# The longer version > > Roles, principles, awards, press, speaking and the questions people ask. The link hub lives back here . Canonical: Machine-readable summary: --- ## 01. About *the longer version* I started in industrial design at Brunel University London, and have spent nine years inside [Almost Impossible](https://www.almostimpossible.agency) in Dubai, starting as a Creative Intern in 2017 and working up through 3D, product design and senior creative to Head of Technology. Design school taught me to work inside constraints, advertising taught me what earns attention, and I taught myself the rest. In 2024 I won Gold at the UAE Young Lions in the Digital category with Nayan Ganegoda, which sent us to Cannes to represent the UAE, where we were shortlisted in the top 7 of 51 countries . Campaign Middle East put me on their Creative Faces to Watch list the same year. Today I am Co-Founder and CTO at [Almost a Lab](https://www.almostalab.io) , a Barcelona software studio building custom products for advertising agencies and the brands they serve, and Head of Technology at Almost Impossible . I build the tools at the lab and prove them on client work at the agency. I speak at GLOBALS Tech Festival during Barcelona’s MWC and 4YFN week, guest lecture, teach and consult, and build in the open. I work across Dubai, London and Barcelona, serving EMEA. > **In progress.** The full portfolio is still being built. Case studies and process are coming. Until then this page is the index, and I will send you the work if you ask. ## 02. How I work *three rules* ### AI-native AI carries the repetitive half of a build. That buys time for the parts that need judgment. ### Technology-agnostic I choose the stack after I understand the problem. Often that means the boring option. ### Design-thinking Start with the person using the thing and work backwards to the build. ## 03. Where I build *two companies* ### Almost a Lab *SOFTWARE STUDIO — CO-FOUNDER & CTO · almostalab.io* A Barcelona software studio building custom products for advertising agencies and the brands they serve. Not an AI agency. We build software on agency judgment. ### Almost Impossible *CREATIVE AGENCY — HEAD OF TECHNOLOGY · almostimpossible.agency* A Dubai creative innovations agency serving EMEA, uniting strategy, design, digital and activation. Everything is impossible until someone does it. ## 04. Track record *nine years at it* ## 05. Who am I *off the org chart* - **Public Speaker** (speaking · 2025–2027) — GLOBALS Tech Festival, Barcelona, twice during MWC and 4YFN week. Returning in 2027. - **Open Source Developer** (open source · 2026) — PointDev and Obscura, both built and released in the open. - **Teacher & Consultant** (advising · ongoing) — Helping teams get to the point where they can ship without me. - **Guest Lecturer** (teaching · ongoing) — Bringing agency and product practice to students and programmes. - **EO Accelerator** (alumnus) — Entrepreneurs’ Organization Accelerator Program. ## 06. Awards *personal and agency* | Year | Award | Detail | Result | |---|---|---|---| | 2026 | The Great Marketing & Business Minds UAE | MASHREQ ‘CARDS OF HOPE’ · WITH ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE | SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR | | 2026 | Marketing Society GCC Awards | B2B · WITH ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE | SHORTLIST | | 2025 | MMA Smarties MENA | CX / UX & DESIGN · MASHREQ ‘CARDS OF HOPE’ · WITH ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE | GOLD | | 2024 | Cannes Young Lions International | DIGITAL · REPRESENTING THE UAE · JUNE 2024 | SHORTLIST, TOP 7 OF 51 | | 2024 | Campaign Middle East, Creative Faces to Watch | REGIONAL UNDER-30 LIST | SELECTED | | 2024 | MENA Effies | MASHREQ ‘CARDS OF HOPE’ · BANKING, FINANCE & INSURANCE · WITH ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE | SHORTLIST | | 2024 | MENA Effies | MASHREQ ‘CARDS OF HOPE’ · CRISIS RESPONSE / CRITICAL PIVOT · WITH ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE | SHORTLIST | | 2024 | MENA Effies | MASHREQ ‘CARDS OF HOPE’ · POSITIVE CHANGE: ENVIRONMENTAL · WITH ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE | SHORTLIST | | 2024 | UAE Young Lions | DIGITAL · WITH NAYAN GANEGODA · MARCH 2024 | GOLD | | 2018 | DEWA Conservation Award, 12th edition | DISTINGUISHED CONSERVATION PROJECT · FOR ‘SIPHON’, A SMART IRRIGATION SYSTEM | FIRST PLACE | ## 07. Press & speaking *every item sourced* ### Speaking again at GSTF 2027 (2027) *GLOBALS TECH FESTIVAL, BARCELONA* The Social Hub Poblenou, 28 February 2027. Listed as CTO & Co-Founder ahead of MWC and 4YFN week. Source: ### Answer Engine Optimization: what AI search actually reads (2026) *GLOBALS TECH FESTIVAL, BARCELONA* GSTF26 at The Social Hub Poblenou, 1 March 2026. One of 119 speakers across two stages in the pre-MWC and 4YFN week festival. Source: ### Generative Engine Optimization (2025) *GLOBAL SALES TECH FESTIVAL, BARCELONA* GSTF25 at The Social Hub Poblenou, 2 March 2025. One of 91 speakers, talking about optimising for generative engines a year before GEO became a common term. Source: ### Campaign's Creative Faces to Watch 2024 (2024) *CAMPAIGN MIDDLE