Vibe Coding DiariesMar 11, 2026
How my Dubai barber changed the way I build with AI
A hospitality founder tried to build a software product with AI. It nearly broke him. Then one skill from his old career changed everything.
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We build the AI tools we couldn't find.
Four practical AI tools for food safety, lead discovery, content creation, and customer support. Built by founders in Dubai, priced for SMEs in the MENA region.
Backed by
AO Pulse — Discovery
AO Write — Editor
Our guiding principles
Meet the future of AI
01
Built from Need
Every tool started as our own problem. We build what we couldn't find.
Two different profiles, Amazing synergies.
Meet the team
KC
Karim C
Serial Tech Entrepreneur | Founder & CEO of Ascent Oriental | Building UAE-Made AI Products for Global Impact
Karim C
Serial Tech Entrepreneur | Founder & CEO of Ascent Oriental | Building UAE-Made AI Products for Global Impact
Self-taught AI developer with 20+ years in hospitality and business. École hôtelière de Lausanne alum turned tech founder. Creator of AO Pulse, AlignEat, AO Write, and Orial Chatbot. Based in Dubai, building UAE-made AI for the world.
Founder who vibe codes, makes pitch decks, and occasionally remembers to eat. Startup life.
AC
Aurélie C
Co-Founder & CMO at Ascent Oriental | Brand Strategist | Bringing AI Products to Market with Purpose
Aurélie C
Co-Founder & CMO at Ascent Oriental | Brand Strategist | Bringing AI Products to Market with Purpose
Brand strategist turned tech co-founder. Leads go-to-market for Ascent Oriental's AI suite. Makes complex technology feel human. Ensures the products actually make sense to the people using them.
I speak fluent Engineer-to-English. It's a rare dialect.
Partners & Backers
For Investors
Dataroom coming SoonBacked by
Why Invest?
Two founders, complementary skills, already shipping products. We're go-getters with soul. We don't chase hype. We solve problems. Early stage. Low risk. Already moving.
Investment Highlights
Four products. NVIDIA believes in us. in5 believes in us. We don't wait for permission. We build.
Insights, updates, and stories
Latest from our blog
From the TrenchesFeb 1, 2026
Thank you Dubai Apps Championship 🙏
How the Dubai Apps Championship at GITEX turned a food allergy frustration into AlignEat, an AI-powered app that matches your dietary profile to any menu worldwide.
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AnnouncementsJan 5, 2026
Ascent Oriental joins the NVIDIA Inception Program
Ascent Oriental joins the NVIDIA Inception Program. How a conversation at GITEX opened the door to one of the world's leading AI startup accelerators.
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First impressions
Don't take our word for it We've done demos
And people love it
“I finally will be able to manage my children allergies easily when we go out.”
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Lulwa A.
Parent in Dubai, UAE
“I have been searching years for this ! With garlic and onion intolerance eating out is almost impossible. They are everywhere.”
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Lara, 36
“That would have made my last trip so much easier. It felt like food roulette: we spent our vacation second guessing and holding on to the epipen!”
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Marc, 45
“Messages suggestions in other tools are always off: off tone and off cultural intelligence”
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Samia, 36
“My mum needs this. She is gluten intolerant and now has to follow a low-carb diet. So difficult to eat out nowadays.”
A
Alina, 28
“Finally ! Navigating the GDSEAPN of allergy markers is giving me headaches. I give up, knowing I will suffer the day after.”
A
Ahmed, 38
“Messages suggestions in other tools are always off: off tone and off cultural intelligence”
S
Samia, 36
“My team spends hours correcting stale databases: so they make money for the tool I pay for!”
M
Mohammed, 45
“I’ve tried the big expensive softwares for lead gen and they just don’t work here. ”
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Marc, 27
Everything you need to know
