Two Abu Dhabi founders who lost money trading as teenagers are building platforms designed to help first-time investors learn before risking their capital.
Mohamed Al Nasri and Mustafa Samhoun are among 17 startups selected for the inaugural MZN Hub71 programme, a joint initiative by the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and Hub71. The three-month programme is hosted at MZN Hub in Al Ain and supports Emirati entrepreneurs developing minimum viable products.
Al Nasri’s SouqView lets users practise trading more than 8,000 US stocks and ETFs with virtual money and real-time market data. The platform also uses an AI assistant to highlight news, analyst sentiment and potential risks. Launched four months ago, it has attracted more than 160 users, with over 60% returning weekly, according to Al Nasri.
SouqView plans to add UAE equities and commodities and expand into universities and schools to support financial literacy.
Samhoun’s Odysseon takes a different approach, connecting users with vetted traders who manage their capital. Users can select traders, allocate funds and track performance, while an AI model recommends strategies based on their risk profiles. The platform has onboarded 200 beta users as it works through security audits and regulatory requirements.
Both founders said their experiences exposed the need for safer, more accessible ways for young investors to understand financial markets.
Source: Aletihad
