Speaker

Tarik Sultan is a Partner and Head of MENA at Builders, where he leads the firm’s operations, investment strategy, and portfolio development across the Middle East and North Africa. A founder, operator, and investor, Tarik brings over 15 years of experience building companies and ecosystems at the intersection of science, technology, and entrepreneurship. He is a Founding Partner at Sultan Ventures and architect of the nationally recognized XLR8® platform, which has received multiple accolades, including being ranked among the top 30 investment accelerators in the U.S. These programs have supported hundreds of startups, helping founders raise capital, scale ventures, and enter emerging markets. As part of its growth, Sultan Ventures acquired Acasia (formerly Cairo Angels), a venture-building platform in MENA. An inventor and patent holder, Tarik has advised universities, governments, and corporates on innovation and venture strategy. His leadership has earned national recognition, including honors from Hawaii Business Magazine (“20 for the Next 20”), Pacific Business News (“40 Under 40”), The Business Journals (“100 Rising Stars”), the Hawaii Venture Capital Association (“Investor of the Year”), and the U.S. Small Business Administration (“Small Business Advocate for Innovation”). He has served on several boards, including the Hawaii Venture Capital Association, Startup Champions Network, and the Hawaii Pacific Export Council (appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce). Tarik currently serves on the board of the Q Venture Capital Association, where Builders VC is a founding member. Tarik splits his time between the U.S. and MENA.