Innovation X Ecosystems @Topian, the NEOM Food Company

TL;DR
I turn bold ideas into sustainable reality. I fuse technology, sustainability, and food systems to shape a resilient, future-ready world. With a PhD in Applied Mathematics and a track record spanning research, entrepreneurship, and global partnerships, I’m passionate about driving transformative projects that advance Vision 2030.

Speaker bio:
Dr. Andrew Yip is dedicated to curating sustainable innovations and strategic partnerships that will help the food sector reach its full potential. With his extensive experience in technology, innovation, and data governance, Dr. Yip is committed to driving positive change and creating innovative solutions for the industry, supporting Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which aims to promote economic diversification, job creation, and social and cultural development.

Dr. Yip holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Computational Science from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and has been a NEOM pioneer since 2019. When he's not working, he enjoys tabletop gaming with friends and strangers alike.

Andrew Yip, PhD

Just launched Halal Yalla — a web-app to help Muslim travelers find halal restaurants, mosques, and grocery stores worldwide.

The plan was to build it during a solo "Startup Weekend." It ended up taking two.

Here’s how it unfolded:

First weekend, I rushed an MVP with maps and a basic UI. By Sunday, it worked — but felt more like a prototype than a real product.

Second weekend, I started over, focusing on useful experience over features. I rethought how people research trips on desktop, designed helpful dietary cards for use at restaurants, and added offline mode for areas with poor internet. Everything is powered by real OpenStreetMap data across three pilot cities.

What’s inside:
• An interactive map with community-recommended halal places
• Dietary cards in multiple languages
• Offline access & saved favorites
• Mobile and desktop optimized

All free. No sign-up. No ads.

What I learned:
Quality beats speed — most of weekend one’s code was replaced.
Design matters more than feature count.
Build what you need (I made this for my own travels).
Ship early, listen, then iterate.

I’d love your help:
If you travel or know someone who does, please try it and share your thoughts. It’s new — so expect bugs and missing features. I truly want to hear from you.
DM me or email: feedback@halalyalla.app

What’s next?
More cities, community reviews, deeper integrations — but first, I want to listen.
This came from my own need to find halal food while traveling in China with friends. If it helps even one person explore more confidently, it’s a win.

Special thanks to Usman Bashir for the honest critique and being the first reviewer over coffee.

Link in first comment.

Saudi Premium Resident | Turning bold ideas into sustainable reality | Tech × Sustainability × Future Food Systems

Hong Kong felt like the right next city for Halal Yalla because two things clicked at once: a quietly growing halal scene, and people generous enough to map it for others.

I read a 2025 SCMP feature on how Hong Kong is expanding halal food options but still leaves many Muslim travelers guessing where they can actually eat with confidence. I also discovered Maryam's work documenting halal-friendly spots across the city. Together, they showed me what travelers really want: context, clarity, and lived experience, not just lists.

That's when Hong Kong became the next city on Halal Yalla.

What's new:
190+ halal places across Hong Kong, from TST to Lantau. I cross-checked the Hong Kong Tourism Board data against the latest halal certification list and kept only the ones where certifications are active and valid. (Big thank you to HKTB for the excellent foundation.)
Two levels of confidence: Halal Certified/Kitchen (120+ places) and Halal Friendly (60+). A mix of cuisines: Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Japanese, Korean, Mediterranean, and more.
Hong Kong now opens by default when you launch the app.

I also had the good fortune of Jana reviewing the UI/UX and pushing back on what wasn't working. Most of her feedback is now baked into this version. Thank you, Jana.

If you live in Hong Kong, have visited, or are planning a trip, your feedback will shape what comes next: what's missing, what's confusing, what actually helped.

Free, no sign-up, no ads — just a tool I wish existed when I was standing in a new city with Muslim friends, hungry, and unsure where we could eat.

Try it, share it, and tell me honestly what you think.
DM or email: feedback@halalyalla.app
Link in first comment.

Photo credit: The Charm of the Bright City from discoverhongkong.com

In the past weekends, I've solo-built production apps like HalalYalla.app using prompt-driven workflows, and v0 by Vercel is part of my arsenal.

It worked so well that I've asked my friend Usman Bashir who's a master-builder to host a virtual "Prompt to Production" session for builders in Riyadh as part of v0 by Vercel global hackathon week.

