In January 2022, Sara Chemmaa, founder and CEO of Citron, a Dubai-based start-up that made distinctive lunchboxes and other carry containers, is reviewing her pitch deck for a Series A investment round. Will her growth story appeal to institutional investors? Will the expansion strategy for her consumer goods company convince funds with an investment remit in tech-based ventures?

Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) is a lifestyle conglomerate present in 16 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, with annual revenues of $9.6 billion. The case focuses on its data-led, customer-centred transformation that unlocked new sources of growth and mitigated the effects of the covid19 pandemic on business thanks to the group’s digital resilience.

In 2018, the Luxury Closest (TLC), an e-commerce marketplace for pre-owned luxury goods based in Dubai, receives Series C investment from two venture capital firms, Middle East Venture Partners and Wamda Capital. CEO Kunal Kapoor needs to evaluate three distinct paths for the company’s expansion over the coming 18 months.

The case discusses the globalization of fashion and the trajectory of Fashion Forward Dubai. Since its inception in 2013, FFWD had striven to offer an alternative to traditional fashion weeks by showcasing collections of local designers to fashion buyers, journalists and customers on the catwalk and on internet. Over 15,000 attendees came to the show and more than 100,000 followed it online.