impact Ecosystem

    Can climate tech unlock Africa’s trillion-dollar opportunity?In this episode of Impact Talk, host Nadine Zidani sits down with Maxime Bayen — Operating Partner at Catalyst Fund, an early-stage venture capital fund — to explore how VC can drive climate adaptation, resilience, and innovation across Africa.From venture building and pre-seed investing to empowering founders tackling climate challenges, Maxime shares a data-driven perspective on the evolving African startup landscape — and the power of patient, blended, and inclusive capital to fuel lasting impact.In This Episode, You’ll Learn About:-Why climate adaptation and resilience are Africa’s biggest opportunities-How Catalyst Fund evolved from an accelerator to a leading VC fund-The challenges early-stage founders face — and how to overcome them-What investors should know before entering the climate tech space-The story behind Africa: The Big Deal and key funding trends across the continent-The gender gap in VC funding and how Catalyst Fund is driving changeAbout Our Guest:Maxime Bayen is the Operating Partner at Catalyst Fund, where he leads portfolio support and value creation for over 20 startups across Africa. With years of experience in venture capital, startup building, and data insights through Africa: The Big Deal, Maxime is shaping the future of early-stage climate innovation on the continent.

    1h 5m
  4. #29-10 Lessons Every Impact Founder Needs to Succeed

    09/25/2025

    #29-10 Lessons Every Impact Founder Needs to Succeed

    What does it really take to build a business with impact?After 28 conversations with founders, investors, and changemakers on Impact Talk, I’m sharing the 10 most important lessons I’ve learned about impact entrepreneurship, lessons every founder should know.🔗 Sponsor acknowledgment:This episode is brought to you by the World Green Economy Summit (WGES) — one of the world’s leading forums on the green economy, advancing the future of sustainable development.📅 The next edition takes place in Dubai on 1–2 October 2025. 👉 Register here to join the summit.In this special solo episode, I cover:Why storytelling beats pitching.The power of measuring your impact.How to build networks that open doors.Why profit is not a dirty word.When VC money helps — and when it doesn’t.Why awareness comes before adoption.The importance of building a community.Pivoting until it works.Finding your support system.And learning to be misunderstood (and still move forward).These are lessons drawn from real conversations with founders across MENA, and from my own journey as the founder of MENA Impact, a certified B Corp dedicated to building the regional impact ecosystem.Whether you’re a startup founder, an entrepreneur, or simply someone curious about the future of sustainable business, this episode will give you insights you can apply on your own journey. 👉 Founders: join the MENA Impact Community to connect with peers, partners, and investors building the ecosystem for impact.

    17 min
  5. #28-Dubai’s VC Vision: Impact, Innovation & Startup Success

    07/28/2025

    #28-Dubai’s VC Vision: Impact, Innovation & Startup Success

    Can venture capital fuel impact beyond profit?In this episode of Impact Talk, Nadine Zidani sits down with Nader AlBastaki — Managing Director of Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF) — to explore how a government-backed VC is reshaping the region’s innovation ecosystem.From startup founder to corporate banker to public sector strategist, Nader’s journey is anything but linear. Today, he leads DFDF, a unique evergreen fund that blends public and private capital to power high-growth ventures aligned with Dubai’s long-term economic, technological, and social agenda. In This Episode, You’ll Learn About: What makes DFDF different from traditional VC fundsHow DFDF bridges the gap between government policy and venture innovationThe role of patient capital and blended financing in impact innovationHow success is measured beyond unicorn statusNader’s advice for impact-driven entrepreneurs About Our Guest: Nader AlBastaki is the Managing Director of Dubai Future District Fund. With a career spanning entrepreneurship, corporate finance, and government strategy, he brings a rare blend of experience to the venture capital world. At DFDF, Nader champions an ecosystem approach to investing — where economic returns, social outcomes, and policy alignment go hand-in-hand to build a resilient and thriving innovation landscape in the UAE and beyond. Follow Nadine Zidani: Instagram – LinkedIn – TikTok – Website Listen to Impact Talk: Podeo – Anghami – Spotify – Apple Podcasts Follow Impact Talk: Instagram – LinkedIn

