VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, funds, and investment rounds.
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Hosts:
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Available on:
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Guest:
1. Salma Al-Zu'bi, Investment Principal @ Hikma Ventures
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salmazubi/
- Company Website: https://www.hikma.com/
2. Tamer Alsalah, Managing Director @ Endeavor Jordan
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamer-al-salah-20a60616/
- Company Website: https://jordan.endeavor.org/
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#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #business #ipo #acquisitions #fintech #edtech #accelerator #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
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Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by:
- OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
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News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
This Week On The VC React Podcast:
- Saudi’s HUMAIN just launched its own AI operating system! — no icons, no apps, just voice and text. Aramco and Qualcomm are in! Is this too ambitious too soon? Is it a PR stunt? or exactly the kind of aggressive moonshot the region needs to lead in AI?
- BRKZ raises $30 million in growth debt from Stride Ventures — yet another debt deal in Saudi. No equity, no hype — just solid, scalable capital for a real economy sector: construction. And what did they feed them in Careem to make such an active and successful Careem mafia?
- Tabby hits a $4.5 billion valuation in a secondary sale. Is this just investor FOMO driving up paper valuations? or global investors finally deploying capital into the region, not just raising from here, by starting with debt, now secondaries, and then growth & early VC? And when is it acceptable to do secondaries as an early stage startup?
---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, funds, and investment rounds.
---
Hosts:
---
Available on:
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Guest:
1. Mustafa Nabelsi, General Partner @ 2Pi Ventures
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafanabelsi/
- Company Website: https://2pi.vc/
2. Xavier Kris, CEO of IMX Funds
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xavkris/
- Company Website: https://www.imxfunds.com/
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#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #business #ipo #acquisitions #fintech #edtech #accelerator #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
---
Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by:
- OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
---
News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
This Week On The VC React Podcast:
- It’s GITEX week — everyone’s in Dubai, and every booth says AI. We react to Gitex and Expand Northstar.
- But there’s even bigger news from Dubai — a second tech IPO! Dubizzle is going public at a $2 billion valuation. It’s not AI, it’s not fintech — it’s classifieds… and it’s profitable. Can profitability still excite investors when the sector is not trendy? And is this really a a win for the region, or a liquidity event for Prosus?
- Over in Bahrain and Riyadh — Investcorp just closed a $750 million fund to back growth-stage tech across the GCC and China. Why China, why now — and which industries will this fund really focus on?
- And finally, from the streets of Casablanca — Chari raises $12 million to turn corner shops into fintech hubs and launch a Banking-as-a-Service platform. But can one startup really handle logistics, payments, lending, and infrastructure? And when every B2B startup ends up with embedded finance, what happens to Fintech startups?!
---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, funds, and investment rounds.
---
Hosts:
---
Available on:
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Guest:
1. Atheer AlKhalifa, Opportunity Committee Member @ OQAL Angel Investors Network
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atheerak/
- Company Website: https://oqal.org/
2. Hasan Haider, Founder and Managing Partner @ Plus VC
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hasanhaider/
- Company Website: https://plus.vc/
3. Nada Shaheen, Managing Director @ GB Ventures
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadashahen/
- Company Website: https://gb-corporation.com/
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#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #business #ipo #acquisitions #fintech #edtech #accelerator #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
---
Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by:
- OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
---
News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
This Week On The VC React Podcast:
- BECO Capital just closed $370 million across two new funds — from pre-seed all the way to IPO. Can one VC really outperform across the entire capital stack… Is MENA finally getting into the full-stack venture platform play?
- A green shoot in agritech. Egypt’s Aydi raises $7.5 million to launch its AI-powered agronomy assistant “Orth.” Is this the moment where agritech becomes truly investable, because of AI?!
- Meanwhile, the PIF is buying EA — yes, that EA! FIFA EA— for $55 billion. The U.S. forced TikTok to sell to an American buyer — and now it’s brokering a deal for a major American gaming company to be sold to a foreign one? Why?
- And finally, Revolut’s CEO just moved from London to Dubai. The global fintech migration continues — is this about growth, or just taxes?
---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, funds, and investment rounds.
---
Hosts:
---
Available on:
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Guest:
1. Akmal El Hak, Angel Investor, and CFO of Pearl Semiconductor
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akmal-el-hak-8bb2211/
- Company Website: https://www.pearlsemi.com/
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#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #business #ipo #acquisitions #fintech #edtech #accelerator #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
---
Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by:
- OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
---
News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
This Week On The VC React Podcast:
📊 Saudi is about to lift the cap on foreign ownership of public companies — does this invite long-term institutions, or fast-moving hedge funds?
