# Ahmed Rawi

> Ahmed Al Rawi is the Bahraini co-founder and CEO of Calo. After an event photo-booth business and sports-booking app Malaeb, he launched Calo in Bahrain in 2019. His public writing explores product demand, decision-making, urgency, and ambition; he also advises and invests in early-stage founders.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Calo
- **Organizations:** Calo, Malaeb, Startup Weekend
- **Nationality:** Bahraini
- **Education:** University of Bahrain
- **Known for:** Co-founded Malaeb, which reported $1 million in bookings over its first fifteen months., Founded Calo, whose initial MVP cost $2,000., Led Calo through a $25 million Series B and $39 million extension, totalling $64 million in Series B funding.

## Career timeline

- **Age 19** — Turned a college electronic photo-booth project into a rental business after a student asked to use it at her wedding.
- **2015-2020** — Listed an organizer/facilitator volunteer role with Startup Weekend on LinkedIn.
- **2016** — Co-founded sports-booking app Malaeb, launched in May.
- **2017** — Malaeb received investment from Raed Ventures and reported $1 million in bookings over fifteen months.
- **2019** — Launched Calo in Bahrain in November, following a year exploring business ideas, much of it in New York.
- **2021** — Calo entered Saudi Arabia; Khwarizmi Ventures records Ahmed in its first Saudi delivery period in June.
- **2024** — Calo raised a $25 million Series B led by Nuwa Capital in December.
- **2025** — Calo entered the UK through Fresh Fitness Food and Detox Kitchen and raised a $39 million Series B extension in July.
- **2026** — Calo announced its UK closure in May, refocusing on its six GCC markets.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Malaeb, which reported $1 million in bookings over its first fifteen months.
- Founded Calo, whose initial MVP cost $2,000.
- Led Calo through a $25 million Series B and $39 million extension, totalling $64 million in Series B funding.

## Latest updates

- **2026-05** — Calo announced the closure of UK operations, with new orders ending May 31 and existing deliveries continuing through June 30; focus returned to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman.
- **2025-10** — Published Quality of Judgement and Intensity of Execution, arguing that leaders need both sound decisions and the ability to act.
- **2025-07** — Calo raised a $39 million Series B extension led by AlJazira Capital, bringing Series B funding to $64 million.

## Links

- Website: https://alrawi.me/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rawi

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/ahmed-rawi
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-07