#startup

Dubai-based surplus food marketplace Peekabox has raised $1.5 million in an oversubscribed seed round to enhance its operations in the United Arab Emirates and expand throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Founded in 2025 by brothers Hasan and Omair Sarwar, the startup connects consumers with restaurants, cafés, and grocery retailers to offer surplus food at discounted prices.

Adebanji Oluwatoni discusses his transition from studying political science to experiencing two startup shutdowns, ultimately leading him to create a social intelligence platform aimed at supporting the creative economy. This journey highlights the challenges and lessons learned in the startup world.