Suggestions
Omar Darwazah
Managing Director & General Partner at AAF Management Ltd. | Kauffman Fellow | Wharton 40 Under 40
Omar Darwazah is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in finance, venture capital, and strategic investments.
He is the Managing Director, General Partner, and CFO at AAF Management Ltd., a prominent early-stage venture capital firm focusing on tech companies across North America and global emerging markets.
With over $234M in assets under management, AAF has a strong investment portfolio spanning various stages from pre-Seed to Series A.
Omar's investment track record includes $71M in over 120 US-based startups and 30 emerging managers globally, with additional investments in over 30 companies in Africa and the MENA region through his family office.
His expertise in fund management is evident through consistent top decile performance in DPI and TVPI, benchmarked against over 1500 US VC Funds by Cambridge Associates' data.
Prior to co-founding AAF, Omar gained valuable experience at OCI N.V., where he worked on multi-billion-dollar corporate transactions focusing on investor relations, corporate finance, and strategy.
He also brings a wealth of financial knowledge from his time at Deloitte Tax LLP in Chicago and Deutsche Bank's Leveraged Finance team in London.
Furthermore, Omar is actively engaged in the tech and entrepreneurship ecosystem, serving on the board of TechWadi and mentoring programs at NYU, University of Chicago, and Wharton School.
His educational background includes a BA in Economics and Political Science with Honors from the University of Chicago and an MBA from The Wharton School, showcasing his dedication to continuous learning and professional development.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Omar is a passionate traveler, having explored 104 countries, and has also ventured into film production as an Executive Producer on various short films.
His accolades include being named in prestigious lists like Wharton's 40 under 40, Top 100 University of Chicago Alumni in Tech, and Arab America Foundation's 40 Under 40 Class of 2023. Additionally, he is a Kauffman Fellow (Class 25) and remains actively involved in various investment ventures.
