Bassim Haidar is the Founder and CEO of Channel IT Group, an independent distributor of Mobile Network Infrastructure. He founded Channel IT to provide supplies and services to the Telecom industry in Nigeria and now operates in 19 countries, contributing significantly to telecom infrastructure development across Africa and the Middle East.

He is also the owner of GMT Group, a provider of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions for the waste industry. GMT Group is now a leading provider of integrated procurement, finance, and logistics in West Africa. In 2011, Bassim launched Channel VAS, which is now Optasia, and runs the company as Founder and CEO. Optasia is a leading vendor of mobile financial and fintech services. They currently provide financial services for over 650 million customers across 30+ countries. Bassim co-founded his first company at just 20 years old and founded Knuru Capital, a private venture capital firm, as well as SafriCanna, a South-African based medicinal cannabis company. Bassim’s entrepreneurial journey spans multiple industries and he has demonstrated success founding and leading successful companies.