A biomedical engineer by training, he ventured into healthcare entrepreneurship, successfully launching five startups, including Aumet, which is expanding across the Middle East and North Africa.

Yahya Aqel (photo), founder and CEO of Aumet, leads a business-to-business marketplace for pharmaceutical products in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Based in the United States, the startup operates in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Oman.

Established in 2020, Aumet provides a platform that connects pharmaceutical suppliers with pharmacies, streamlining the supply process and enhancing access to medical supplies. The company was founded to make the acquisition of medical supplies by healthcare providers more efficient and transparent. One of the features distinguishing its platform is artificial intelligence.  By harnessing data analytics, the platform optimizes inventory restocking, anticipates needs, and connects healthcare providers with the most suitable suppliers.

Since its inception, the startup has enjoyed the support of Orange as a development partner. It has benefited from guidance and expertise in various areas, including technological development, marketing, and commercial expansion. Currently, the company is represented at the World Electronics Forum, which is ongoing in Morocco until Thursday, April 18, 2024.

When asked about expansion plans, Yahya Aqel reveals ambitious aspirations. "We have ambitious expansion prospects in new markets, both regional—like the GCC (UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain), Morocco, and Iraq—and international, including France, the UK, and the US. We see significant growth opportunities in markets where healthcare supply processes are inefficient or fragmented," he told We Are Tech Africa.

Yahya Aqel graduated from Hashemite University in Jordan in 2006 with a bachelor’s in biomedical engineering. He also holds an MBA from IE Business School in Madrid, Spain, earned in 2015. Before embarking on the Aumet venture, he founded four other startups. It all began with Al-Sumow International Co., a medical manufacturer established in Kuwait in 2005, where he served as managing director until its acquisition in 2011.

In 2011, he co-founded Aqel Universal Medical Equipment and Tools, a company specializing in the manufacture of health products, including disposable non-woven and plastic items, in the Gulf region. He led this company as CEO until 2014, when he launched Healthy Brain, an e-commerce platform dedicated to selling medical products.

In 2016, he continued his entrepreneurial streak by co-founding OnEx, a sales platform for health product manufacturers and distributors. This platform enabled users to expand their operations both internationally and locally.

Recognized for his significant impact on the healthcare sector, Yahya Aqel was honored as Entrepreneur of the Year by EY in 2019. His startup has also been recognized by the World Economic Forum as one of the top 100 globally, demonstrating its growing global influence.

Melchior Koba