In this episode we sit down with Sara Rona, Managing Director at Silicon Valley Bank. Sara is based in NYC and brings a wealth of experience from her extensive career in finance, including roles at HSBC, the World Bank, and Deutsche Bank, and provides unique insights into her current role covering the UK, Europe, MENA region, and Australia/New Zealand. The conversation delves into her professional journey, and the evolving startup ecosystem in the MENA region. Sara discusses the region's dynamic tech landscape, investment trends, and practical advice for founders and investors aiming to expand globally.
Whether you're a startup founder, venture capitalist, or just keen on understanding the innovation economy, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways!
In this episode, we sit down with Alexander Lempka, Founder & CEO of Connect Earth, a global Climate Infrastructure platform for Financial Institutions.
Alex shares how Connect Earth is enabling banks, insurers, and accounting firms to access accurate carbon footprint insights through AI-driven models. We explore their journey from concept to execution, including how they’ve enriched billions of transactions and secured major contracts with key banking groups. Alex discusses the critical role of partnerships for scaling their solutions and reducing integration challenges. He highlights how their platform supports regulatory compliance and democratizes carbon data for both businesses and consumers. We also dive into Connect Earth’s market strategy, focusing on their expansion in the UAE and Latam, and their focus on helping businesses and SMEs make sustainable decisions with accessible carbon data.
Tune in to learn how Connect Earth is reshaping sustainability in financial services and discover valuable lessons on scaling impact with climate tech!
In this episode we hear from Vladimira Briestenska, Co-Founder of Neem, Pakistan’s leading embedded finance platform, reshaping financial inclusion with a double-impact model that empowers both businesses and their end-users.
Vladimira shares her fascinating career journey from global human rights advocacy to tech entrepreneurship. She discusses the pivotal moments that led her to co-found Neem and her mission to bridge financial inclusion gaps in emerging markets like Pakistan.
We delve into Neem’s core offerings—payments infrastructure, earned wage access, and lending—and explore the innovative strategies behind Neem’s success, including its reliance on partnerships and zero-cost marketing. Vladimira also sheds light on the challenges of dealing with established incumbents and building trust with large financial institutions in a highly competitive landscape.
In this episode of ViaDubai, we sit down with PK Srivastava, Co-Founder & CEO of Daleel, a groundbreaking fintech marketplace aimed at enhancing financial literacy and optimizing the connection between banks and consumers in the Middle East.
PK's journey spans from launching multiple startups to establishing Daleel, which addresses critical gaps in the financial services sector. Daleel's innovative model involves onboarding banks at no initial cost, providing them with a robust platform for managing and marketing their products, and offering an annual subscription for access to valuable features. This approach moves away from traditional commission-based models, focusing instead on scalable, data-driven insights that help banks tailor their offerings and target their campaigns effectively.
We explore how Daleel’s platform uses personalized tools, such as quizzes, to engage users and generate actionable insights. PK also shares his vision for Daleel's expansion, including the upcoming launches in the UAE and Saudi Arabia and the long-term goal of covering the MENA region. He discusses the importance of localization, regulatory compliance, and adapting to diverse market needs.
In this episode of ViaDubai, we sit down with Raghu Kumar, Co-Founder & CEO of TradingLeagues, the world's first real money gaming app for cryptos, stocks and forex.
Raghu’s journey is nothing short of remarkable—from turning $20,000 into $2 million by age 22 to building Upstox, one of India’s fastest-growing brokerages. We delve into the inception of TradingLeagues, and how the platform is designed to attract a new generation of traders by simplifying market access and making trading both engaging and educational. We also discuss TradingLeagues' innovative go-to-market strategy, emphasizing referral programs and early monetization. Raghu also shares his vision for the future, including plans for global expansion, the potential introduction of derivative products, and the importance of balancing product development with strategic marketing. He offers key insights into the significance of understanding your audience, leveraging data to scale effectively, and the value of experimentation and calculated risks in entrepreneurship.
Join us to gain valuable insights into the future of trading and the entrepreneurial journey of one of the industry's most innovative minds!
