It belongs to the resilient startups that adapt, endure, and thrive through uncertainty.

At HASAN.VC, Round 3 isn’t just another funding cycle. It’s a movement toward sustainable, ethical, and impact-driven entrepreneurship that reflects the realities of today’s emerging markets and the values that will shape tomorrow’s global economy.

From Unicorns to Camels: A New Startup Ethos

Unicorns thrive in abundance. Camels endure in scarcity and often emerge stronger.

In Southeast Asia and the MENA region, where volatility and opportunity coexist, the camel mindset isn’t just practical; it’s essential. Camel startups are:

• Sustainable — growing at a measured, capital-efficient pace.
• Vision-driven — prioritizing long-term purpose over short-term hype.
• Impact-focused — improving lives and uplifting communities.
• Ethical and transparent — building trust as their competitive advantage.

In an era of economic uncertainty, this approach is no longer just safer; it’s smarter.

Why HASAN.VC Round 3 Is Different

Round 3 marks a deeper commitment by HASAN.VC to founders who build responsibly and think long-term. We are investing in ventures that align growth with values, companies that can weather uncertainty while staying true to their mission.

Through our investment model, we enable founders to:

• Build lean and scale sustainably
• Access ethical capital and global mentorship
• Connect with a network of investors who believe in long-term value creation

Our approach bridges global standards with local wisdom and empowers entrepreneurs from Southeast Asia to the MENA region to compete internationally without compromising their integrity.

The Camel Manifesto

Our philosophy is simple: Camels over Unicorns. Because in the deserts of uncertainty, camels don’t just survive, they lead.

HASAN.VC stands behind founders who embody endurance, ethics, and excellence. We believe sustainable businesses, not speculative ones, will define the next generation of market leaders.

To explore our guiding philosophy:

📘 The Camel Manifesto

📘 Camel Startups Can Capitalise on Opportunities

Final Thought

As global markets evolve, resilience and responsibility become the ultimate competitive edge.

Round 3 of HASAN.VC is built for the founders who understand that success isn’t about burning fast, it’s about lasting impact. Together, we’re not just funding startups but building a new venture capital model rooted in ethics, endurance, and real-world value.

The post Why Round 3 of HASAN.VC Matters Now: The Era of Camel Startups appeared first on HASAN.VC.

The event brought together nearly 50 startups representing 12 countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, making it HASAN.VC’s most diverse and dynamic showcase to date.

Throughout the day, investors, founders, and ecosystem leaders engaged in high-energy startup pitches, thought-provoking panels, and meaningful networking sessions – underscoring HASAN.VC’s growing influence in advancing halal and ethical innovation across Southeast Asia and beyond. Since launching its accelerator programme, the company has supported over 120 startups, with more than 20 ventures directly funded and a founder community now spanning nearly 200 entrepreneurs.

This milestone, it states, reflects the fund’s mission to bridge ethical capital with high-potential founders shaping the next wave of purpose-driven innovation.

“What we’re seeing is the rise of a new generation of founders who are building with purpose, solving real-world challenges with integrity and innovation. Our founders are redefining what it means to build with impact, and we’re proud to be part of that journey,” said Mohd Akhtaar, general partner and head of accelerator at HASAN.VC.

The event also marked the official launch of HASAN.VC Fund Round 3, unlocking new opportunities for investors to back promising startups across halal and ethical sectors. The fund deepens the firm’s commitment to combining financial performance with meaningful social and ethical impact.

“The momentum we’re seeing across halal and ethical tech is only the beginning. As we launch our fund’s third round, we’re opening the door to even greater collaboration and impact. Our focus remains clear – to identify scalable halal and ethical ventures, accelerate their growth, and deliver meaningful returns for investors who believe in values-driven entrepreneurship,” said Umar Munshi, managing partner at HASAN.VC.

The showcase gathered a vibrant mix of angel investors, venture capitalists, institutional partners, and corporate leaders, all united by a shared belief: that ethical business can drive both profit and purpose. Conversations throughout the day extended beyond financial returns – towards vision, values, and meaningful change.

The success of Cohort 003 reaffirms HASAN.VC’s belief that entrepreneurship can be both impactful and ethical. With Fund Round 3 now open, the firm continues to expand its support for founders across the halal and ethical economy, providing them with capital, mentorship, and community to help them scale responsibly.

For more information on HASAN.VC, its accelerator programme, or investment opportunities, visit HASAN.VC

This is a featured article on

Click here to read the article on Digital News Asia

The post HASAN.VC’s largest Demo Day unites 50 global startups driving the future of halal innovation appeared first on HASAN.VC.

In today’s business landscape, financial data is everywhere—but insight is rare. That’s especially true for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), where accounting often ends at compliance and financial strategy never quite begins.

That’s the gap DashAdd was created to close. Unlike traditional tools that stop at reporting, DashAdd goes further—offering AI-aided insights, cash flow alerts, and forecasting tools that help SME owners make proactive decisions, not just reactive ones.

This is more than a fintech product. DashAdd is a platform built from lived experience—with the mission to democratize financial clarity for SMEs across Southeast Asia.