EAST* Named to the regional under-30 list. "One of the sharpest knives in the kitchen, the lad can do it all. He designs. He designs products. He writes." Source: ### Gold, UAE Young Lions Digital Competition (2024) *MOTIVATE VAL MORGAN* Won with Nayan Ganegoda, earning the pair a delegate pass to represent the UAE at Cannes Lions. Source: ### Shortlisted, top 7 of 51 countries (2024) *CANNES YOUNG LIONS INTERNATIONAL* Digital category at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, representing the UAE. Source: ### Emirates NBD runs a scam on its own customers, but for a good reason (2024) *ARABAD* Credited as Senior Copywriter on the Emirates NBD fraud-awareness campaign, made with Almost Impossible. Published 19 October 2024. Source: ### MeetPen (2023) *MADE IN BRUNEL* Final-year Industrial Design & Technology project. A ballpoint pen, mouse and air-drawing stylus in one, letting you draw over your own video feed during calls. Source: ### Places to thrift in the UAE: will my second-hand jeans save the Earth? (2022) *GULF NEWS* Interviewed on secondhand shopping and reducing new-clothing spend. Published 27 September 2022. Source: ### Workshop in Dubai imagines what living on Mars might look like (2018) *THE NATIONAL* Pictured at the Living on Mars workshop at DIDI, led by industrial aerospace designer Dr Raffi Tchakerian. Published 19 July 2018. Source: ## 08. Questions *straight answers* ### Who is Braeden Bihag? Braeden Bihag is a designer turned builder turned entrepreneur. He is Co-Founder and CTO at Almost a Lab, a Barcelona software studio building custom products for advertising agencies, and Head of Technology at Almost Impossible, a Dubai creative innovations agency. He won Gold at the 2024 UAE Young Lions and was shortlisted in the top 7 of 51 countries at Cannes Young Lions International the same year. ### What is Almost a Lab? Almost a Lab is a Barcelona software studio that builds custom software, websites and digital products for advertising agencies and the brands they serve. Its positioning is "Not an AI agency. We build software on agency judgment." Services include Forge (custom software in 12 weeks), Masthead (websites for publishing-focused teams) and Orbit (co-built equity partnerships). Braeden is Co-Founder and CTO. ### What is Almost Impossible? Almost Impossible is a Dubai creative innovations agency founded in 2016, serving EMEA across strategy, design, digital and experiential activation. Clients include Warner Bros, Sony Pictures, Emirates NBD, Mashreq, TikTok and Vogue. Braeden joined in 2017 as a Creative Intern and has been there nine years, moving through Junior 3D Designer, Product Designer and Senior Creative to Head of Technology. ### What awards has Braeden Bihag won? Gold at the 2024 UAE Young Lions Digital Competition, won with Nayan Ganegoda. A shortlist placing in the top 7 of 51 countries at Cannes Young Lions International 2024 in the Digital category, representing the UAE. Selection to Campaign Middle East's Creative Faces to Watch 2024, the regional under-30 list. With Almost Impossible he also shares in Gold at MMA Smarties MENA 2025 and a 2026 Marketing Society GCC Awards B2B shortlist. ### Does Braeden Bihag speak at events? Yes. He has spoken twice at GLOBALS Tech Festival in Barcelona, the Club GLOBALS event held during MWC and 4YFN week: in March 2026 on "Answer Engine Optimization: what AI search actually reads", and in March 2025 on Generative Engine Optimization. He returns for a third appearance in February 2027. He also guest lectures at universities and programmes, and takes on teaching and consulting work. Speaking enquiries go through [almostalab.io/speaking](https://almostalab.io/speaking). ### Where is Braeden Bihag based? He works across Dubai, London and Barcelona, serving the EMEA region. Almost a Lab is Barcelona-based and Almost Impossible is Dubai-based. ### How do you work with Braeden Bihag? The fastest route is a 30-minute intake call, bookable at the top of this page. For software and product work the engagement usually runs through Almost a Lab; for brand, campaign and experiential work it runs through Almost Impossible. Email [braeden@almostalab.io](mailto:braeden@almostalab.io) if a call is not the right first step. ### Is his portfolio available? The full portfolio is still being built. Selected agency work is visible at [almostimpossible.agency/work](https://www.almostimpossible.agency/work), and lab case studies at [almostalab.io/case-studies](https://almostalab.io/case-studies). A fuller portfolio is available on request. ### What does "AI-native, technology-agnostic, design-thinking" mean? AI-native means AI carries the repetitive half of a build, which buys time for the parts that need judgment. Technology-agnostic means choosing the stack after understanding the problem, which often lands on the boring option. Design-thinking means starting with the person using the thing and working backwards to the build. ## 09. Brands I have built for *selected* Warner Bros, Sony Pictures, Emirates NBD, Mashreq and Liv, Wio, TikTok and Vogue. --- **Got something almost impossible? Email me.** Dubai, London, Barcelona. Serving EMEA. I reply faster than I should.