Hello, I'm Lana
I’m an Iraqi-Canadian co-founder building my career in law, but entrepreneurship and sustainability have always been part of my identity. While still in university, I launched a sustainability-focused business that was recognized as the 2nd Most Sustainable Brand in the UAE in 2022, an experience that reinforced something I deeply believe: business can be both profitable and purposeful. I’ve always loved food for the way it connects culture, family, and community, yet I couldn’t ignore the reality of how much of it goes to waste every day. As someone who is operationally detail-focused with a strong business growth mindset, I naturally began seeing inefficiencies where others saw normalcy. But at the heart of it all is kindness, the belief that we should treat our environment, our resources, and even our food with greater care. Tugo was born from that conviction. I want people to feel inspired by what we’re building, to trust that it’s been created thoughtfully, and to see that leadership can be both powerful and nurturing.
Hello, I'm Loulia
I’m a Syrian co-founder currently pursuing a career in law, and deeply passionate about building ideas that create real-world impact. I’ve always been someone who leads with energy, bubbly, outgoing, and naturally drawn to connecting with people. Creativity has been my strongest tool; I’m constantly thinking about how things can be done differently, better, and more thoughtfully. While I was in University, I helped develop a sustainable reworked clothing brand built with care for the environment, and that started my passion in wanting to make a bigger impact. What drives me is the belief that business should feel human, not transactional, but intentional. I care about the details that make experiences memorable and the vision that makes them meaningful. At my core, I’m someone who values laughter, warmth, and purpose, and I bring that same spirit into everything I build. Tugo reflects that energy, optimistic, people-centered, and rooted in the idea that small actions can create lasting change.
Our Story
It started in Hatta, UAE.
We were there with Lana’s family, surrounded by mountains, quiet landscapes, and nature at its most peaceful. As we talked about how beautiful the environment was, the conversation shifted to something that felt contradictory: how much food gets wasted every single day.
That one discussion turned into many. After every hangout, we found ourselves brainstorming. What if there was a smarter way? What if businesses didn’t have to throw away surplus food? What if customers could save money while reducing waste? What if sustainability didn’t require sacrifice?
The more we talked, the clearer it became.
Dubai is our home. We know it. We love it. And with over 4,000+ cafés and bakeries across the city, we saw an opportunity. Many of these businesses don’t have a structured surplus system. At the same time, customers are facing rising food costs.
There was a gap and we felt responsible to build the bridge.
Tugo exists because it solves three problems at once:
• It reduces food waste.
• It helps customers save money.
• It creates additional revenue for businesses.
This isn’t just an app.
It’s a system built on kindness, responsibility, and community.
And we’re just getting started.