What Sparked DashAdd: From Compliance Fatigue to Insightful Finance

DashAdd’s journey began with a common misconception: that accounting and finance are the same thing.

“I realized most business owners—and even some accountants—don’t understand the distinction,” the co-founder, Awzair Hamid explains. “Accounting tells you what happened. Finance tells you what’s next.”

While accounting handles past records and compliance, finance provides the foresight that helps businesses plan, grow, and thrive. But for most SMEs, access to that kind of strategic insight is a luxury—one typically reserved for large corporations.

DashAdd was born to challenge that. Its mission? To bring real-time financial intelligence to the fingertips of small business owners—without needing a finance degree.

From Audit Firm to Entrepreneur: The Journey Behind DashAdd

After just one year at a Big Four accounting firm, Awzair realized the corporate path wasn’t fulfilling.

“I had business ideas I sat on for years. Then one day, I knew I’d regret it if I never tried.”

That realization led to launching a traditional business first—an experience that brought him face to face with the real financial struggles of SMEs: manual processes, outdated software, and decisions made based on bank balances, not data.

That frustration became a seed—and eventually grew into DashAdd.

Most SMEs can’t afford dedicated financial advisors. Instead, they’re left navigating outdated spreadsheets, post-mortem reports, and cash flow decisions made in the dark.

DashAdd changes that.

By offering AI-powered dashboards, alerts, and insights, DashAdd helps founders move from reactive guesswork to proactive strategy. The platform was shaped through dozens of conversations with real SME owners—validating their pain points before a single line of code was written.

What started as a simple MVP focused on dashboards has since expanded to include insights and, soon, funding access.

Biggest Challenge: Choosing What Not to Solve

With so many financial pain points in the SME world, one of DashAdd’s earliest hurdles was focus.

“We wanted to solve everything—cash flow, compliance, forecasting, funding,” says Awzair. “But we quickly learned that trying to do too much meant doing nothing well.”

Through ongoing user interviews, the team honed in on one core priority: financial planning and investment functions. This clarity has shaped the current roadmap and sharpened the product’s impact.

Milestones That Matter: From MVP to Recognition

DashAdd’s impact has not gone unnoticed. Some of its most meaningful milestones include:

• Winning Top 5 in the Credit Startup Program (MyStartup Cohort 4)
• Being selected as a Top 10 Finalist in the FIQA-S program
• Earning investment from the HASAN.VC program

Each milestone is a sign that DashAdd’s vision—of enabling SME financial clarity—is resonating beyond its early users.

Staying Ahead: Why DashAdd Is Different

While many financial tools offer dashboards and reports, they still require an expert to interpret the data. DashAdd eliminates that friction.

Here’s how it stands out:

1. Localized Financial Intelligence: Built for the Southeast Asian SME market
2. AI-Powered Insights: Instant alerts on cash flow issues and financial red flags
3. Funding & Advisory Support Roadmap: Helping businesses grow beyond the dashboard

In short: DashAdd gives business owners control—without needing a CFO.

Lessons from the Pivot: Finding the Real Problem

DashAdd didn’t start as a dashboard tool. The original idea was a funding-matching platform—based on the assumption that SMEs struggle to access funds.

But after working with dozens of businesses, the team discovered the real issue wasn’t lack of funding—it was lack of financial clarity.

“Founders only looked for funding when things were already going badly,” explains the founder. “They didn’t have the tools to spot problems early.”

That’s when DashAdd pivoted. The new mission became clear: equip SMEs with the insight they need to act before it’s too late.

Advice for Founders: Build for the Real Problem

When asked what advice he’d give new founders, the message is simple:
Talk to real users. Then talk to them again.

“We built a technical product that nobody wanted at first,” he admits. “Only after we really drilled into the why behind their pain did we build something they actually needed.”

His advice:

• Start with conversations, not code
• Validate deeply
• Build only after the problem is clear and specific

The Impact DashAdd Hopes to Make

Right now, strategic finance feels like a luxury—something reserved for listed companies and massive enterprises.

DashAdd wants to change that.

“If we can help even one founder avoid disaster by understanding their numbers better, it’s worth it,” the founder says.

The bigger vision? To shift how SMEs think about finance—from a once-a-year reporting task to a daily tool for growth.

Especially in Southeast Asia, this impact could be transformative—bringing resilience, clarity, and growth potential to thousands of small businesses.

Final Thoughts: DashAdd Is More Than Software—It’s Financial Empowerment

DashAdd isn’t just another dashboard tool. It’s a mission-driven platform built to make financial intelligence accessible—not just to CFOs, but to every small business owner across Southeast Asia.

Like a camel startup, DashAdd is designed for sustainability, not short-term hype. It’s been built carefully, resourcefully, and with deep focus on real-world needs—not inflated burn rates or vanity metrics.

Born from firsthand experience and shaped through ongoing conversations with SMEs, DashAdd is redefining what financial tools should do:

Empower action. Build confidence. Drive growth—on your own terms.

The post How DashAdd Is Transforming SME Finance With AI-Powered Insights and Purpose-Led Innovation appeared first on HASAN.VC.

