Yasmine Abdel Karim
- Arab Region
Meet Yasmine
Yasmine Abdel Karim is the CEO and Co-founder of Yalla Fel Sekka (YFS), a successful and disruptive growing logistics business in Egypt. YFS is building a critical backbone infrastructure for next-generation logistics services in the largest and fastest growing economy in the MENA region by leveraging its proprietary, data-driven technology platform and experienced Ops team to meet customers’ expectations such as, groceries, food, e-commerce consolidators and pharma.
Vision and Mission
Beyond leading and inspiring her employees, customers and communities, Yasmine is on a mission to contribute back to her own country and build a successful business that will positively impact the Egyptian market by changing the mindset to be a more productive & efficient one.
Early Milestones and Business Development
Yasmine is an Egyptian and French national who, after 17 years of residing in Europe & US, returned to Egypt in 2019 to launch YFS.
Yasmine has over 15 years of international experience across the energy sector, particularly in the oil and gas industry. She has developed skills relating to improving productivity – whether for processes or people. This inspired her to launch a startup in logistics services in Egypt. Before the startup (Yalla Fel Sekka) Yasmine held many leadership roles with Schlumberger from Human resources to business development, undertaking assignments in Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
Yasmine holds master’s in public policy/ Mason Fellows degree at Harvard Kennedy School, an MSC in Human Resources from Robert Gordon University in the UK, and a B.S. in Economics from Cairo University in Egypt. She is trilingual in English, French and Arabic. At age 14, she joined the Egyptian National Handball Team, winning numerous distinctions during her tenure.
As the psychologist “Abraham Maslow” put it: “I have learned the novice can often see things that the expert overlooks. All that is necessary is not to be afraid of making mistakes or appearing naïve.” My message to every woman is to keep trying, be determined but flexible, focused and not to take a No for an answer.
Social Impact
Under Yasmine’s leadership YFS has undergone tremendous growth and successfully established itself as the leader in Egypt for on-demand logistics tech platform. With two rounds of funding, great investors on board and a solid business plan, YFS has become #1 Funded Arab women led logistics business in the middle east. Yasmine has dedicated her efforts to align with the SDGs goals across two main aspects.
High unemployment of Youth (SDG 8):
Egypt is a young nation with over 40% of the population aged 18 and a high youth unemployment rate (12.5%), leading the young community to aggressively seek opportunities which also increases the demand for freelance work and couriers. Yasmine’s social mission is therefore to improve the well-being of YFS couriers by harnessing the power of the YFS community. Its mission is to succeed in the core business of YFS, but also to have a recognizable social impact on Egypt’s struggling workforce and to help YFS couriers increase their monthly income through an organized ordering system that enables them to continually reach more customers.
Introduction of New technology and innovation (SDG 9):
An opportunity exists for a Technology Innovation that is capable of matching in real time the supply and demand in a decentralized, efficient and cost-effective way that results in a rapid and low-cost delivery in “There is an opportunity for technological innovation that can match supply and demand in real time in a decentralized, efficient and cost-effective way, resulting in fast and inexpensive delivery.
Finally, Yasmine dedicates some of her time to mentor and support entrepreneurs in the region, more specifically women.
Recognition and Awards
- Top three Forbes women behind middle eastern logistics brands and the 20 women Behind Middle Eastern Tech Brands 2022
- Nominated in Entrepreneur Europe as 15 top European female leaders to watch in 2023
- Member in the IFC she wins Arabia program and Earnest and Young (EY) entrepreneurial winning EMEIA women
In a Nutshell
- Five million deliveries in Egypt since its launch in March 2020- as of May 2023
- Operates in six cities—Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Mansoura, Zagazig, and Tanta—delivering over 10,000 orders per day
- YFS had raised a total of $10 million as of May 2023
- Attraction of US and regional investors including I Squared Capital and Flybridge Ventures, Kharafi Group, and DisruptAD