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April 23, 2025

Forbes 30 Under 30 Omar El-Barbary

Cofounder OBM Education (Egyptian) An experienced professional in youth and student development, Omar specializes in educational guidance, training, and professional growth opportunities. With a global perspective shaped by his background in education and business, he connects with individuals from all walks of life to foster their growth. As CEO of OBM Education , he is dedicated to driving innovation and empowering students to transition seamlessly from school to university and into the job market. Forbes

May 10, 2025

Forbes 30 Under 30 2024

Omar El-Barbary, Ezz El-Din Farag Age: 27, 28 Occupation: Cofounders of OBM Education Nationality: Egyptians Residence: Egypt and Saudi Arabia Category: Social Impact Omar El-Barbary and Ezz El-Din Farag cofounded OBM Education to provide students with AI-driven tools for academic and career guidance through its Taleb super app, which served over two million students between 2020 and 2023. The app has over 326,000 registered users. It offers AI-driven assessments, skill-building content, college comparison tools, mentorship, and an integrated rewards system. The duo plans to add a Taleb Wallet for payments in 2025. They entered the Saudi market in June 2024 and plan to launch in the U.A.E. in 2025. To date, OBM Education has raised $810,000 in seed funding, from Edventures, Value Maker Studio, and two angel investors. Forbes

May 10, 2025

OBM Education co-founders nominated for Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30

OBM Education proudly announces the nomination of its co-founders, Omar El-Barbary and Ezz El- Din Farag, for the prestigious Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30 list. This recognition underscores their pioneering contributions to educational innovation and their transformative vision for empowering youth and women across the MENA region. With a proven track record of delivering impactful programs like MOLHEMA for Girls, MINT Squad by EGbank, Navigate and Zpreuners, OBM Education continues to set benchmarks in capacity-building and youth development. The organization is also gearing up for its upcoming flagship events—the ExploreX Festival in February 2025 and the Future Summit in June 2025—solidifying its role as a catalyst for educational and social impact in the region. With over 2 million students impacted and 338,000 active users on its Taleb App, OBM Education remains at the forefront of digital and on-ground innovation in education. Zawya

May 10, 2025

2024 Middle East & North Africa EdTech 50

The MENA EdTech 50 is HolonIQ's annual list of the most promising EdTech startups from the region. The Middle East & North Africa EdTech 50 is focused on identifying young, fast growing and innovative learning, teaching and up-skilling startups from the Middle East and North Africa region. Powered by data and insights from our Impact Intelligence Platform together with qualitative assessments by HolonIQ’s Intelligence Unit , and local market experts, organizations are evaluated and scored based on our eligibility and assessment criteria , which excludes EdTech's founded over 10 years ago , or those which have exited (listed, acquired or controlled by another organisation). HolonIQ

May 10, 2025

Six Startups Win the "Entrepreneurs Award" at the 9th Edition of the "Egypt for the Best" Summit

Six startups operating in e-commerce, payments, car rentals, semiconductor manufacturing, and financial technology have been awarded the Entrepreneurs Award during the 9th edition of the "Egypt for the Best" Summit . The event was held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly , with broad government sponsorship and participation. It was attended by policymakers, senior executives from leading companies and institutions, business leaders, innovators, academics, experts, international organizations, and regional and global partners. This year's list of winners includes: Yodawy , a platform specializing in pharmacy product management and delivery. The award was received by Karim Khashaba , CEO of the platform. Mtor , a company providing technology solutions for car maintenance centers in Egypt. The award was received by Mohamed Magid , Founder and CEO. Masroofi , a fintech platform. The award was received by Mostafa Abdelkhabir , Founder and CEO. Agel , a company specializing in electronic payment services. The award was received by Abdelrahman Saeed , Co-founder and Chairman. Amenli , an insurtech company. The award was received by Shady , Founder and Executive Partner. OBM Education , a platform specializing in EdTech. The award was received by Omar El Barbary , Founder of the company.

May 12, 2025

OBM Education’s Founder Omar El-Barbary on Bridging the Gap Between Students and the Job Market with "Taleb"

