Gary Sheynkman

Gary Sheynkman is a prominent figure in the venture capital landscape, currently serving as a Founding Member of 🪽⚡️AngelSpark, a role he has held since October 2023. Based in Dubai, he is also a Venture Partner at Further Ventures and a General Partner at Leyden VC. His extensive experience spans various sectors, focusing on early-stage investments and startup acceleration.

Professional Background

• AngelSpark: As a founding member, Sheynkman is actively involved in supporting early-stage founders and fostering a vibrant startup ecosystem in the MENA region.13
• Leyden VC: He co-founded Leyden Ventures, where he engages in multi-stage investments across diverse industries including fintech and SaaS.24
• Techstars Dubai: Prior to his current roles, he was instrumental in launching Techstars Dubai, which has become a significant player in the startup accelerator space.25

Notable Achievements

• Hackathon Winner: In 2016, Sheynkman won the CHIMEHACK 3 Hackathon sponsored by Gucci and Facebook for creating an AI-driven tool aimed at assisting victims of abuse.1
• Community Engagement: He hosts TacoStars, a community gathering for entrepreneurs in the UAE, promoting networking and collaboration among founders.25

Education and Early Career

Gary graduated from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. His career includes significant roles in digital media and corporate development, including positions at VICE Media and Abu Dhabi Media, where he contributed to product management and strategic initiatives.245

Languages

Sheynkman is multilingual, speaking Russian (native), English (bilingual), Ukrainian (limited proficiency), and Spanish (elementary proficiency) .1

In summary, Gary Sheynkman is a key player in the venture capital scene in Dubai, with a strong focus on supporting startups through investment and community-building initiatives.