The truth is, early-stage valuation isn’t just about numbers. It’s about narrative, risk, potential, and positioning. In this article, we’ll walk through how investors actually think about startup valuation, what matters most at the early stage, and how you can approach it with clarity and confidence.

Why Valuation Really Matters

Founders are often told not to obsess over valuation. And while that’s true to a point, the number you land on does shape a lot:

• It affects how much equity you give up—and how much you keep
• It sets expectations for future rounds and your startup’s trajectory
• It influences your perceived credibility with investors, partners, and early hires
• It directly impacts your economics in an exit

But beyond the number, the terms behind the valuation are often even more important. Things like liquidation preferences, valuation caps (in the case of SAFEs or notes), and dilution mechanics can have a bigger impact on your final outcome than the valuation headline itself.

Understanding the VC Lens

Venture capitalists aren’t evaluating your startup in isolation. They’re thinking in terms of portfolios. A typical VC firm expects only a few of its investments to deliver the majority of returns. That means they’re not just looking for good companies, they’re looking for outliers.

Here’s what they’re really assessing:

• Can this be a $100M+ outcome one day?
• Is the founding team capable of navigating uncertainty and executing?
• Is the market large and urgent enough to support a venture-scale return?
• Is this a company that has real potential to raise follow-on rounds and eventually exit?

Your current metrics matter, but VCs are mostly betting on the future. They’re investing in your ability to execute, learn fast, and scale. The way you think about valuation and how you communicate it plays a big part in building that trust.

What Drives Your Valuation (Even Without Revenue)

In the absence of hard financials, early-stage valuations are built on a mix of qualitative and directional signals. Investors are looking at:

• Market size and accessibility
• Strength of the team
• Clarity of the problem-solution fit
• Progress toward product-market fit
• Traction, even if early (users, pilots, waitlists)
• Go-to-market and fundraising strategy
• Risk areas and how you plan to mitigate them
• Exit potential within 5-10 years

No single factor makes or breaks a valuation, but collectively they form a picture that influences how investors price your startup.

How VCs Actually Value Startups

There’s no universal formula for early-stage valuation. Most investors triangulate using a mix of models, experience, and market context. Here are some of the most common approaches:

• Negotiation-Based Valuation
  Often driven by storytelling and comparable market activity. There’s no spreadsheet here, just founder conviction and investor psychology.
• Scorecard Method
  Starts with a regional benchmark (e.g., average pre-seed valuation) and adjusts based on factors like team, product, and traction.
• Risk Factor Summation
  Begins with a base valuation, then adds or subtracts based on specific risks (team, tech, legal, market, execution).

• Berkus Method
  Ideal for very early-stage startups, this method assigns fixed value to five key areas: idea, prototype, team, strategic relationships, and early traction.
• Comparable Company Analysis
  Uses multiples (e.g., 5× ARR) from similar startups to estimate value. Helpful if you have early revenue or strong usage metrics.
• Venture Capital Method
  Starts with a projected exit value and works backwards to today’s valuation using a target ROI (usually 10×).

• First Chicago Method
  Builds three scenarios: best, base, and worst case and assigns probabilities, and calculates a weighted average valuation.
• Discounted Cash Flow (DCF)
  Less common at early stages due to forecasting uncertainty, but sometimes used to cross-check assumptions or for later-stage startups with revenue visibility.

Each of these methods has trade-offs. In practice, most investors use a combination to reach a valuation that feels reasonable given your stage, sector, and potential.

Our Perspective at HASAN.VC

At HASAN.VC, we don’t chase inflated valuations or short-term hype. We back what we call Camel Startups – resilient, capital-efficient businesses that prioritize sustainable growth and long-term value.

A healthy valuation isn’t about getting the highest number you can negotiate. It’s about setting your company up for long-term success, attracting the right partners, and raising on terms that support future growth.

The post VC Valuation Fundamentals: Translating Your Startup’s Potential into a Dollar Figure appeared first on HASAN.VC.

Founded by a mother inspired by her son’s early Quran journey, ILuvQuran is creating a joyful, story-driven learning experience rooted in Islamic values and modern child development.

It Started with a Beach, a Bedtime Routine, and One Curious Toddler

Before ILuvQuran was an organization, it was a family tradition. ILuvQuran founder, Nur Zahirah Sukran and her husband were then working professionals at Petronas and living in Bintulu, had a peaceful lifestyle. Evenings were filled with beach walks, home-cooked dinners, and short Quran sessions between a father and his young son.

“At the time, our son was about two or three,” Zahirah shared. “Every evening, during the short drive to the masjid, my husband would teach him small surahs. By the time he was three, he had memorized ten surahs from Juz Amma – just from repetition and bonding.”

It wasn’t about pressure or perfection. It was about presence.

That early experience opened their eyes to something powerful: children have incredibly absorbent minds, and if they can memorize songs like Baby Shark, they can absorb the Quran – if it’s presented in the right way.

When Life Got Busy, the Learning Stopped

After moving back to Kuala Lumpur, everything changed. Hectic traffic, long workdays, and limited quality time led to a halt in their son’s memorization.

“He stayed at those same ten surahs for over a year,” she explained. “My husband was frustrated. He said, ‘We need a system—even if we’re busy, our children should still be able to learn.’”