This episode of ViaDubai features a deep dive with Rami Djebari, the co-founder of Sorbet, the all-in-one solution for creative freelancers.
Based in Riyadh and building for creators worldwide, Sorbet is also backed by Antler MENAP.
Learn how Sorbet is addressing three key challenges faced by freelancers in emerging markets: limited access to financial services, complex and delayed payments, and the need for a streamlined business management tool. They enable freelancers to make and receive payments using a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, provide fast and low-cost transactions, and offer a platform that streamlines the freelancer workflow. In this episode, Rami shares his unique journey from Montreal to the Middle East, why he chose Riyadh to grow Sorbet, and how they're addressing key challenges faced by freelancers in emerging markets, especially across the MENA region.
In this episode of ViaDubai, we sit down with Erik Gordon, Co-Founder & CEO of Flash, a digital payment enablement company operating out of Egypt. Erik’s journey is captivating—from studying biomedical engineering and interning in microfinance in Uganda, to investment banking in New York, and eventually moving to Dubai and Egypt to immerse himself in the emerging markets economy. Erik discusses the decision to move to Egypt and his thesis that led to founding Flash. We explore how Flash addresses problems in Egypt’s payment ecosystem, focusing on cash on delivery through QR codes and enhancing e-commerce with easier digital payments.
Erik highlights Flash’s ambitions to become a comprehensive financial service for consumers and businesses, improving financial literacy, offering transaction insights, and reducing cash handling inefficiencies. We delve into the operational challenges, higher than expected adoption rates of digital wallets, and the comparison of QR code vs. NFC payments.
Join us to learn about the revolutionary impact Flash is making in Egypt’s payment landscape and Erik’s invaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Great chat with Hani Azzam, Founder of Viaka, and Vice President at Silicon Valley Bank.
Viaka is a premium member network dedicated to connecting founders, investors, and operators across the MENA region and beyond. Discover how Viaka facilitates knowledge sharing and support through its platform, and learn about its network monetization strategies, including digital media sponsorships, community memberships, and consulting services. Hani also discusses Viaka's impressive traction in event attendance, newsletter subscribers, and community growth. He discusses the most common strategies startups have used to expand to adjacent MENA markets, and the relevant merits of acquisition versus localization when entering new markets.
Scintillating discussion with Zohare Haider, Founder & CEO of Jalebi, MENA's leading restaurant inventory management software that optimizes food stock consumption, waste tracking, and order management.
In this episode, we learn how Jalebi addresses challenges in cost control and waste reduction while offering real-time analytics crucial for restaurant owners. Gain insights into the evolution of hypotheses within a growing venture and the unique hurdles faced when serving SMBs in the food and beverage industry. Discover the strategies behind Jalebi's impressive customer retention rate and its growth playbook focusing on community-building and strategic partnerships. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned industry player, this episode offers valuable insights into maintaining focus and serving a notoriously difficult niche to crack.
Fascinating insights from Omar Sati, Managing Partner at DASH Ventures.
DASH Ventures is a prominent MENA based venture capital firm that focuses on seed through Series A investments and has an illustrious 12-year track record in the region.
Sati shares his background and journey prior to becoming a venture capitalist, discussing the impetus behind the creation of DASH Ventures and their investment philosophy. Sati also provides advice for MENA founders looking to raise in amidst challenging fundraising environments and offers strategies for nascent VC’s struggling to maintain LP fund commitments.
Join us on a scintillating discussion with Aayushman Dalmia, Founder & CEO of Zoftware, an AI-powered software discovery platform that serves MENA-based SMEs.
Zoftware makes it easy for non-technical founders to find and implement the right software for their businesses. Listen in as Dalmia highlights the importance of trust-building for software companies in the MENA market and the key factors SMEs consider when purchasing software. He also shares insights on the sales cycle for software purchases and offers advice for prospective founders in the building in the MENA region.
Riveting discussion with Onur Elgun, co-founder and CEO of CarbonSifr.
Learn how CarbonSifr is empowering businesses and individuals to take tangible climate action with its innovative climate tech solutions. From measuring carbon footprints to reduction strategies and carbon removal, CarbonSifr is paving the way for a sustainable future.