Despite the presence of over 1,500 edtech companies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, according to HolonIQ, there are still many gaps in the sector, particularly in linking students with the job market. This gap is exactly what entrepreneur Omar El-Barbary aims to bridge through OBM Education and its Taleb app, the first Super App that provides students with everything they need while connecting them to the job market. The app has already surpassed 153,000 downloads in just a few days, and El-Barbary is now aiming to reach one million students and expand further across the Arab region. In this interview, Omar El-Barbary, Founder and CEO of OBM Education and Taleb, shares insights on the company's contributions to the edtech industry in Egypt, what the Taleb app offers, and its future goals. What is your educational background and work experience before launching "Taleb"? He studied Mass Communication, majoring in Public Relations and Advertising. Before launching Taleb, the journey began with an initiative called OBM, which later evolved into a company in 2020. The core aim has always been to bridge the gap between students’ knowledge about universities, majors, and careers and the actual job market demands. The focus is on addressing this gap early, before students graduate and face employment challenges. OBM has been doing this through awareness events, partnerships with schools and universities, and now, through the launch of Taleb. Why did you choose the edtech sector? Coming from a family with a background in engineering and business, El-Barbary chose to pursue mass communication, believing strongly in the importance of education and the potential of edtech to make a real impact. What has OBM Education achieved so far? In just three years, OBM executed projects with IBM, EgBank, and others, directly impacting over one million students, partnering with 76 organizations and 112 schools. How did the idea for "Taleb" come about? Instead of organizing scattered events across governorates, the team wanted to bring students together on one digital platform. The idea was supported by OBM’s strong student ambassador network of 732 pre-university students who provided ground-level insight into student needs. What is the main goal of the "Taleb" app? The app’s mission is to close the knowledge-to-employment gap by preparing students early through exposure to real-world career information, helping them plan their academic paths with job readiness in mind. What makes "Taleb" unique? Taleb is the first Super App for students in the MENA region. It lets users compare universities and majors, explore career paths (including job prospects, salaries, and required skills), and connect with institutions. The app includes features like Taleb Watch for video content, Taleb Capsules for bite-sized learning, a career personality test, a podcast series, and even lifestyle perks like buying/selling, booking events, cinema access, and discounts. The high number of downloads in a short period—does it indicate a real demand for this service? Yes, the response has been overwhelming. The app reached 153,000 downloads within a few days of its release, indicating strong demand and validation of its concept. Does the app target a specific education level? No, Taleb targets students from grade 8 and up—not just high school—offering guidance from an early stage to help them plan their future paths more effectively. Is there potential to expand the idea beyond Egypt? Yes. OBM and Taleb have already launched in Saudi Arabia, with expansion plans underway across the Arab region. Followict

May 12, 2025

Egypt’s OBM Education raises funding from VMS to accelerate Saudi Expansion

Egypt-based edtech startup OBM Education has raised a seven-figure sum from Saudi Arabia-based venture studio Value Maker Studio (VMS). Founded in 2020 by Omar El-Barbary and Ezz El-Din Farag, OBM helps higher education students with career guidance. It organises summits including the Build Your Future Summit (BYF) as well as the Education Stakeholders Forum (ESF), a regional summit that brings together key stakeholders from the government, universities, schools, service providers and investors. OBM also offers special programmes that connect students with employers and CEOs to gain mentorship and practical business experience. Last year, OBM secured investment from EdVentures, an edtech-focused venture capital (VC) firm in Egypt. OBM Education, a beacon in college guidance, career readiness, and future orientations for school students in Egypt, is excited to announce its pivotal investment deal with Value Maker Studio (VMS). This venture is set to significantly enhance OBM's footprint in the Saudi Arabian educational market. OBM Education's Taleb Super App has been a transformative tool for high school students across the MENA region, providing curated content, precision assessments, and premium services, solidifying its status as an educational powerhouse. As part of the collaboration, VMS's upcoming "Bridge Programme," slated for its launch in January 2024, will offer startups, including OBM Education, comprehensive resources encompassing funding, tech services, legal counsel, financial management, and HR Expertise. Mr. Omar El-Barbary, CEO of OBM Education, shared, "Investment is more than capital; it embodies shared visions and unyielding commitment. With VMS, we're solidifying our resolve to enrich the educational journey of every student." Mr. Moataz Abou Onoq, founder of VMS, remarked, "The Bridge Program epitomises our dedication to nurturing startup expansion. Collaborating with OBM Education transcends business—it's a convergence of our shared aspirations to elevate education." Dr. Ezz El-Din Farag, COO of OBM, added "OBM's essence lies in recognising and nurturing the potential in every student. Partnering with VMS amplifies our mission, inspiring students to reach unparalleled heights." The rising tide of edtech in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, in its Vision 2030, underscores the transformative essence of education in sculpting a knowledge-centric economy. The Kingdom's proactive stance in melding technology with education has positioned it as a vanguard in the Middle East's edtech realm. The nation's young, digitally-fluent demographic, coupled with its commitment to fortifying digital infrastructure, offers an abundant landscape for pioneering educational solutions like the Taleb Super App. The present global scenario, emphasising the need for robust digital learning, makes OBM's venture into Saudi Arabia, backed by VMS, both timely and crucial—poised to cater to immediate needs while harnessing vast opportunities, ultimately synergising with the nation's grand educational vision. wamda