We'll run a virtual sprint on Jan 31 (KSA time) where you'll go from idea to deployed app in hours, focused on Saudi priorities—tourism, edtech, trade, and really any vertical of your choice.

If you're a developer, founder, PM, or student ready to ship fast, this is for you. Solo builders or small teams thrive in this format.

Spots are limited for Jan 31, 2026. Reply "Interested" or DM for more details and how you can get prepped. Looking forward to building together.

Register here:

Open article: v0 Prompt to Production — Riyadh · Luma by luma.com

v0 Prompt to Production — Riyadh · Luma

Jeremy's book on Gulf culture is a classic for a reason. It’s even updated to a fourth edition now. And after 15 years on the ground here in Saudi Arabia, I’ve realized the real secret isn’t in the latest rules or etiquette tips. It’s in the mindset. Times change, but how people value connection, respect, and shared understanding? That stays.

For me, it boils down to three guiding thoughts:

1. Relationship over transaction.
2. Respect over efficiency.
3. Context over assumption.

So when you wonder, “What should I wear?” filter it through Respect & Context.
When you think, “How do I negotiate here?” lean on Relationship.

Try it. Look at one of the questions in his post below and run it through those three ideas. What comes up?

The shift isn’t really about what you do differently. It’s how you see differently, and stay anchored.

RRC:
Relationship 
Respect 
Context

Thank you Jeremy for inspiring generations of expats.

If you or your colleagues have business and other interests with Arabs from the Gulf countries of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE (Abu Dhabi and Dubai etc.) and Oman you may be interested in the 2-hour in-person lecture I'm giving in the afternoon of Tuesday 20 January 2026 in London.
This will be given at the Victory Services Club near Marble Arch from 1400 to 1600, followed by networking and a cash bar.
 
I'm the author of the best-selling cross-cultural guide for business and life in the Gulf 'Don't They Know It's Friday'  now in in its 4th edition since 1998. 
Copies will be available for sale, signed if requested.

The Saudi Ambassador in London wrote: “A fascinating read; even I learned something about our culture. Essential reading for the visitor to the region”
If you or your colleagues ask the type of questions listed below I encourage attendance.

To attend please see the EventBrite link:

https://lnkd.in/ePQNaHtS

 
Best wishes
Jeremy Williams OBE
www.handshaikh.com
--------------

·        I’m a businesswoman – what should I wear in the Gulf? What should I not wear?
·        What are the basics of Islam?
·        What’s the difference between Sunni and Shi’a Muslims?
·        How can I understand Gulf protocol and personal etiquette? ·
·        How should I behave and what should I wear?
·        What should I not wear?
·        What do ‘GCC’, ‘Maghreb’ and ‘Levant’ mean?
·        What do Wasta, Fatwa and Jehaad mean?
·        How do I address and write to an Arab business leader?
·        I’m giving a presentation in the Gulf; what’s important to a Gulf Arab audience?
·        Why do meetings with Arabs often fail to take place?
·        What about race, gender, same-sex and safety issues?
·        Why are Muslim names so confusing?
·        Can I serve wine if Arabs/Muslims are present?
·        How do I negotiate?
·        How will they negotiate?
·        How do I chase Arab debtors?
·        How should I select the right people for work in or with the Gulf? – what are the main attributes needed – and to be avoided?
·        Should Ms Smith offer her hand for Mr Abdullah to shake?

Ever notice how often people quote “Confucius” online — and you can’t quite tell if he actually said that or if it’s just another internet myth?

I’ve been seeing that a lot lately. So, in one of those “what if I build it?” moments, I created a small web app called Confucius or Not (guess you already figured where the inspiration came from).

It’s a simple game: you’re shown a quote, and you guess whether it’s a genuine Confucius saying or a modern imposter. Behind the humor, there’s something deeper — an appreciation for how ideas travel (and mutate) across cultures and centuries.

Building it was a fun blend of history, philosophy, and a bit of mischief — and I hope it sparks the same curiosity in others.

If you’d like to test your inner sage (or just want a laugh at how confident you think you are about Confucius), give it a try.

Link on first comment.

Every pattern in your life repeats until you learn the lesson. The moment you choose differently, the loop ends and growth begins - Chérie Carter-Scott

This is predominantly online with an on the ground component for precise match making. You will gain both the flexibility and real market exposure (plus a nice trip to the beautiful Xiamen). 

If you are in KSA and working in one of the 4 focus areas and are interested, let me know.