They considered tahfiz schools, but found them too strict and not developmentally suited for young kids. The curriculum lacked play, storytelling, and creativity. That was when the idea of ILuvQuran began to take shape.

The Breakthrough Came in Ireland

Burned out from the KL grind, the family took a one-year sabbatical in Ireland. Zahirah pursued her M.Ed on a MARA scholarship while their son attended school in Dublin and joined Quran classes twice a week.

“He almost completed Juz Amma while we were there. It reminded us what’s possible when lifestyle, routine, and faith align.”

Returning to Malaysia, they knew they had to build something new – not just for their children, but for others too.

Building a New Kind of Quran School

Step One: Don’t Just Teach the Quran – Tell Its Story

Most people didn’t understand the need at first.

“People would say, ‘There are already so many tahfiz schools – why start another one?’ But we weren’t trying to build just another school. We wanted to change how children experience the Quran.”

So they invited experts to the table – Montessori educators, psychologists, Islamic scholars, and teachers. The goal? Design a Quranic learning experience that nurtures the mind, heart, and soul.

The game-changer came from a family member:

“My sister-in-law, an Islamic Studies lecturer, suggested we teach the Quran by focusing on the meaning of each ayah – using stories to bring those meanings to life.”

That approach became ILuvQuran’s foundation: storytelling-based Quran learning designed specifically for children.

Early Challenges: Creating Safe Spaces and Supportive Culture

Building the right internal culture wasn’t easy – especially when working with teachers trained in more traditional Islamic environments.

“In many cultures, especially among Islamic teachers, there’s a tendency to stay quiet and polite. They won’t always tell you what’s wrong,” she shared. “We had to create a space where they felt safe to speak up.”

The lesson: culture matters. If your team doesn’t feel seen or heard, your vision won’t survive. Building a culture of empathy, openness, and trust was essential to their growth.

Milestones That Mattered

1. A Grant When It Was Needed Most

“One of our biggest breakthroughs was receiving a grant at a time when we were struggling internally,” she said. “I was making so much du’a, asking if I was meant to continue this. That grant felt like Allah’s answer.”

2. The First 40 Students

“When we started, we didn’t think of ILuvQuran as a business. It was about helping the ummah. Alhamdulillah, we had 40 children sign up in our first intake.”

Today, ILuvQuran has grown from being taught at Al-Amin centres to 9 physical branches, staying grounded in its mission while scaling with purpose.

3. The Real Win: Seeing Students Flourish

No metric has been more meaningful than seeing students grow spiritually and succeed.

“Watching children develop love for the Quran, watching them carry it proudly – it’s the deepest joy.”

The Bigger Vision: Reviving a Legacy Through the Quran

ILuvQuran’s goal isn’t just to educate – it’s to reawaken a legacy.

“Historically, the Quran was at the heart of all knowledge. Scholars built medicine, astronomy, and philosophy on Quranic principles. We want to revive that starting point – by transforming children’s early experiences with the Quran.”

They envision ILuvQuran as more than a school – it’s a movement at the intersection of education, technology, and faith. A space where future scientists, leaders, and thinkers are first rooted in the Quran.

Advice for Founders: Especially Women, Build Your Circle

For first-time founders—especially women—Zahirah offers this:

“Have a strong support system. A supportive spouse, family, and community can make all the difference. Entrepreneurship is hard, and balancing roles as a mother, wife, and leader is even harder.”

She adds,

“It’s very important to build that support network from the beginning – emotionally, spiritually, and practically. Don’t try to do it all alone.”

Final Thoughts: ILuvQuran Is More Than a School. It’s a Start.

ILuvQuran began as a simple family habit – quiet evening drives, heartfelt recitations, and a toddler’s first steps with the Quran. Today, it’s transforming how a generation of Muslim children connect with their faith.

By centering storytelling, love, and age-appropriate design, ILuvQuran is doing more than teaching memorization—it’s nurturing meaning, purpose, and identity. Children aren’t just learning surahs; they’re discovering who they are and where they come from.

And ILuvQuran is doing it the camel startup way.

In a world obsessed with hypergrowth, ILuvQuran has grown slowly, intentionally, and sustainably – choosing depth over scale, impact over hype. Like a camel, it’s built to last: resilient in tough conditions, careful with resources, and deeply rooted in purpose. It’s a model of spiritual entrepreneurship – balancing modern strategy with timeless values.ILuvQuran isn’t just building better students.

It’s building a future where young Muslims grow up loving the Quran, confident in their faith, and ready to lead.

The post From One Child’s Journey to a National Movement: How ILuvQuran Is Redefining Early Quran Education appeared first on HASAN.VC.

For many freelancers and creators in Malaysia, the hardest part of freelancing isn’t the work itself – it’s everything else: chasing payments, issuing invoices, managing clients, and staying compliant with local taxes.

Playgrown is changing that. Co-founded by Muhammad Thaqif and Naif Ghazali, former freelancers who lived the chaos firsthand, the platform is built to simplify the business side of creative work – so freelancers can focus on what they do best.

From Frustration to Founding: Solving a Real Problem

Playgrown didn’t begin as a grand vision. It started with a simple frustration.

