2025 Agenda

• 10:30am

  

  From Niche to Necessity: The Penetration of Sustainable Tech in META

  

  Jacky Chan

  ESG project manager CONTEXT

  Explore the rapidly evolving landscape of sustainable technology adoption within the META market. This session unveils exclusive META distribution data, spotlighting the increasing emphasis on sustainability in procurement. Discover the growing significance of ecolabels like EPEAT and TCO, evidenced by Saudi Arabia's impressive >90% adoption rate of EPEAT ecolabels within distribution in 2025 YTD, with over 60% achieving EPEAT Gold. We will benchmark this progress and compare it with trends in the UAE, Turkey, and Europe. We will analyse the market positioning and pricing of sustainable products in the META region. Furthermore, we will present data on product carbon footprints and explore the expanding market for remanufactured and refurbished PCs, with a focus on the UAE's circular economy initiatives. 

• 11:10am

  

  From Empty Chair to AI Twin: Real‑Time Consumer Intelligence for the AI Era

  

  Vivek Bhargava

  Co-Founder
ProfitWheel

  Traditional consumer research is losing relevance—slow surveys, tiny samples, and  siloed geographies can’t keep pace with consumers who pivot in seconds  and buy from anywhere. In this talk, Vivek Bhargava reveals how  deterministic, behavior‑based data and large language models (LLMs) are  rewriting the rules. Using the “empty customer chair” analogy made  famous by Jeff Bezos, Vivek introduces AI Twins—digital, always‑on  replicas of every key segment. These Twins observe rather than guess,  delivering a 360° view across media habits, motivations, and purchase  journeys in real time. Why yesterday’s sampling methods fail modern  brands and how to replace them with live, global data streams.

• 11:40am

  

  From Screen to Scroll: Embracing the Power of Vertical Video in the Age of Mobile-First Consumers

  

  Alex Von Harsdorf

  Co-Founder & CEO
Livebuy

  Mobile devices have redefined consumer behavior — and video now reigns supreme as the preferred medium for discovering, connecting, and purchasing. Today’s audiences don’t read, they watch. This shift is transforming the face of online retail, with frontrunners like Zalando, Douglas, and MediaMarktSaturn adapting swiftly, while platforms like Shein and Temu set new standards. In this session, we’ll explore how video and social commerce are reshaping the market, unpack key success stories from retail pioneers, and share actionable insights for integrating mobile video into your own strategy.

• 12:10pm

  

  Roundtable: Is Social Selling a Threat or Opportunity For Retail?

  

  Moderated by Alex Von Harsdorf


  Co-Founder & CEO
Livebuy

  Buying through socials and live shopping is a big trend in many markets across the globe but as this market develops, will it be a threat to retail or is it a golden opportunity to engage and interact with customers. This  interactive session will cover both sides of the coin with audience  participation actively encouraged.

• 12:30pm

  Journey To a Sustainable and Greener Future

  

  Chad Damin

  Sales Director MEA
Targus

  Targus is creating positive change. As a leader in laptop cases and tech  accessories, we are on a mission to make sustainability part of our DNA  by putting people and the planet first.

• 1:00pm

  Lunch

• 2:30pm

  From Trash to Tokens: How Impact2Earn is Redefining Recycling with AI, Blockchain & Digital rewards.

  

  Sergei Ivanov

  Co-Founder & CEO
Impact2Earn
BANTgo Technologies

  Impact2Earn is an AI and blockchain-powered recycling rewards platform that  transforms everyday recycling into real-world value using traceable  digital assets and utility tokens. Originally launched in Europe and now established in Dubai—where they have their largest presence. They are  now conducting market tests in the northeastern U.S. The platform  rewards individuals for recycling while enabling ecosystem partners to  track, scale, and report on ESG impact. Their marketplace redemption  partners—ranging from retailers to local service providers—benefit  through increased customer traffic, deeper engagement, and  purpose-driven loyalty. In this session, they will share key lessons  from their journey with the venture capital process, Transitioning  internationally and scaling from prototype to revenue generating  business in UAE.

• 3:00pm

  Unlocking Opportunities: Consumer Tech Industry Trends

  

  Gurpeet Aulakh

  Senior Manager
APP Retail Vertical

  Insights from NIQ GfK

• 3:30pm

  Coffee Break

• 3:40pm

  Roundtable: The Hard Sell - Barriers to Higher AI Product Adoption Rates and How to Overcome Them

  

  Fahed Bizari

  AI Empowerment Specialist

  The consumer tech industry is relying on the next wave of AI enabled  products to drive demand and volume sales in the channel. While talk of  AI is everywhere, sales of AI PCs and other products are not reflective  of the media hype. Vendors and their channel partners face a challenge  to close the gap and convert potential into demand at a retail level.  This session should take the form of an informative dialogue to  ascertain what the main barriers are, how the industry can work together to overcome them, and strategies to generate excitement at a consumer  level.

• 4:30pm

  Coffee Break and Networking

• 4:40pm

  Exhibition Area Visit & Informal Meetings

• 8:00apm

  Awards & Gala Dinner