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction and Background
(01:31) Inception of CarbonSifr
(05:25) CarbonSifr's Tech Solution
(09:10) Customer Segmentation
(13:52) Case Study: CarbonSifr in Action
(19:34) Future Goals
(21:08) Learning from the Global North while creating hyper-localized solutions
(26:33) Business-to-Government Partnerships and the MENA Market
(29:55) Advice for Prospective Founders in the MENA Region
Embark on an enlightening journey with Muhammad Lila, Founder and CEO of Goodable, as he shares his compelling transition from war zone correspondent to pioneering the positive news movement.
In this episode, Muhammad delves into the transformative power of positive news content and its profound impact on mental health. Discover how Goodable, a clinically backed solution, provides uplifting stories to alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms.
Learn about Goodable's innovative media delivery model, seamlessly integrating into existing behavioral habits to reach a wide audience, including individuals, enterprises, and organizations with high stress levels. Tune in now to hear Muhammad's insights and wisdom on fostering a positive news culture and building a purpose-driven business!
In this episode we hear from Jason Stewart, Head of Product at Beehive.
Beehive, an e& enterprise company based in Dubai, is the first peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform in MENA to be regulated by the DFSA. As a leading Fintech pioneer, they use innovative technology to directly connect businesses seeking fast, affordable finance with investors who can help fund their growth.
Delve into Beehive's expansion into new markets, the strategic importance of the UAE for MENA market entry, and how they overcame challenges faced during the COVID-19 era as a lending business. Explore the recent majority acquisition by e&, and the significance of building meaningful partnerships in FinTech.
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(00:00) Introduction and Background
(04:11) Overview of Beehive
(07:41) Expanding into New Markets
(13:17) The UAE as a Starting Point for MENA Market Entry
(17:17) Navigating the Challenges of COVID-19
(21:59) The Majority Acquisition by e&
(27:12) Engaging in Meaningful Partnerships as an early stage FinTech
In this pilot video episode we hear from Khalil Osman, who is both Head of Growth & Operations at Elevate (YC W22), and Investor at Byld Ventures (Africa Head).
Elevate is a Y Combinator backed FinTech platform that allows remote workers to open USD bank accounts. Byld Ventures is an institutional venture capital firm focused on early-stage FinTech investments in the Middle East and Africa.
Discover Khalil's compelling journey bridging American and Sudanese roots, from Division 1 football to a career in NYC finance. Uncover his pivotal shift into the dynamic landscape of MENA startups and venture. Join us on ViaDubai as we explore the unique intersections and transformative moments that have shaped Khalil's exceptional narrative!
In Episode 5 we hear from Purvi Munot, Co-Founder & CEO of Sav, an app-based personalized money management ecosystem that makes saving money convenient, accessible, and rewarding for consumers.
Listen in as we discuss Purvi's journey from the relatively stable corporate world of Citi and Mastercard to launching her first venture. We learn the importance of B2G ("Business to Government") relationships, and how platforms like Hub71, the Mohammad Bin Rashid Innovation Fund, and DIFC FinTech Hive make the UAE an ideal launchpad for MENA businesses!
https://sav.money/
In episode 4 we hear from Jazel Oommen, Founder & CEO of Bankr, a FinTech company that utilizes Artificial Intelligence to analyze borrower's documents and provide an instant underwriting decision to lenders.
Listen in as we discuss his unconventional path to becoming a founder, making pivots, and taking full advantage of the UAE startup ecosystem by engaging with accelerators like DIFC Innovation Hub and Dtec Sandbox.
Website: https://www.bankrsolutions.com/
In episode 3 we hear from Ben Bolger, Co-Founder of Squirrel Education, an EdTech platform that gamifies financial literacy for students.
Listen in as we discuss Ben's journey from professional athlete to startup founder, the importance of financial literacy for children, and advice for building ventures in the UAE!
In this week's episode we hear from Ajinkya Tanpure, Founder & CEO of CrossVal, an AI enabled financial modeling platform. Listen in as we discuss his journey, traction to date, and advice for starting a venture in Dubai!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajinkyatanpure/
CrossVal: https://www.crossval.com/