“We were freelancing and found ourselves buried in client follow-ups, payment delays, and admin tasks,” Thaqif shared. “Then we asked our freelancer friends – and 90% of them said they were facing the same thing.”

Instead of diving straight into code, the team sketched their vision in Figma and validated it with real users. The response? Overwhelmingly positive.

“That early feedback gave us the push to start building.”

Overcoming the Noise: Finding Focus in a Sea of Ideas

The earliest hurdle? Too many ideas.

“In the beginning, we wanted to do everything – job listings, portfolios, payments, you name it. But we had to ask ourselves: what did we actually need back when we were freelancing?”

That reflection helped them zero in on the most critical problems: client tracking, invoicing, and getting paid. The key lesson: focus on solving real pain points instead of building flashy features.

The Pivot That Changed Everything

Initially, Playgrown was imagined as a job-matching platform for freelancers. But user research told a different story.

“Most freelancers already had jobs – they just didn’t have the tools to manage them. So we pivoted.”

That decision to shift focus – from job discovery to freelance business management—set Playgrown on a more impactful path. Regular conversations with users remain the team’s compass, helping them adapt in a fast-changing market.

Milestones That Validated the Mission

Validation didn’t just come from friends and surveys – it came from institutions.

“One of our proudest moments was pitching to Cradle and being selected for the CIP Spark grant. That was our first big external validation.”

That win was followed by another: getting accepted into HASAN.VC’s Accelerator and becoming part of HASAN.VC’s portfolio.

“These milestones gave us more than just funding. They gave us confidence.”

Redefining What It Means to Be a Freelancer

Playgrown’s vision goes beyond software.

“We want freelancing to be seen as a real career. Too often, it’s viewed as unstable or unserious. We’re changing that by giving freelancers the tools to look professional, get organized, and grow their businesses.”

The platform helps users present themselves like businesses, not hobbyists, through professional invoicing, integrated payment tools, and local compliance features tailored for Malaysia.

While global tools like PayPal, Stripe, and FreshBooks dominate the market, Playgrown stands apart by going hyper-local.

“We integrate with Malaysian payment systems and tax regulations- things international tools don’t handle well. That makes us not just convenient, but relevant.”

As the startup grows, those local roots are turning into a competitive moat, making it difficult for outsiders to replicate Playgrown’s impact.

Advice for Founders: Solve a Problem You’ve Lived

Thaqif has one key piece of advice for aspiring founders:

“Start with a problem you understand deeply. If it’s real to you, it’s probably real to others. Talk to people. Listen closely. Some of our most valuable insights came from honest conversations with freelancer friends – not from books or webinars.”

Final Thoughts: Playgrown Isn’t Just a Tool. It’s a Movement.

At its core, Playgrown is about empowerment. In a world where freelancers are expected to be designers, marketers, accountants, and negotiators all at once, Playgrown steps in to make things easier. But unlike flashy startups chasing hypergrowth, Playgrown is built like a camel startup – resilient, resource-efficient, and designed to thrive in uncertain conditions. They’re not just building a product; they’re building sustainable, meaningful impact. By staying close to their users and focused on real problems, Playgrown is redefining what it means to freelance – and giving a new generation of creators the confidence, tools, and dignity to call it a career.

The post How Playgrown Is Empowering Freelancers to Run Businesses, Not Just Gigs appeared first on HASAN.VC.

In today’s freelance economy, opportunities are everywhere – but finding the right one often feels like looking for an oasis in a desert of noise. Telegram threads, LinkedIn posts, Reddit threads – each promises leads, but delivers endless scrolling, cold DMs, and wasted hours.

Sniff was created to change that.

Founded by freelancers Mubeen and Yaseen, Sniff is an AI-powered search engine for discovering real freelance opportunities hidden across social platforms. Instead of spending hours digging through irrelevant posts, freelancers using Sniff get curated, context-rich leads, filtered by relevance and intent.

This isn’t just another aggregator. Sniff is a camel startup – built to last, with deep focus, financial discipline, and a relentless commitment to solving one real-world problem well.

What Sparked Sniff: From Missed Leads to AI-Powered Focus

Before Sniff, both Mubeen and Yaseen worked as independent freelancers. While their networks grew, one issue became constant: the discovery process was broken.

“We were both spending hours in Telegram groups, Twitter threads, and Slack channels,” Mubeen says. “Opportunities were there – but buried under hellos, emojis, and spam.”

The inefficiency wasn’t just annoying. It cost them money.

So they built a small internal tool: an AI filter that scanned Telegram messages and pulled out only potential job posts. It worked. So well, in fact, that when Yaseen posted a simple Canva demo to LinkedIn, they received over 100 inbound emails from people asking, “Where can I get this?”

They hadn’t even started building the product yet.

The Camel Startup Way: Built for Survival Before Scale

Sniff didn’t begin with a pitch deck or seed funding. It began with a side hustle, long nights, and strategic constraint.

Mubeen was based in Dubai, working a 9–5 job to cover rent and living expenses. Every evening, she’d meet Yaseen in a café to design the product roadmap. The budget? Personal savings and sweat equity.

“We couldn’t afford to build fast and fail. We had to build smart and survive,” she recalls.

That camel mindset- long-term resilience over short-term hype – became central to Sniff’s DNA.

What Sniff Solves (and How)

The freelance world runs on connections, but freelancers waste hours every day chasing them – manually. Sniff changes that by automating the discovery process with AI.

Here’s how it works:

It’s built for real freelancers – solopreneurs, consultants, agency owners – who can’t afford to miss chances because they’re buried in group chats.

Biggest Challenge: Time, Energy, and Earning Trust

Building Sniff wasn’t just technically demanding – it was emotionally and financially exhausting.

“We had to keep our freelance clients to survive,” Mubeen explains. “But they drained our time and energy.”

Eventually, the founders made a bold decision: fire their clients to buy back their time.

But raising investment wasn’t straightforward either. Many investors hesitated when they heard Mubeen still had a full-time job. They questioned her commitment – without understanding the financial reality of being a bootstrapped founder in Dubai.

This is why camel startups matter: they don’t chase funding – they earn it through discipline and results.

Milestones That Matter: From Café Tables to Global Users

Sniff’s progress is marked not by vanity metrics, but by deeply meaningful wins:

“When we saw signups from people using their Microsoft work emails, we knew we were onto something,” Mubeen says.

Coming from non-Ivy League backgrounds, the founders found unexpected validation in the global reach and caliber of their users. If top-tier professionals were using Sniff, the platform clearly solved a universal problem.

Lessons Learned: Focus Is a Superpower

In the early days, the founders wanted to solve everything: job alerts, CRM, outreach automation, lead scoring, you name it. But trying to do everything meant doing nothing well.

“Our real pivot was psychological,” Yaseen says. “We stopped thinking like a software team, and started thinking like our users.”

By constantly talking to users and focusing narrowly on the discovery layer, Sniff honed its product into something specific, useful, and irreplaceable.

Advice for Founders: Don’t Build First – Listen First

When asked what they wish they knew earlier, both founders say the same thing:

Start with conversations, not code.

Sniff only gained traction after they deeply validated their assumptions through user interviews, cold messages, and online feedback.

The Impact Sniff Hopes to Make

Freelancers today are drowning in noise and uncertainty. Sniff wants to be the go-to tool for digital workers trying to find real opportunities in real time -without wasting hours scrolling.

“If we help just one person land their next gig faster and with less stress,” says Mubeen, “that’s already success.”

But their bigger vision? To transform opportunity discovery from a guessing game into a strategic, data-informed process – accessible to freelancers everywhere.

Final Thoughts: Sniff Isn’t a Product – It’s a Movement

Sniff is more than an AI tool. It’s a movement for freelancers who are tired of chasing opportunity manually. It’s a quiet rebellion against noisy groups, cold emails, and missed chances.

Like a true camel startup, Sniff is built for long-term survival – not short-term exits. It’s carefully crafted, grounded in lived experience, and driven by the belief that the future of work should be easier, smarter, and more human.

If you’re a freelancer, solo founder, or remote worker tired of noise and ready for signal, Sniff is your oasis.

The post From Mirage to Oasis: How Sniff Is Redefining Opportunity Discovery for Freelancers with AI Precision appeared first on HASAN.VC.

The Spark Behind Mascon: When Safety Became Personal

Like many impactful ventures, Mascon was born from a critical, lived experience.

“On my last ship, I almost died in a fire. I was the only one who fought it. That moment changed everything for me.”

This fire wasn’t just an accident – it was the result of complacency and a failure in verification. That incident became the foundation of Mascon: a platform built to improve maritime safety standards and protect the lives of seafarers.

From Books to Building: The Shift to Maritime Entrepreneurship

Even before the fire, Norhakim was already exploring entrepreneurship through financial and self-development literature. But it was that life-threatening incident that turned passive interest into determined action.

“I realized I didn’t just want to build a business. I wanted to build a legacy—something that could truly change how the maritime world works.”

The Problem Mascon Solves: Maritime Safety Through Verification

Mascon directly addresses a core challenge in the shipping and maritime industry: unverified, unsafe practices on board vessels. The solution? A safety-first ecosystem using real-time data, digital checklists, and verifiable protocols to ensure accountability.

“As someone who’s lived the consequences of complacency, I knew exactly what the industry was missing.”

By leveraging technology tailored for maritime environments, Mascon bridges the gap between outdated processes and modern safety standards.

The Hardest Part? Building a Team That Understands the Sea

While building the tech was tough, forming a capable and aligned team proved even tougher.

“Maritime is niche. Translating shipboard realities into tech language isn’t easy. It took time to help people understand what was truly at stake.”

His solution? Bring the ship to the office -by creating team structures and workflows that mirror real maritime operations.

Key Learning: Align the Team, Not Just the Skills

Not everyone who joins a startup is mission-aligned. That was a lesson learned early.

“Many joined because the idea was interesting. But interest isn’t alignment. I realized we needed people who believe in improving seafarers’ lives.”

Today, Mascon’s internal training, language, and culture reflect maritime values – making sure everyone, from developers to admins, understands how their work impacts lives at sea.