CHINA-BRICS Science and Innovation Incubation Park for the New Era

View company: CHINA-BRICS Science and Innovation Incubation Park for the New Era

🚀 BRICS Cross-Border Innovation: Your Gateway to China's Dynamic Market

We're thrilled to share the official opening of global applications for the BRICS Cross-Border Innovation Acceleration Program at the CHINA-BRICS Science and Innovation Incubation Park for the New Era in Xiamen, China.

This groundbreaking initiative is designed to empower innovative startups from BRICS countries and partner nations to successfully scale into the huge Chinese market. Selected participants will receive comprehensive support, including market access strategies, financing connections, and local landing services tailored to navigate China's unique business landscape.

🎯 Priority Tech. Sectors: 

✅ Biomedicine 
✅ New Energy & Intelligent Vehicles 
✅ New Materials 
✅ Digital Economy

📅 Program Highlights: 

✅ Application Deadline: February 28, 2026 
✅ Format: Two-month hybrid acceleration (online activities + two-week on-site intensive in Xiamen, May 2026) 
✅ Benefits: Direct access to leading Chinese corporates, investors, policy networks, and essential landing resources

This is more than an acceleration program; it's a strategic bridge connecting global innovation with one of the world's most influential markets. Whether you're developing cutting-edge biomedical solutions or driving the digital economy forward, this program provides the ecosystem support needed to accelerate your growth in China.

🔗 Ready to expand? Register now: https://lnkd.in/gaDJRB8S  

Mohsin, Sylvia, 林志强, Regal, Sam, Krish, Mozhgan, Adriana, Lamiaa, Bangani, Luís, Oleg, Mehdi, Rodrigo, Wafa, Felix, Mitslal, Monica, Ahmed, Abdulaziz, Albabtain, Hussain, Zainab, Fayez, Abusharifah, Hebah, Reem, Reem Philby, Ahmed, Ghaida, Ali.

#ChinaBRICSSIIP #BRICSInnovation #CrossBorderAcceleration #ChinaMarketEntry #StartupGrowth #GlobalInnovation #PlugAndPlayChina #Xiamen #InnovationEcosystem #TechAccelerator

Helping Ivy League-educated, overachievers find meaning and clarity in their career | Speaker, Clarity Coach, Entrepreneur

Huw coaches founders and their leadership teams to create clarity, attain alignment, and unleash their potential. He has worked with CEOs of VC and PE backed software and technology companies on both growth trajectories and supported them through turnaround or transition.

Huw is a 3-time founder, investor, and speaker turned executive coach. His corporate career centered around his work at Goldman Sachs, Rackspace, and Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund with $160bn under management. While at Bridgewater Associates he was a Senior Management Associate responsible for Portfolio Analytics. In 2016 he acquired and later sold Jungle Disk, a cybersecurity company previously owned by Rackspace. He co-founded CyberFortress, a VC-backed insurtech startup in 2018 (where he also became a Talentism client!). He also co-founded Porthcawl Holdings, a value-driven technology holding company, investing in startups and businesses in the SaaS and bitcoin space.

Huw holds an MBA from Harvard Business School where he was a Ford Scholar and Baker Scholar, and holds undergraduate and masters degrees in mathematics from Oxford University,

Huw is a proud Welshman who lives with his wife and young son in San Antonio, Texas. He is a board member of the local Entrepreneurs Organization responsible for the Accelerator program, helping budding entrepreneurs scale their businesses to 7-figures. He is also Vice President of Programming for the Harvard Business School Club of San Antonio. His compulsions include identifying gifts in adversity, creating inspiring visions, radical self-discipline, and running 100 mile races in the mountains.

Huw Edwards

You don’t “have to” do anything you once desired to do.

I mean, how is it that you’re so exhausted from doing the things you actually love to do?

It’s because you've forgotten how much of this you once hoped for.

You don’t “have to” pick up the kids from school, lead that meeting, or make that trip. 

You “get to” pick up your kids from school. That’s a freaking joy.... to have kids. 

You get to guide a group of people at work.

You get to solve hard problems.

The reframe is your strength.

We have to stop seeing all these demands as burdens and start seeing them for what they truly are. 

A privilege.

3x Founder, Harvard MBA, ex-Bridgewater Associates, Goldman Sachs | Executive Coach | Helping ambitious founders/CEOs unleash their potential and purpose

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You’ve got to stay with discomfort long enough to see what it’s becoming.

