Karim Slaoui (Fund)

Karim Slaoui was born in Belgium in 1987. After a thesis in applied mathematics to forecast the impact of tsunamis on the coastline, he launched Take Eat Easy, a food delivery company by bicycle, pioneering in South Europe. Next, he started the venture Cowboy, promoting urban cycling. 

Karim was driven by optimism and innovation. 

Karim was obsessed with ‘equality of opportunities’. He encouraged youngsters to be ambitious and to follow their dreams while pursuing an engineering degree. He was also involved in charities dedicated to help underprivileged teenagers in France to choose wisely for their future. With his Moroccan name, he faced prejudices and he was determined to change biased mindsets. 

In 2018 Karim wanted to run a marathon but had something odd in the knee. By the end of the year, he was diagnosed with a synovial sarcoma. Despite 5 years of experimental treatment in 3 different countries, surgeries, and other fights, he became paralyzed because of a metastatic tumor in his spine. He lost the ability to walk and to move from the chest down. His wife Aurore Balsan and he discovered the lack of innovation in addressing the challenges faced by wheelchair users.

Before his death on September 29th 2023, Aurore Balsan, his wife, and Moncef Slaoui, his father, committed to pursue his dream and vision of promoting more innovation and entrepreneurship to help address the challenges faced by wheelchair users.

The fund will support innovative early-stage social enterprises dedicated to finding affordable solutions for people with physical disabilities.