Speaker

Saad Sarwar

Co-founder, 8Flamez

Saad Sarwar is a Dubai-raised, Canadian-educated entrepreneur and co-founder of 8Flamez, the Middle East’s leading talent management agency. 8Flamez is best known for its work with the region’s largest YouTuber, AboFlah, driving creator-led brand growth across MENA. Previously, Saad co-founded OG Esports, which went on to win over $35 million in tournaments, and the creative agency Level99, later acquired by China’s Wanda Group and included in a NASDAQ listing.

Saad began his career in banking in New York and at HSBC in London before transitioning into gaming and esports. He served as Sales Director at Fnatic, where he built industry-first partnerships and scaled global commercial teams. Today, through 8Flamez, he focuses on decoding authentic creator influence, investing in startups, and crafting distribution-first strategies for media-driven brands.

At BRIDGE Summit, Saad will share how creators and brands can build powerful partnerships, what authentic influence really looks like, and how the MENA region can shape the future of creator-led businesses.

Marketing

Saad Sarwarat BRIDGE

Media Panel 10 December 11:40AM - 12:10PM

Media Moneyball

The rules for media investment are shifting. New technologies, creator platforms, and community-led models are changing where capital flows and why. In this conversation, three early-stage investors share what they look for when backing founders in media, entertainment, and creator tech. They unpack their current investment theses, the trends they’re watching for 2026, and how creative vision, audience ownership, and smart business models can build companies that endure.

Central Stage
Speakers
- Dillon Lawson-Johnston
  
  Co-founder & Managing Partner, Guggenheim Brothers Media
- Saad Sarwar
  
  Co-founder, 8Flamez
Moderator
- Paula Naoufal
  
  Senior Reporter, CNN Business Arabic