Step Conference DXB 2025: The Innovators To Watch
By Ashraf Kalim
Last month, I had the incredible opportunity to attend Step Conference 2025 at Dubai Internet City—a hub of innovation, energy, and groundbreaking ideas. You can read all about it 
Here
Last month, I had the incredible opportunity to attend Step Conference 2025 at Dubai Internet City—a hub of innovation, energy, and groundbreaking ideas. You can read all about it
Here
Here This year’s conference was surely bigger and better, so many brilliant minds, bold ideas, and startups redefining the future. From AI breakthroughs to sustainable innovations, every founder I met had a story worth telling. This blog is a glimpse into those conversations—the passion, the purpose, and the game-changing ideas shaping tomorrow.
While I met many startups during the two day event. The mentioned startups impressed me the most in the 15-minute window! Here we go:
M. Farhan Kalim
M. Farhan Kalim, Founder & CEO of Sorise EdTech, spoke about education with the kind of passion that makes you stop and listen. For him, AI isn’t just a tool—it’s the key to making learning more engaging, personal, and effective. Sorise is his way of reshaping education, giving students and teachers smarter ways to connect, grow, and break free from one-size-fits-all learning.
M. Ibrahim Asif
M. Ibrahim Asif doesn’t just create perfumes—he crafts memories in a bottle. Talking to him, it’s clear that scent is more than just fragrance; it’s emotion, identity, and storytelling. With PARFUMERY, he’s bringing that vision to life, designing bespoke perfumes that feel as personal as a fingerprint. Whether it’s luxury brands like Jaeger Le-Coultre or individuals looking for something truly one-of-a-kind, he’s redefining the way we experience scent.
Rosie Gunn, Endless
Rosie Gunn isn’t just changing how we shop—she’s redefining what it means to own fashion. Her platform makes it easy for women to buy, sell, and rent pre-loved pieces, giving clothes a second life while keeping wardrobes exciting. In a city like Dubai, where fashion moves fast, it’s a smart way to stay on trend without adding to the waste.
Bogdan Zagurskiy & 
Vasyl Duda
Bogdan Zagurskiy & Vasyl Duda
Bogdan Zagurskiy and Vasyl Duda are on a mission to make AI feel more natural—like a digital sidekick that truly understands you. With Get-Answer, they’ve built an app and Chrome extension that adapts to your habits, making everyday tasks smoother and smarter. It’s not about complicated tech—it’s about AI that works for you, not the other way around.
Hilal ÖZDEŞ KARAKUŞ & Kevser Bilgiç
Chatting with Hilal Özdeş Karakuş and her team member Kevser was refreshing—she’s genuinely excited about making gaming a fun, safe space for kids. Her enthusiasm was contagious as she talked about Cherry Island, a world built for adventure and connection without the usual combat. It’s clear she’s not just making a game—she’s creating something that actually feels good to play.
Nancy Aoun and Magaly Abs
Nancy Aoun and Magaly Abs spoke about Synapters with the kind of passion that makes you rethink how education should work. For them, learning isn’t just about getting through a syllabus—it’s about helping students discover what they’re truly good at. Through personalized virtual tutoring, they’re making education more flexible, more supportive, and more about the student than the system.
Muhammad Zubair
For Muhammad Zubair, ReJoy isn’t just about toys—it’s about the stories they carry and the joy they bring. He saw an opportunity to make playtime more sustainable and accessible by creating a space where families could swap pre-loved toys. It’s not just about reducing waste; it’s about ensuring every child, regardless of their circumstances, has the chance to experience the joy of play.
Sinnan Fazwani
Sinnan Fazwani, founder of FRGMNT, set out to redefine wellness with clean, science-backed supplements. He believes health should be natural, uncomplicated, and effective, harnessing the power of sun, earth, and water to create supplements that actually make a difference.
Georgia Mehaweg Testa
Georgia Mehaweg Testa gets it—there’s nothing like the thrill of snagging a luxury piece at a steal. Being Co-founder & CCO at Maison Safqa, she’s built an exclusive, members-only space where shoppers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE can dive into curated, time-limited sales on fashion, beauty, and more—because great style shouldn’t always come with a sky-high price tag.
Hiba Hussein
Hiba Hussein is on a mission to make financial literacy second nature for kids. With Growgoal, she’s giving young minds (ages 8-18) the tools to navigate money through interactive courses that make sense—because knowing how to save, spend, and invest shouldn’t be something you figure out too late.
Daniel Hachem
Daniel Hachem got it—parking struggles are universal, and he’s had his fair share too. When we talked, his passion for making life easier was clear. That’s exactly what he’s done with My Park Buddy—a smart, no-fuss app that finds you the nearest parking spot so you can spend less time circling and more time enjoying where you’re headed.
Leen AL-Bataineh
Leen Al-Bataineh lit up when she talked about food and the experiences around it. As Project Manager at Foodie, she was all about making things effortless—whether for food lovers, bloggers, or vendors. For her, it wasn’t just about meals; it was about bringing people together through food in a way that felt seamless and rewarding.
Luana Candotta,
When I spoke with Luana Candotta, Founder & CEO of Upvibez, it was clear she’s on a mission to change how DJs and artists navigate the industry. Upvibez isn’t just another music platform—it’s a space where artists can connect, share their work, and actually make a living from it. With AI-curated playlists and tools to help musicians monetize their talent, it’s giving both venues and creators more control over their sound and success.
The founders I met at Step Conference 2025 aren’t just building businesses; they’re solving real problems, challenging norms, and shaping the future in ways that matter. It’s clear that innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about people.
It’s not easy to bring so many great founders under one roof, but STEP did a fantastic job. Each startup is passion- and problem-driven, and I’m eager to see their journeys unfold. My best wishes to everyone mentioned here and all those I met—let’s stay connected!