Investment banker quits job to build food-tech startup with brother in Dubai, raises Rs 14.5 crore- Moneycontrol.com

Two brothers who left secure corporate careers in 2025 to build a food‑tech startup in the UAE have raised $1.5 million (approximately Rs 14.5 crore) for their platform, Peekabox, the founders announced on Instagram. Hasan and Omair — who studied at the University of Warwick and previously worked in investment banking, consulting and real estate — said the funds were secured with "top‑tier investors and advisors" behind them as the app surpassed more than 100,000 downloads.

"Find someone who believes in your dreams before the world does. Looking back, it’s honestly been a crazy few years," the brothers wrote on their peekaboxbrothers Instagram account, encapsulating the personal conviction that drove their decision to quit stable jobs and take a shared entrepreneurial risk.

From corporate careers to a food‑waste solution

The idea for Peekabox emerged from a simple but pressing question: should they leave their jobs to try to build something of their own? Hasan, who began his career in investment banking, and Omair, who worked first as a management consultant and later in real estate, answered that question in the affirmative in 2025 and have spent the intervening period developing the app.

Peekabox is a UAE‑based food‑tech platform that enables bakeries, restaurants, cafés and grocery stores to list surplus food at discounted prices, helping merchants sell items that might otherwise go unsold. The founders say the model targets food waste while offering consumers value through time‑sensitive discounts.

• Founders: Hasan and Omair (Instagram: @peekaboxbrothers)
• Education: University of Warwick (both founders)
• Prior careers: investment banking (Hasan); management consulting and real estate (Omair)
• Funding raised: $1.5 million (~Rs 14.5 crore)
• App downloads: over 100,000
• Target partners: bakeries, restaurants, cafés, grocery stores

Early traction, fundraising and public reaction

In their Instagram post, the brothers reflected on milestones beyond downloads and capital, stressing the importance of mutual belief. "We went from two brothers with an idea, questioning whether we should leave our jobs, to building an app that’s now been downloaded by over 100,000 people. But the biggest lesson isn’t about the downloads, the fundraising, or the milestones," they wrote, adding that the main takeaway was having someone who backed the idea when it was still uncertain.

The announcement included a slide noting the $1.5 million raise and images chronicling the founders' journey from early days to the current phase. The post attracted congratulatory comments from Instagram users praising the brothers’ risk and progress.

Outlook

With fresh capital and adviser support, Peekabox faces the immediate task of scaling merchant partnerships and user engagement across the UAE market and beyond. The model’s success will hinge on deepening relationships with food retailers and proving unit economics for discounted surplus inventory. For Hasan and Omair, the raise and 100,000+ downloads mark tangible validation of a pivot from conventional careers to building a business aimed at reducing food waste while creating consumer value.