    29 min
  6. #27-Building a Farming Ecosystem in the Heart of Dubai

    07/04/2025

    #27-Building a Farming Ecosystem in the Heart of Dubai

    What if farming could heal the planet — and ourselves? In this episode of Impact Talk, Nadine Zidani sits down with Mohammed Aissaoui, founder of My Farm Dubai, to explore how one small farm in the desert is transforming the future of food, sustainability, and community. From regenerative agriculture and zero-waste farming to teaching school children and empowering urban growers, Mohammed shares the inspiring story behind building My Farm Dubai — an ecosystem rooted in circularity, education, and deep respect for nature. What started as a personal passion has grown into a movement, showing that sustainable farming in the desert isn’t just possible — it’s necessary. This episode is a must-watch for anyone passionate about climate resilience, food security, and reconnecting with nature in the modern world. In This Episode, You’ll Learn About: What it takes to build a zero-waste farm in the Dubai desertThe permaculture principles behind My Farm DubaiWhy community and education are essential for sustainable impactThe real health benefits of reconnecting with natureHow small-scale urban farming can scale for national food securityLessons in entrepreneurship, efficiency, and staying groundedAbout Our Guest:Mohamed Aissaoui is the Founder and CEO of My Farm Dubai, and a fifth-generation farmer with a background in engineering. He blends low-tech and new-tech approaches to optimize organic food production while preserving the ecosystem. At My Farm, Mohamed champions circular farming systems as a pathway to food security in the UAE. His farm prioritizes quality, giving time for plants, fruits, and vegetables to grow naturally in forest soil—without disturbing the environment. Follow My Farm Dubai: Website Instagram LinkedIn Follow Nadine Zidani: Instagram LinkedIn  TikTok Website Listen to Impact Talk: Anghami Spotify Apple Podcasts Follow Impact Talk: Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter

    32 min
  7. #26-Beyond Passion: The Truth About Leading a Climate Tech Startup

    06/13/2025

    #26-Beyond Passion: The Truth About Leading a Climate Tech Startup

    In this powerful conversation, Nadine Zidani sits down with Ragy Ramadan, founder of NoorNation — a bold clean energy startup from Egypt on a mission to bring solar power and safe water to underserved communities across Africa. From quitting his full-time job to facing project cancellation just 45 days later, Ragy opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of building a climate tech startup. He shares how resilience became a core value at NoorNation, and why real impact requires more than passion — it demands persistence, sacrifice, and truth. We dive into the challenges of being a founder, the pressure of delivering payrolls, and the illusion of fast success in the world of social entrepreneurship. This episode is a raw, honest look at what it takes to bounce back — and keep going. In This Episode, You’ll Gain Insights On: How NoorNation is transforming access to clean energy in remote rural areas.Ragy’s personal journey from corporate life to full-time purpose.The funding journey — and why choosing the right investors matters.Why innovation should come from within the region.The emotional and financial toll of building a startup.Advice for aspiring climate and impact entrepreneurs.About Our Guest: Ragy Ramadan is the founder of NoorNation, a clean energy venture aiming to empower 1 million people by 2028 through sustainable power and water solutions. With over 12 years of experience, he has trained 600+ professionals across the MENA region and is committed to impact-driven innovation. Follow NoorNation: Website Instagram LinkedIn Follow Nadine Zidani: Instagram LinkedIn TikTok Website 🎧 Listen to Impact Talk: Podeo Anghami Spotify Apple Podcasts 📢 Follow Impact Talk: Instagram LinkedIn 📰 Subscribe to our newsletter

    44 min
  8. #25-Revolutionizing Healthcare Access in the Arab World

    06/13/2025

    #25-Revolutionizing Healthcare Access in the Arab World

    Welcome to another episode of Impact Talk!In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Jalil Allabadi, Co-Founder and CEO of Altibbi, the largest digital health platform in the MENA region. What began as a humble Arabic medical dictionary created by his father, has now grown into a revolutionary telehealth company delivering 24/7 doctor access, AI-powered health tools, and vital content to millions. Jalil shares his journey of building Altibbi to bridge healthcare access gaps in the Arab world, from empowering patients with knowledge to innovating real-time doctor consultations via mobile—without even needing internet access. We also unpack how AI is transforming the way medical information is accessed, the powerful stories of impact from underserved communities, and how Altibbi balances profit and purpose in a region where social entrepreneurship is still evolving. In This Episode, You’ll Gain Insights On: The origin story of Altibbi and how it evolved from a physical dictionary to a health-tech platform.The critical healthcare challenges in the Arab world.How Altibbi provides 24/7 access to verified doctors within minutes.The power of AI in revolutionizing telehealth and personalized healthcare.Real-life impact stories from communities in Gaza, Jordan, and beyond.Jalil’s perspective on building a for-profit business with deep social impact.Why redefining social entrepreneurship in the MENA region is essential.About Our Guest: Jalil Allabadi is the co-founder and CEO of Altibbi, the largest digital health platform in the Arab world, providing 24/7 telemedicine, AI-powered health content, and access to certified doctors. A Schwab Foundation fellow and board member of multiple organizations, Jalil is dedicated to democratizing healthcare across the MENA region. Follow Altibbi: Website Instagram LinkedIn Follow Nadine Zidani: Instagram LinkedIn TikTok Website 🎧 Listen to Impact Talk: Podeo Anghami Spotify Apple Podcasts 📰 Subscribe to our newsletter 📢 Follow Impact Talk: Instagram LinkedIn

    33 min
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About

Impact Talk redefines success by sharing stories of businesses that balance profit with social and environmental impact, proving that purpose and profit can go hand in hand. We amplify the voices of business leaders and entrepreneurs from the MENA region who are shaping a new wave of business.Hosted by Nadine Zidani—an influential advocate for sustainability, impact entrepreneur, and founder of MENA Impact—Impact Talk inspires a fresh approach to business, where generating profit also benefits people and the planet.

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