Muslim Money Expert: If I Started A Business in 2026, I'd Do This

Omar Waseem is the 21-year-old CEO of Alif, an investment fund for Muslim founders based in Silicon Valley. By 19, he had built multiple seven-figure businesses and served as CMO of Fei Protocol, a startup that peaked at a $2B valuation.

Today he invests in early-stage Muslim founders and runs an ecosystem that hosts entrepreneurs and investors from across the world.

In this episode, he breaks down how Muslim entrepreneurs can build wealth and start companies in 2026.

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Join Alif Sessions: https://alif.build/sessions 

Use promo code "muslimfounder" in your application for 20% off and a guaranteed spot in the program.

Program starts on 10th May.

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Follow Omar Waseem:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/omarwaseem/

https://x.com/omarwasm

https://www.youtube.com/@omarwasm

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0:00 Introduction

2:14 Omar's entrepreneurial journey

4:26 The car accident that changed everything

6:53 The Fund backing Muslim founders

10:14 What Omar looks for in founders

11:26 The mission: 25 Muslim billionaires

12:15 Do Muslims sell out to build big?

14:53 How Alif actually makes money

16:32 The best business to start in 2026

18:56 Why 2026 is the moment

21:22 Building Muslim entrepreneurial power

23:56 Why San Francisco wins

26:44 Is money the real problem?

28:27 How to hire a world-class team

36:42 Omar's role models

38:10 How he made it so young

40:20 Who keeps Omar grounded

44:14 Rapid fire