“The seafarers told us we were solving real problems. That feedback fueled our mission.”

Staying Ahead in the Maritime Tech Race

Mascon’s edge? Insider access.

“I’m not just building for seafarers – I am one. We’ve built a solution based on real maritime workflows, and we’re plugged into a network most outsiders can’t reach.”

In contrast to generic maritime SaaS startups, Mascon’s network includes active seafarers who test and shape the product continuously.

Advice to First-Time Founders in High-Stakes Industries

“Resilience is everything. But so is knowing when to pivot. Set limits, believe in your product, but stay realistic about the journey.”

Mascon’s founder stresses that team alignment, feedback loops, and resilience are what carry a startup forward – even more than funding or flashy features.

“You may be just one meeting away from your breakthrough. So don’t quit too early.”

Final Thoughts: Mascon Isn’t Just Building Tech. It’s Protecting Lives.

Mascon Technologies is quietly redefining what it means to be a maritime tech company – not by chasing headlines, but by building deep, durable impact from the inside out.

In an era where “move fast and break things” often defines startup culture, Mascon embodies the ethos of a camel startup: resilient, efficient, and purpose-built for long journeys in tough environments. Rather than burning capital to chase rapid growth, Mascon has focused on real problems, measurable outcomes, and mission-first innovation.

“We’re not here to disrupt for disruption’s sake. We’re here to protect lives – and to fix the gaps I’ve seen up close, firsthand, at sea.”

This isn’t about vanity metrics or chasing the next funding round. It’s about creating a safer world for seafarers – one verified checklist, one digitized workflow, one aligned team at a time.

Mascon’s platform may be powered by technology, but it’s rooted in lived maritime experience. That’s what makes it different. And that’s what makes it last.In a time when the shipping industry is racing to digitize, Mascon stands out – not as a unicorn chasing speed, but as a camel built for endurance, mission, and impact.

The post How Mascon Is Redefining Maritime Safety with Tech-Driven Solutions appeared first on HASAN.VC.

The Silicon Valley venture capital (VC) model, long celebrated for birthing global unicorns, may not be the best fit for every region — especially Southeast Asia. That’s the view of HASAN.VC, a values-driven VC firm that’s challenging conventional investment strategies and rewriting the rules for startup growth in the region.

In a recent interview with Roshan Kanesan on BFM 89.9 (June 5, 2025), Umar Munshi, Managing Partner at HASAN.VC, shared his insights on why the Silicon Valley playbook is misaligned with the realities of Southeast Asian markets — and how his firm is carving out an alternative path rooted in ethics, sustainability, and founder empowerment.

From Unicorns to Camels: The “Camel Manifesto” Explained

At the heart of HASAN.VC’s philosophy is a rejection of the hypergrowth-at-all-costs mentality. Instead of chasing unicorns — startups valued at over $1 billion — HASAN.VC promotes building camels, a metaphor for resilient, self-sustaining startups that can weather market volatility and grow sustainably.

“What if venture capital wasn’t built to chase unicorns in Southeast Asia, but to build camels instead?”

The Camel Manifesto shifts the focus from flashy valuations and rapid exits to long-term viability, steady growth, and operational robustness. This framework, HASAN.VC argues, is far more suited to the fragmented, culturally diverse, and infrastructure-challenged landscape of Southeast Asia.

Why the Silicon Valley VC Model Doesn’t Fit Southeast Asia

Umar Munshi notes that the traditional VC model — based on homogenous markets and rapid scaling — often fails in fragmented markets like Southeast Asia. The region comprises diverse regulatory environments, languages, and consumer behaviors that complicate cookie-cutter approaches.

“We explore the origins and philosophy behind HASAN.VC’s Camel Manifesto, which champions long-term sustainability over hypergrowth.”

Rather than force-fitting startups into a flawed model, HASAN.VC is rethinking venture capital for Southeast Asia and beyond, emphasizing patient capital, adaptability, and deep local knowledge.

Investing with Values: Ethical and Halal-Aligned Startups

HASAN.VC integrates a values-based investment strategy, prioritizing ethical and halal-aligned startups that adhere to Islamic finance principles. This commitment goes beyond compliance — it’s about building a moral foundation for entrepreneurship.

“[HASAN.VC] is rethinking venture capital with a focus on ethical, halal-aligned startups grounded in resilience, not hype.”

Their investment framework includes Shariah-compliant alternatives to SAFE notes, ensuring that funding mechanisms respect both financial ethics and religious principles — a rare, but growing trend in VC.

Building a Founder-Friendly Ecosystem

Another cornerstone of HASAN.VC’s approach is their commitment to building a more founder-friendly VC environment. Recognizing the often exploitative dynamics in traditional VC relationships, HASAN.VC is flipping the script.

They’ve launched a hands-on accelerator and a venture studio in Kota Bharu, designed to support founders with more than just capital — offering mentorship, community, and aligned strategic partnerships.

“[HASAN] is building a more founder-friendly ecosystem, including a hands-on accelerator and a new venture studio in Kota Bharu.”