Stay with that uncomfortable feeling instead of avoiding it. 

That’s when you’ll realize discomfort is not a threat.

It’s just stretching you into who you’re becoming.

It can get crazy.

But what do you think?

Growth doesn’t always feel good until it does.

There’s something crazy about emotions. 

Reminds me of Thomas Edison. 

He was behind some of the most transformative inventions in modern history: light bulbs, phonographs, and motion pictures.

A massive explosion once destroyed his factory in New Jersey.

Years of prototypes, notes, and equipment all gone in flames.

He was 67 years old at the time. 

When his son ran to find him, Edison was calmly watching the fire.

He reportedly said, *"Go get your mother and all her friends. They'll never see a fire like this again."*

The next morning, he called his team together and said, *"We're rebuilding. Start tomorrow."*

Within three weeks, the factory was back up and running.

And within a year, Edison released some of his most profitable inventions.

He didn't get consumed by the pain of that moment.

He saw the loss, acknowledged it, and went straight back to work.

My point is that results can trigger an emotional rollercoaster.

We sometimes spend too long celebrating success and too long overthinking losses.

But it’s in our best interest to snap out of our emotions faster for a mentally healthier and more fulfilling life.

Life is a relentless mind game of you vs you

Reminds me of the 1997 NBA Finals.

Michael Jordan woke up sick with a high fever.

He felt weak and could barely stand.

Game 5 was that night, and the Chicago Bulls needed him.

Every logical part of him could have stayed in bed.

He could have sat that game out, and no one would’ve blamed him.

It would’ve totally made sense.

But that night, he suited up anyway.

He played 44 minutes, scored 38 points, and led the Bulls to a crucial win.

I don’t see it as just Utah they were playing against, it was more Jordan against Jordan.

The version that wanted the body to rest vs the self that wanted to lace his shoe and get out the door.

And that night, the better self won.

This mind game doesn’t back down.

But it’s always your choice to choose what part of you is leading.

As James Clear says, *“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”*

For decades, runners believed a mile under four minutes was impossible. Not human, even.

Coaches said the body would break down.

Then on May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister ran 3:59.4 on the Iffley Road track in Oxford, with two pacers setting the rhythm.

Once one human proved it was possible, less than six weeks later, John Landy ran 3:58.

And within a year, other runners started doing it too.

Same bodies, same track, same distance.

But a different internal reality.

Because someone chose to overcome the limiting belief.

It just shows that the biggest limits aren't always in our talent.

They're in the stories we've accepted as true for so long.

So we tend to make choices from a restricted version of ourselves, rather than our actual capacity.

Still getting things done, still stacking wins, yet feeling a sense of underperformance.

You can only reach your highest potential when you see yourself beyond past stories, fears, trauma, not-so-pleasant childhood memories, mistakes, hurt, disappointment, and pain, no matter how much sense they make. 

Yes, you still feel the fear and anxiety, but the thrill of becoming more than you already are gets stronger than the fear.

You just know you'll even be more restless if you choose to stay in your comfort zone.

So you’ll choose to trust yourself a little more. 

Again and again.

You have to first explore your interests before you scale it. 

You'll wander, test new styles, try different methods and approaches, and experiment with ideas.

You'll fail, win, fall, and rise over and over again.

There'll be many proud moments and many sad moments. 

People will think you're delusional.

Then, when you find what clicks, you double down on it, build a structure around it, and scale it.

So don’t let the fear of being seen as uncertain, inconsistent, or distracted hold you back from achieving your highest potential.

First explore, then commit, and exploit.

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Read newsletter 

Read the newsletter here: http://newsletter.h3.xyz/

How well do you know yourself?

Scratch that.

How well do you trust yourself?

Are you easily worn down just by the idea of being taken unaware?

That's a harsh discredit to your training, experience, gifts, and how far you've come.

In today's issue, I explored the thrill and practices to find peace in the face of uncertainty.

Read the newsletter here👇

There’s a kind of confidence that comes from being calm in the face of uncertainty. Anyone can feel calm when life behaves. But not everyone has maste

Open article: The thrill of being steady in uncertainty by Huw Edwards • 2 min read

The thrill of being steady in uncertainty

Your success is yours.

But the work that made that success is not about you.

It's about the impact, the people, the why, and the meaning around it.

