Nouf Al-Johani

Pioneered women's economic empowerment in Saudi Arabia through tech entrepreneurship

Nouf Al-Johani is a Saudi Arabian tech entrepreneur who broke barriers in 2005 by launching Al-Kawther, the first women-only coworking space and tech incubator in the Middle East. Her initiative provided training and workspace for over 5,000 women, leading to 300+ startups in sectors like fintech and healthcare.

Al-Johani's Women20 platform connects female entrepreneurs across 15 Arab countries, negotiating $250M in investments. She developed the region's first blockchain-based crowdfunding platform Sahel Fund, enabling micro-investments in women-led businesses.

Her TEDx talk 'Building Bridges, Not Walls' has 2M+ views. Al-Johani was named one of Forbes Middle East's 50 Most Powerful Arab Women in 2019. She advises the Saudi Ministry of Economy on gender parity policies, and her work influenced the 2020 reforms allowing women to own businesses without male guardianship.