Meet the Team

Team Equivator

Meet our People

Meet our dedicated expertise at Equivator, where each member embodies the spirit of our core values, bringing diverse expertise and a shared passion for shaping a sustainable future through responsible investment.

Board Members

Faisal Ali Al Sanie
Chairman

An entrepreneur and angel investor in technology and fintech sectors, with extensive experience in asset management and private equity. Mr. Faisal Holds a bachelor's degree in finance from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.

Cahit Öztürk
Executive Chairman

An entrepreneur and business management consultant with over 20 years of experience in business development, strategic planning, data analysis, and relationship building. Mr. Cahit Holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Barcelona.

Enes Şehzade
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

+10 years of experience in fund structuring, strategic financial planning, and corporate governance across CMA-regulated and GCC markets. He has managed and advised on more than $100 million in assets, designing multi-asset portfolio strategies that deliver consistent, risk-adjusted returns for HNW and UHNW clients

Equivator's Team

Rayan Al-Karawi
Investment Committee Member at ESFF®

Senior leader and advisor with 20+ years of experience guiding boards and C-suites across Saudi Arabia’s corporate and capital markets, specializing in governance, investor relations, and market positioning to strengthen trust, visibility, and regulatory alignment across multiple sectors.

Walid Hayeck
Managing Director – FundRock Saudi

Managing Director at Apex FundRock Saudi, leading growth across KSA and the GCC with a focus on ManCo services. Brings 28+ years of experience in MENA capital markets across investment management and banking, with expertise in fund management, investments, and structuring complex transactions. Proven track record in scaling firms, launching regulated funds, and shaping equity strategies for institutional investors.

Matthew Pykstra
Senior Executive Officer - FundRock ME

Experienced financial services professional with a demonstrated track record in managing third party portfolios hosted by FundRock Investment Management Middle East ( FRME)

Consultants

Majed Al-Rasheed
Investment Committee Member

Majed Al Rasheed is a fintech leader and venture builder with over 18 years of experience in the Saudi financial ecosystem. He currently serves as a Board Member for the Federation of Saudi Chambers’ Fintech & Venture Investment Committee and is the Chairman of The Financial Technology Association (FinTech 525). As the Founder of FinArabia and a Partner at Numu Investments, he specializes in venture building, strategic partnerships, and angel investing aligned with Vision 2030

Giampaolo Parigi
Investment Committee Member

A merchant banker with over 35 years of principal and Board-level experience in finance on the primary and secondary markets. He has managed, structured, and advised on deals totaling hundreds of billions of dollars across 90 countries. He is currently an Attorney-In-Fact for a major UK investment company, co-founder of PrivatCap, Senior Advisor at Syz Group, Principal and President of International Capital Markets at American Colonial Capital.

Waqas Khann
Investment Committee Member

With over 7 years of experience in private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC), Mr. Waqas excels in fundraising, investor relations, deal sourcing, and building LP networks. He specializes in connecting startups with investors and has a strong track record in strategic co-investment and capital advisory.

Tarja Wiklund
Investment Committee Member

Tarja Wiklund is a financier with 20 years of global experience in Europe, the USA, Canada, and Emerging Markets. She is VP of a single-family office in NY and co-founder of PrivatCap Oy in Helsinki. Tarja holds degrees from Stanford, Vaasa, and Laurea universities and is a licensed psychotherapist in Finland. A multilingual speaker, she is frequently invited to international business conferences.

Dr. Miodrag Džodžo
Investment Committee Member

A fintech professional and investments consultant with over 15 years of experience in the banking and tech industries. As a Regional Director, Dr. Miodrag’s role involves building relationships with financial and regulatory institutions, mentoring and training, and providing advisory services in fintech, IT, banking, risk management, project management, and ESG.

Fabian Wong
Managing Partner, Technology & Infrastructure

Founder of the Claymont Group and a senior infrastructure and AI-platform strategist with extensive experience across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. He leads strategic end-customer relationships with global hyperscalers, sovereign entities, and enterprise partners. At CL-EQ, Fabian focuses on global strategy, partnerships, and execution alignment, ensuring the platform connects capital, technology, and end and retail customers at scale.

Quotes from team

Empowering decisions, enriching returns.

Roy Villanueva

Consultant at Equivator®

At the intersection of ambition and innovation, I thrive at EquiVator sculpting the future by fuelling startups across the globe.

Rakshit Mehta

Consultant at Equivator®

Every day is a school day, I'm proud to be in an environment where I'm challenged to be my best

Bilal Khan

Consultant at Equivator®

Life at Equivator as an advisor is a dynamic journey of collaboration and innovation. Every day brings new opportunities to contribute expertise, guide strategic decisions, and be part of a team that values excellence in pursuit of shared success.

Mitar Popovic

Consultant at Equivator®

A journey where the balance of ambiguity meets the clarity of purpose, creating a unique shade with diverse experiences and endless possibilities

Waqas Khann

Consultant at Equivator®

Embracing the dynamic rhythm of Equivator, where innovation fuels our spirit, collaboration defines our journey, and navigating risks becomes an art – all woven together by the heartbeat of venture capital excellence.

Dr. Miodrag Džodžo

Consultant at Equivator®

At Equivator, where I find immense satisfaction as a seasoned investor, the emphasis on prioritizing founders is genuinely remarkable. It's a space where the intersection of talent and capital thrives, and robust portfolio support is a fundamental commitment. Equivator has successfully cultivated a premier community comprising investors, founders, and visionary leaders, fostering significant advancements in technology development.

Tobias Bauer

Consultant at Equivator®