The moment it starts being a lot more about you, it gets tricky.

Only a matter of time before you start to feel a sense of inner dissatisfaction.

Like you're stuck even with all the success you've achieved.

Because you've lost touch with the big picture beyond you.

I know this feeling because I've lived it.

In today's issue, I shared some of the things I did to get out of my head, reconnect with my purpose, and find fulfillment again.

Feeling stuck or struggling with a cycle of underperformance?

You definitely want to read this 👇

You ever notice how you can be busy all day, get a lot done, and still feel… off? Not tired or burnt out. Just strangely numb. Most people assume that

Open article: The bright side of feeling stuck… by Huw Edwards • 2 min read

It’s not really the failure that hurts.

It’s what the failure can do to our image.

To the pride of our competence.

It sounds crazy to try something new that might fail when you’ve spent years becoming the best at what you do.

I mean, who would want to ruin a great reputation?

Is it worth it?

Hell yeah.

If you truly want to become the best version of yourself, then dare to fail.

In today’s issue, I explored simple practices to help you bet on yourself without losing your mind.

Read the newsletter here 👇

Most high performers aren't afraid of failure. They're afraid of what failure would say about them. This newsletter will explore the thin line between

Open article: Dare to fail vs dare not to fail  by Huw Edwards • 2 min read

Failure sucks.

There’s no sugarcoating it.

But it's also inevitable and necessary.

It’s really not the enemy we think it is.

It helps a great deal in shaping us into what we desire to become

Over the weekend, 1,238 readers learned how daring to fail decides how much potential one ever gets to maximize.

Miss the issue?

Find the link in the comments below ↓

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We all experience this mind game between our better and our lesser selves.

The self that wants you to:

- Stay in comfort because you’re already successful
- Stick to predictable routines so nothing feels risky
- Hold back because you don’t want to fail publicly
- Play it safe

Vs

The self that wants you to:

- Do things that stretch you
- Try new approaches even if they feel unfamiliar
- Show up even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed
- Find out what you’re capable of

But every time you feel pulled between the two voices, one is trying to lead you. 

Lean into the one that holds your priorities, non-negotiables, and big, vivid vision accountable.

Some opportunities are distractions.

They look great and may be relevant to your image.

Until they're not.

They distract you from the main things.

Excellence needs you to fight for your focus.

So you have to be really good at knowing what you need and what you don't.
.
I share a framework to help elite performers protect their energy from shiny distractions.

You can read it here 👇

There’s something about being good at a lot of things. You can handle more, so you keep taking on more. And before you know it, your attention is ever

Open article: Keep the main things…the main things by Huw Edwards • 2 min read

You’re already good at handling pressure.

The question is whether you’re still creating room for the kind of discomfort that stretches you. 

Not the familiar kind of challenges you’ve gotten used to tackling.

Over the weekend, 1,237 elite performers learned how choosing harder things on purpose unleashes a higher potential. 

Miss the issue?

Find the link in the comments below ↓

3 resources to help you walk through hard things with ease: 

1. TED Talk: How to Make Stress Your Friend by Kelly McGonigal

https://lnkd.in/d6U8V7UJ

2. TED Talk: How to Stay Calm When You Know You'll Be Stressed by Daniel Levitin

https://lnkd.in/dNRH25RJ

3. Podcast: “Unlocking Us — Brené Brown with Emily and Amelia Nagoski (Burnout & How to Complete the Stress Cycle)

https://lnkd.in/dmPD3JKj

ted.com

Kelly McGonigal: How to make stress your friend

Love yourself.

A lot.

But love the impact you get to create more.

If you want to keep performing at a high level, you need a cause bigger than you to stay focused.

Else, you’ll be easily distracted by the validations, status, and relevance.

And that will mess with your performance and motivation in the long run. 

Over the weekend, elite performers learned to reconnect with the love of their craft for a happier life. 

Miss the issue?

Find it in the comments below ↓

You can be well aware of a messed up situation.

And still not be rattled by it.

You're still aware of the risks, but you're mentally stable enough to not be knocked off by it.

More present in what you can do NOW.

From a place of stable emotions, of course.

But that’s only if your peace is not entirely tied to things going your way.

Otherwise uncertainties will hit harder than they should.

Over the weekend, 1,240 readers learned practices to be steady in the face of curveballs.

Miss the issue?

Find the link in the comments ↓

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The Battle

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