Ossama Hassanein

Ossama Hassanein is a renowned entrepreneur, mentor, and venture capitalist with a rich background in managing international technology funds amounting to over $1 billion.

With a diverse leadership journey that includes prominent roles such as EVP at Berkeley International in San Francisco, Chairman of Technocom Ventures in Paris, and President of Newbridge Networks Holding in Canada, Dr. Hassanein has played pivotal roles in the success of numerous tech companies globally.

In the 1980s, he spearheaded the mezzanine financing of more than 80 Silicon Valley-based IT companies, many of which have grown into billion-dollar entities, with a combined market value today exceeding $200 billion.

Dr. Hassanein's entrepreneurial spirit is evident through his chairmanship or co-founding of seven high-tech startups across the US, UK, France, and Switzerland, some of which were acquired by industry giants like Ericsson, Corvis, and SAP.

Currently serving as the chairman of Rising Tide and a director at Bank of the West, Dr. Hassanein is actively engaged in mentoring and supporting promising entrepreneurs through associations like TechWadi and the C100.

Apart from his corporate endeavors, Dr. Hassanein is deeply involved in philanthropic activities, having served on the Board of Directors of Relief International with a focus on education, social entrepreneurship, and women's development in the Middle East.

Dr. Hassanein's academic contributions include being a visiting professor at AUC School of Business, lecturing at prestigious institutions like Stanford and UC Berkeley, and speaking on entrepreneurship at various esteemed platforms including the White House and Harvard University.

His expertise spans various domains including new company formation, venture capital financing, corporate governance, international business expansion, and mergers and acquisitions.

Dr. Hassanein holds an impressive educational background with a PhD in Electrical Engineering, an MBA in Management Sciences, and an MSc in Electrical Engineering from The University of British Columbia, along with a BSc in Electrical Engineering from Alexandria University.