MENA’s first education-to-career ecosystem
Who we are
OBM builds the bridge between school and work. Since 2020 we have walked students in Egypt and Saudi Arabia through the decision nobody prepares them for: what to study, where, and what it actually leads to.
That work now runs on four co-equal pillars — Education, Projects, Summits and Taleb: guidance services, programs built with partner institutions, summits at campus scale, and an AI super-app a student carries in their pocket.
More than two million students have come through it, and Value Maker Studio backs the next circle — Saudi Arabia.
Guidance that fits in a pocket
Taleb is MENA’s first AI-powered student super-app, and the pillar the other three hand a student off to. Careers in real detail, every Egyptian university side by side, monthly internships written for school students, and a mentor already working in the field being weighed up.
Free on iOS and Android, and already in the hands of students across Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Our partners
The institutions that design and fund this work with us — ministries, foundations, corporates, universities and schools across Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Awarded by
Recognition from the juries and institutions that follow education and technology in the region.
Latest news
April 23, 2025
Forbes 30 Under 30 Omar El-Barbary
Cofounder OBM Education (Egyptian) An experienced professional in youth and student development, Omar specializes in educational guidance, training, and professional growth opportunities. With a global perspective shaped by his background in education and business, he connects with individuals from all walks of life to foster their growth. As CEO of OBM Education , he is dedicated to driving innovation and empowering students to transition seamlessly from school to university and into the job market. Forbes
May 10, 2025
Forbes 30 Under 30 2024
Omar El-Barbary, Ezz El-Din Farag Age: 27, 28 Occupation: Cofounders of OBM Education Nationality: Egyptians Residence: Egypt and Saudi Arabia Category: Social Impact Omar El-Barbary and Ezz El-Din Farag cofounded OBM Education to provide students with AI-driven tools for academic and career guidance through its Taleb super app, which served over two million students between 2020 and 2023. The app has over 326,000 registered users. It offers AI-driven assessments, skill-building content, college comparison tools, mentorship, and an integrated rewards system. The duo plans to add a Taleb Wallet for payments in 2025. They entered the Saudi market in June 2024 and plan to launch in the U.A.E. in 2025. To date, OBM Education has raised $810,000 in seed funding, from Edventures, Value Maker Studio, and two angel investors. Forbes
May 10, 2025
OBM Education co-founders nominated for Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30
OBM Education proudly announces the nomination of its co-founders, Omar El-Barbary and Ezz El- Din Farag, for the prestigious Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30 list. This recognition underscores their pioneering contributions to educational innovation and their transformative vision for empowering youth and women across the MENA region. With a proven track record of delivering impactful programs like MOLHEMA for Girls, MINT Squad by EGbank, Navigate and Zpreuners, OBM Education continues to set benchmarks in capacity-building and youth development. The organization is also gearing up for its upcoming flagship events—the ExploreX Festival in February 2025 and the Future Summit in June 2025—solidifying its role as a catalyst for educational and social impact in the region. With over 2 million students impacted and 338,000 active users on its Taleb App, OBM Education remains at the forefront of digital and on-ground innovation in education. Zawya