Ayesha Mansha, founder of the Saudi-based compliance automation platform Sahl, has been crowned the winner of the sixth edition of the TiE Women MENA 2025 competition. The announcement was made following an exciting regional final held on October 13 at GITEX Global’s Expand North Star event in Dubai. Sahl was awarded a AED 70,000 equity-free grant, while the runner-up prize of AED 30,000 went to TarKeys, an e-learning platform from Syria co-founded by Rahaf Aldruby and Seem Alkabbani.
The Winners and Their Missions
- Winner: Sahl (Saudi Arabia) Sahl is a digital platform that simplifies and automates compliance processes, helping businesses in Saudi Arabia efficiently manage complex regulatory requirements so they can focus on growth. Reflecting on the win, founder Ayesha Mansha said, “This win isn’t just for Sahl; it’s for every founder in the region, proving that world-class products can be built right here. It fuels our mission to make compliance simple, transparent, and accessible for everyone.”
- Runner-Up: TarKeys (Syria) TarKeys is an e-learning platform transforming education in Syria by delivering interactive, high-quality content for baccalaureate students. The platform empowers teachers and is building a knowledge-driven future for Syrian youth.
A Competitive Regional Final
This year’s competition was fierce, attracting nearly 200 applications from licensed, women-founded businesses across the region, with strong showings in AI, edtech, femtech, and HR tech. After several rounds, five standout founders advanced to the regional finals in Dubai.
The other three finalists who pitched on stage were:
- Anisha Oberoi, Founder of SECRET SKIN (UAE Track).
- Mahra AlQubaisi, Founder of Elevation (Emirati Track).
- Nesma Amin, Founder of Aziza (Egypt Track).
Why It Matters: Closing the Funding Gap
The TiE Women MENA program is a critical initiative in an ecosystem where significant funding disparities persist. Recent research shows that male-only ventures in MENA still raise roughly five times the capital of their female-only counterparts. Programs like this provide vital support, mentorship, and a clear path from pitch to market.
“Over the past six years, we’ve been building this mission from the ground up, creating equity, access, and a level playing field for women founders,” said Carlina Marani and Raed Hafez, co-chairs for TiE Women MENA 2025. “The rise of female-led businesses in MENA reflects a broader shift toward innovation and inclusion.”
Next Steps: The Global Stage
The journey is not over for the finalists. All five regional winners—Sahl, TarKeys, SECRET SKIN, Elevation, and Aziza—will now advance to the TiE Global Summit in Jaipur, India, in January 2026. There, they will compete for a $50,000 global prize pool. In preparation, they will continue to receive one-on-one mentorship to refine their go-to-market strategies and investor materials.
About The Organizers
The competition is run by TiE Dubai, the regional chapter of the global non-profit dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship. The program is held in close association with GITEX Global and Expand North Star and is supported by strategic partners including e& life, Dubai Internet City, and in5, among others.
Learn More: Wamda
