HBR On Strategy

Growth Strategy Lessons from the Middle East’s First Unicorn Start-Up

Jan 31, 2024

Learn about the growth strategy and challenges faced by Careem, the Middle East's first unicorn startup. From scaling operations to innovation and forging relationships with local governments, explore how Careem became a billion-dollar company. Discover the unique opportunities and challenges of joining a startup and the importance of reinforcing values while scaling a company.

20:52

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Quick takeaways

Kareem's success stemmed from its strong values and commitment to improving the lives of its employees.

To overcome the challenges of scaling in the Middle East, Kareem developed their own localized version of Google Maps and navigated complex government regulations in multiple countries.

Deep dives

Kareem's Mission to Make a Difference

Kareem, known as the Uber of the Middle East, aims to improve the lives of drivers in the region. The founders wanted to create a company that would change the lives of people by providing resources, respectability, and professionalism to drivers. They focused on creating a professional service for both users and drivers, training them to be punctual, polite, and respectful. Kareem's success stems from its strong values and commitment to improving the lives of its employees.

Introduction

2min

Unicorn Startups and the Journey of Karim: Changing the Middle East's Transportation Landscape

6min

Improving the Lives of Drivers and Scaling the Operation

5min

Scaling a Company and Reinforcing Values

7min

Joining a Startup: Challenges and Opportunities

3min

Careem launched as the “Uber of the Middle East” in Dubai in 2012, with a mission to make life and work better for drivers in the region.

Despite technical, cultural, and financial challenges, Careem eventually became the Middle East’s first unicorn start-up, valued at more than a billion dollars. It was acquired by Uber in 2019 for $3.1 billion.

In this episode, Harvard Business School professor Shikhar Ghosh discusses his case, “Careem: Raising a Unicorn.” He explains how the company scaled its operations and expanded from Dubai into Africa and South Asia. That growth required many small and large innovations—from creating their own localized version of Google maps to forging relationships with local and national governments.

Key episode topics include: strategy, growth strategy, innovation, technology, ride share, startup, Middle East, scaling, recruiting.

HBR On Strategy curates the best case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock new ways of doing business. New episodes every week.

· Listen to the original HBR Cold Call episode: Careem: Riding the First Unicorn in the Middle East (2018)

· Find more episodes of Cold Call

· Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org

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HBR On Strategy

Growth Strategy Lessons from the Middle East’s First Unicorn Start-Up

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Kareem's Mission to Make a Difference

Scaling Operations Across Multiple Regions

Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts