Mahmood Al-Saati is an experienced business consultant and serial entrepreneur who has built, scaled and exited multiple businesses over the last two decades. Since founding Saturn Consultants, Mahmood has developed a deep track record in advising clients on mission-critical issues including long-term strategic planning and fundraising from private capital markets. In turn, this has helped clients accelerate top- and bottom-line growth, cultivate a brand niche in highly competitive landscapes, and obtain cost-effective debt and equity financing to fuel new strategic initiatives.

At Saturn Consultants, he has helped a wide range of clients from various industries secure funding. Businesses included e-Commerce, FinTech, MedTech and PropTech companies amongst others.

He also established Deltron Precision Technologies, a tooling manufacturing facility in Bahrain and also launched a plastic processing business and restaurant, both of which achieved successful exits.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering Technology from Purdue University and graduated with an MBA from Webster University.

Recent Projects

Some of the notable projects that Saturn Consultants have advised clients on include:

Market Research for Soft Pos/QR Code based payment solutions:

Saturn Consultants were approached by a leader in deploying payment solutions in the Middle East who wanted to expand into new markets in Africa and Europe. We carried out market research for 22 markets in North and East Africa, Europe, and Pakistan based on specific criteria including unbanked population, mobile phone network penetration, unstructured public utilities system, and the respective Central Bank’s approach towards digitization of payments. Two (2) suitable jurisdictions were identified, with one specifically being a fast adopter of digital payments and is part of the SADC region, and another serving as a gateway to Europe.

Both countries were in the same time zone as the client and adding a layer of stability, one key market is considered a leader in the adoption of NFC payments with a relatively young population.

Moreover, we outlined a plan for the client on partnerships they can establish and how they can leverage their technical expertise and knowledge of the European market, while providing their Fintech partners with the necessary support to navigate the Middle Eastern & North African market.

Open Banking Research:

Our client desired to create a budgeting app for the Saudi market. Our research revealed that there is a substantial opportunity for this app as the savings rate in Saudi Arabia is lower than the global average and a large portion of the population is unbanked.

Moreover, the population is relatively young, and there are provisions for students over 15 to open bank accounts. Saudi Arabia is also an early adopter of NFC based payments. Additionally, with more women entering the workforce, there is potential to target the female population, which is disproportionately unbanked.

Saturn Consultants recommended that the app incorporate eKYC as a core function to bring unbanked individuals into the banking system and encourage them to save. We also advised that compliance with open banking regulations would be required for accessing customer bank account information through APIs and that this project is aligned with the goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Disrupting the Eyewear Market:

Another client intended to launch a marketplace aggregating opticians with retailers, while offering VR-based try-on features through their platform. The proposed marketplace would complement their existing portfolio and through our research, we found that there is a market consolidation taking place in the optician industry, with large brands gaining a foothold and traditional, family-owned opticians facing challenges in accessing modern marketing methods and shared economies of scale compounded with a shortage of optometrists in the market.

Given these findings, we recommended creating a marketplace that aggregates opticians, particularly traditional, family-owned opticians, and provides them with modern marketing methods and shared economies of scale.

By creating an easy and accessible platform for consumers to find and purchase glasses and contact lenses, our client can capitalize on this opportunity while increasing awareness of eye care among consumers and improve the overall quality of eye care services.

Saturn Consultants is a valuable resource for clients seeking market research, business plans, and financial models to secure funding. Our team of experts have a deep understanding of the industry and a track record of success in helping clients identify opportunities and navigate the funding process. We conduct thorough market research to ensure that our clients have a clear understanding of their target market and competition. Our business plans and financial models are tailored to the specific needs of each client and are designed to meet the requirements of investors and lending institutions.

By partnering with the team at Saturn Consultants, clients can have confidence that they have the information and tools they need to secure the funding they require to grow and succeed in their business ventures.