🔄 In private markets — Tadawul and STV are teaming up to launch a private trading platform for startup shares. But can a true private stock exchange actually work… when most attempts globally have failed?
🤖 Over in Abu Dhabi, Presight and Shorooq just launched a $100M AI Global fund. Local capital is now going global — chasing innovation anywhere, not just locally. Is that smart, or risky?
💳 Debt is having a moment — Erad gets a $33M debt facility from Stride Ventures. Why is MENA suddenly becoming the hottest place for private debt?
🟦 And finally — open banking hype turns into reality. Saudi fintech Spare just raised $5M, powering players like Tap, Tamara, and Zid. Is this the Stripe of open banking… or a utility company everyone will have to plug into?
---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, funds, and investment rounds.
---
Hosts:
---
Available on:
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Guests:
1. Armineh Baghoomian, Managing Director, Head of EMEA, Co-Head of Global ABF/Fintech @ Partners for Growth
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/armineh-baghoomian-045262/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.pfgrowth.com/
2. C. Nichole (Grice) Rush, Managing Director @ First Rate Ventures
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholerush/
- VC Firm Website: https://firstrate.com/ventures/
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#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #business #ipo #acquisitions #fintech #edtech #accelerator #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
---
Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by:
- OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
---
News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
This Week On The VC React Podcast:
- Live from Money 20/20 Middle East in Riyadh. We’ll break down the vibe in here: what feels real, what’s just noise, and what trends are actually shaping the future of Fintech in MENA
💰 Tamara just locked in $1.4 billion in debt — yes, with a B — from Goldman, Citi, and Apollo. Is BNPL finally proving it can scale sustainably… or is it just a high-stakes leverage play?
📦 HALA raised a $157M Series B to scale its SME payment, banking, and finance services here is Saudi. Is this the Square of MENA? Or is the fintech bundle getting too heavy to carry?
📈 And finally — Robinhood wants to open startup investing to everyone. A public fund for early-stage startups? Great idea… or a recipe for a bubble!?
---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, funds, and investment rounds.
---
Hosts:
---
Available on:
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Guests:
1. Aboudi Al-Qattan, Principal @ Dash Ventures
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aboudi-al-qattan-8658abb3/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.dashventures.com/
2. Tambi Jalouqa, Founder & General Partner @ Maza Ventures
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tambijalouqa/
- VC Firm Website: https://maza.vc/
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#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #business #ipo #acquisitions #fintech #edtech #accelerator #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
---
Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by:
- OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
Events:
The place to meet other technology builders in the Middle East. 2500+ builders coming together to talk about software & product on Oct 4-5, 2025.
#XpandConference #Xpand
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News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
This Week On The VC React Podcast:
- With huge valuations, how do we price AI companies? Is this driven by actual performance, revenues, distribution, compute power — or just pure narrative and access?
- Property Finder hits $2B valuation after 13 years — but why do older startups grow slower, while newer ones scale faster than ever?
- Noon is racing toward a $10B IPO… but still not profitable. Bold move or pressure to exit soon?
- Orbii raised a $3.6M seed round to build the credit rails for SME lending in MENA by providing banks with the new tech they lack — Would this challenge the existing SME lending startups?
- And finally, a fresh $200M growth and pre-IPO fund just launched — but is there really enough growth-stage pipeline in MENA to absorb all this capital?
---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, funds, and investment rounds.
---
Hosts:
---
Available on:
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Guests:
1. Dina El-Shenoufy, Co-Founder and General Partner @ F6 Ventures, and a new Kauffman Fellow.
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinaelshenoufy/
- VC Firm Website: https://f6.vc/
2. Husameddin AlMadani, General Partner @ the newly launched 2Pi Ventures, after a decade of angel investing.
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/husameedinalmadani/
- VC Firm Website: https://2pi.vc/
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#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #business #ipo #acquisitions #fintech #edtech #accelerator #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
---
Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by:
- OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
Events:
Come watch the magic happens!! Jamie Lane and Ahmad Takatkah will be RECORDING LIVE ON-STAGE at Money20/20 Middle East in Riyadh - September 15–17, 2025.
👉 Want a 25% discount? Register here and get it now:https://register.visitcloud.com/survey/1d9x7zrqbcfpk?actioncode=MSPK2216
#Money2020MiddleEast
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News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
This Week On The VC React Podcast:
- Qatar joined Anthropic’s $13B dollar round — yes!! $13B — at a hundred and eighty three billion dollar valuation. Is Qatar investing for returns? influence? or maybe for future partnerships in their local ecosystem?
