Domain Expertise Can Be Hired, Obsession Cannot | Sami Khoreibi

Sami Khoreibi shares his journey from co-founding an oil and gas company in Canada to pioneering solar energy across the MENA region with Enviromena.
00:00 Intro: From Oil to Solar Visionary
03:24 Original Plans vs. Reality: Startup Lessons
05:00 Entering New Markets: Flexibility & Execution
08:06 Adaptability & Risk: The Startup Toolkit
11:00 Team and Talent: Obsession Over Expertise
17:45 Acquisition Story: Company Should Be Bought, Not Sold
21:00 From Exit to New Ventures: Incubayt and Investing
24:25 Backing Passion: Investing in Obsessed Founders
27:05 No Glass Ceilings: Global Ambitions from the Middle East
32:58 Looking Forward: Supporting the Next Wave
36:30 Rapid Fire: Regrets, Mistakes, and Wisdom

In this in-depth episode of Money Moves, Sami Khoreibi recounts his unconventional leap from oil and gas in Canada to founding the first solar energy company in the MENA region. He reveals the motivations and challenges behind moving to the UAE at a time when renewables were barely recognized and details how his early plans for a quick exit were upended by market realities, ultimately leading to market-defining solar projects across seven countries.



Sami offers candid reflections on adapting business strategies, navigating cultural and logistical hurdles, and the lessons he learned about risk. He highlights why obsession and relentless mission-focus, rather than just expertise, are key to building resilient teams and successful ventures. You’ll also hear about Sami’s investor journey after selling Enviromena, his return to hands-on entrepreneurship with the water-tech startup Wisewell, and his push for user-centered design in mission-driven products. The conversation delivers honest advice for founders, insights for investors, and stories of persistence, adaptation, and making a global impact from the Middle East.

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