Angel-Powered VC: Decentralizing Investment Influence

HASAN.VC is also pioneering an angel-powered VC fund, leveraging the insights and resources of individual investors rather than relying solely on institutional capital. This not only democratizes investment opportunities but also promotes a more decentralized and diverse investor ecosystem.

“[Discussion on] How HASAN.VC is building an angel-powered VC fund.”

Lessons from Equity Crowdfunding & Ethical Investing for Everyone

With roots in equity crowdfunding through Ethis Group, Umar Munshi brings a unique perspective on alternative financing models. This background helps inform HASAN.VC’s broader commitment to ethical investing — an approach that extends beyond Islamic finance and resonates with a global audience interested in responsible capital.

“[Discussion on] What ethical investing means in practice, and why it’s for everyone.”

Conclusion: A New VC Paradigm for Southeast Asia

HASAN.VC’s critique of the Silicon Valley model isn’t just theoretical — it’s backed by actionable frameworks, alternative financial instruments, and real-world initiatives aimed at sustainable and ethical entrepreneurship.Their Camel Manifesto represents more than a metaphor — it’s a practical strategy tailored for Southeast Asia’s complexities. By aligning capital with values, empowering founders, and focusing on resilience, HASAN.VC is pioneering a more inclusive, effective, and ethical future for venture capital in the region.

This is a featured article on

Click here to read the article on BFM 89.9

The post Why HASAN.VC Says the Silicon Valley VC Model Is Broken – And What They’re Doing About It in Southeast Asia appeared first on HASAN.VC.

The Pain Point That Sparked HealthPro.id: Two Stories, One Problem

Like many impactful startups, HealthPro.id was born from personal experiences that revealed a systemic issue.

In 2021, co-founders Rendy Alfuadi and Vika Rachma Sari saw a growing gap in Indonesia’s healthcare system. During the pandemic, hospitals urgently needed extra hands for testing and treatment, while thousands of qualified healthcare workers were unemployed and searching for work. Despite being in the same ecosystem, there was no smooth or scalable way to connect them.

For Rendy, the realization hit even closer to home. After his mother suffered a stroke in Jakarta, she required speech therapy – but the hospital only had one therapist available, offering just one session a week. Tapping into his personal network, he arranged additional therapy, helping his mother recover faster. This was the turning point. Why couldn’t hospitals access licensed specialists on-demand when they needed them—without the burden of full-time hires?

That question became the foundation of HealthPro.id.

HealthPro.id Today: Smart, On-Demand Staffing for Healthcare

HealthPro.id is now a fast-growing healthcare staffing platform that enables hospitals, clinics, labs, and even health tech startups to quickly connect with pre-vetted, licensed healthcare professionals. With over 32,000 deployments, a network of 10,000+ professionals, and over 100 healthcare facility partners, the platform is already making a measurable impact.

Unlike traditional staffing agencies or job portals, HealthPro.id doesn’t rely on passive applications. Instead, it matches professionals actively and intelligently, often within one minute – a game-changer in high-pressure environments.

Overcoming the Biggest Challenge: Building a Trusted Community

The real engine behind HealthPro.id isn’t just its tech – it’s its community. Built during the pandemic, the platform’s biggest investment has been in growing and maintaining a network of qualified professionals who trust the system and are ready to work.

“Trust and engagement within this community are everything,” the founder shares. “It’s our unfair advantage – and it took time, consistency, and a lot of ground-level work to build.”

Standing Out in a Competitive Market: Real-Time, Vetted, and Healthcare-Only

What differentiates HealthPro.id from other players is focus and execution. While gig platforms exist in other industries, healthcare isn’t like food delivery or ride-hailing. It requires licensed, professional, and highly trained individuals – and a deep understanding of regulation, compliance, and medical workflow.

By focusing exclusively on healthcare, HealthPro.id delivers unmatched reliability. Their system doesn’t just find “a worker” – it finds the right worker with the right credentials for the job.

The Founder’s Journey: From Personal Need to National Solution

Entrepreneurship for the HealthPro.id team was never about building a flashy app. It was about solving a painful, personal, and widespread problem – one that became even more visible during a global crisis.

“My journey has always been about creating solutions for problems I’ve lived or seen up close,” says the Rendy. “When it’s personal, the motivation to build something real and lasting is that much stronger.”

Advice for Founders: Be Strategic From Day One

He emphasizes that flexibility and long-term thinking are key, especially in regulated sectors. Sometimes the smartest move is walking away from what isn’t working – and building something better.

Final Thoughts: HealthPro.id Is Built for Impact, Not Just Scale

In a saturated startup ecosystem, HealthPro.id is setting itself apart – not with flash, but with focus. As a camel startup, it prioritizes sustainability over speed, building carefully in response to real gaps in Indonesia’s healthcare system. Rather than chasing disruption for attention, HealthPro.id delivers consistent, measurable value where it matters most: connecting qualified professionals to the front lines of care.With rising healthcare demands and growing urgency for digital solutions, HealthPro.id is steadily positioning itself as the trusted infrastructure for agile, compliant, and patient-centered staffing – designed not for hype, but for longevity and system-wide impact.

The post How HealthPro.id Is Redefining On-Demand Healthcare Staffing in Indonesia appeared first on HASAN.VC.