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AboutDubai, UAE
Steve Chan

Steve Chan. Entrepreneur and advisor in Dubai.

Founder of ChanStudio, my entrepreneurial studio. I build tech companies, share what they teach me, and advise founders building theirs.

Start with a coffeeWhat I do now

“It’s extremely rare to find a friend, mentor and advisor all in one.”

Callum Mughal, Co-founder, DaitaFix

Now. Dubai, 2026.

I’m new here, and I’m not here to tell anyone how Dubai works. Channel Chan is me learning it from the people who built it.

  1. Forgeai

    01Building

    A subscription that helps UAE businesses find the work worth improving, and make AI earn its place.

    Dtec, Dubai Silicon OasisAlso building Earworm, in beta

    The Forgeai wordmark

  2. Stealth Labs

    02Chairing

    The UK AI studio I co-founded in 2025 with Sammy Harris.

    Non-executive co-chair14 workspaces in 10 UK cities

  3. Channel Chan

    03Hosting

    Some were born here. Most arrived. All of them are building.

    Coming soon

  4. The Playbook

    04Writing

    Ten rules from Small Heath to Dubai.

    Rule 01: Nobody taught me. I learned anyway.The short book: £10, coming soon

  5. Advisory

    05Advising

    One technology decision you want to get right.

    Working Session, AED 3,500A one-page plan within 48 hours: options, trade-offs and next steps

The record

14years
2012 → 2026

  1. BAE SystemsDetica · built Milkfloat2012–2020
  2. MicrosoftLed innovation, UK public sector2020–2025
  3. Stealth LabsCo-founder2025–
  4. ForgeaiFounder, Dubai2026–
Dubai Marina at night
Dubai, 202625°15′N 55°22′E

Small Heath to Dubai, the long way round.

  1. BHX
  2. UNI
  3. ROUTE
  4. SCALE
  5. THE LEAP
  6. DXB
Read my story Six chapters

The short bio

For programmes and press

Steve Chan is an entrepreneur and technology advisor in Dubai, and the founder of ChanStudio, his entrepreneurial studio: he builds tech companies and advises founders building theirs. He grew up in Small Heath, Birmingham, and was the first in his family to go to university. At BAE Systems he built Milkfloat, a startup inside the company, then spent five years at Microsoft leading innovation across the UK public sector. He left in 2025 to co-found Stealth Labs, an AI studio in the UK, and moved to Dubai in 2026. Today he is building Forgeai and Earworm and developing the podcast Channel Chan. His advisory combines technical judgement, founder experience and an understanding of large organisations to help B2B and AI founders make product decisions and prepare their technology for enterprise customers.

Request a headshotSpeaking →

There was no playbook. I’m writing mine.

Let’s talk.

A technology decision, a story worth sharing, or a tech venture taking shape? Let’s meet over a free coffee in Dubai, or on video. A chance to get to know each other, with no obligation. Confidential by default.

Still inside a big company and thinking of building a tech company? Building an app on the side, with no budget yet? The coffee’s for you too.

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