- With huge valuations, how do we price AI companies? Is this driven by actual performance, revenues, distribution, compute power — or just pure narrative and access?
- Meanwhile — there are over 10 million Egyptians living abroad — and remittances to Egypt topped $30 billion dollars last year.
- With a $3M dollar seed round, and backed by YC, Munify is building a neobank for Egyptians abroad. Can they win before Wise, or even Revolut decide to care? And what’s their B2B angle?
- And finally, have you seen Ziila?! Intella dropped a full Arabic digital human — not just voice, but video, face, dialect — the whole thing.
- Also, what happened to Siri and Alexa? And why didn't OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google Gemini give us a face with a name?!
- While everyone’s chasing LLMs, Intella is quietly building speech infrastructure — tailored specifically for Arabic dialects. How are they pulling this off… and why are so many others still trying, but no one won that race yet?!
---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, funds, and investment rounds.
---
Hosts:
---
Available on:
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Guests:
1. Ahmed AlThukair, An Active Angel Investor, with more than 30 investments and 5 exits.- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmed-al-thukair-b759b599/
2. Samer Shaaban, Opportunity Committee Member at OQAL Angel Network- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samer-shaaban-cfa-caia-ab40ab4/
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#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #business #ipo #acquisitions #fintech #edtech #accelerator #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
---
Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by:
- OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
Events:Come watch the magic happens!! Jamie Lane and Ahmad Takatkah will be RECORDING LIVE ON-STAGE at Money20/20 Middle East in Riyadh - September 15–17, 2025.
👉 Want a 25% discount? Register here and get it now:https://register.visitcloud.com/survey/1d9x7zrqbcfpk?actioncode=MSPK2216#Money2020MiddleEast
---
News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
This Week On The VC React Podcast:
🎮 $53 million dollars into a Baloot game?! Kammelna Got acquired by Impact46 — is this the beginning of Marvel-style IP coming out of the region? (when we first got the news we thought it was an investment) Is Impact46 sending a bold message to global investors: we’re building the champions before you show up.
🏡 Although Airbnb, Booking, and Expedia are already here, Gathern which is a female led startup in Saudi, raises a $72M series B — … how are they still winning? And is Saudi Arabia’s domestic tourism market finally big enough to carry a regional startup all the way to IPO? Also, why don’t we see more female-led startups in MENA?
🏦 Holo is digitizing the entire mortgage experience — but at the end of the day, it’s still an aggregator. In 2025, is aggregation still a good business model? Or is it just a hook and the real value is in owning the full financial stack in proptech?
🤖 And finally — Saudi enters the foundation model race. With the launch of Allam and Humain Chat, what’s the actual edge against OpenAI?
---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, funds, and investment rounds.
---
Hosts:
---
Available on:
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Guests:
1. Fahad Alfaez, Investment Manager @ Jahez
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fahad-alfaez-830281166/
- VC Firm Website: https://jahezgroup.com/
2. Hussein Attar, CEO @ Tech Invest Com
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/husseinattar/
- VC Firm Website: https://techinvestcom.com/
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#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #business #ipo #acquisitions #fintech #edtech #accelerator #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
---
Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by:
- OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
---
News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
This Week On The VC React Podcast:
🔁 Robinhood is expanding to Dubai. Big U.S. and European unicorns like Binance, Shopify, Stripe, Revolut, and now Robinhood are entering the GCC directly. Is this a sign that MENA is seen as an attractive emerging market? And does this mean local startups are forced to compete on a global level now?
🧠 If the old MENA-VC playbook was: copy and hope to get acquired… what happens when the copied ones just … walk into your market? What does that mean for the local copies? How are founders and investors reacting to this?
🎮 While the world is chasing AI, MENA is doubling down on gaming — with funding rounds coming in bulk: 17 game studios from Merak’s accelerator, and 5 more from Impact46 — what’s really happening here?
💸 Can just one or two funds create a whole industry? Is Merak’s full-stack capital model … the future of building regional categories from scratch?
📚 With all this funding, should local game developers lead with local stories and globalize later, or go global-first and localize later?
💬 Finally, how can VC firms better communicate their brand and investment thesis to attract founders and LPs.
---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds.
---
Hosts:
---
Available on:
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Guests:
1. Ali Almajthoob, Partner @ MEVP
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alialmajthoob/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.mevp.com/
2. Aly El Shalakany, Venture Partner @ A-typical Ventures
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aly-el-shalakany-a6aa0b31/
- VC Firm Website: https://a-typicalventures.com/
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#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #business #ipo #acquisitions #fintech #edtech #accelerator #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
---
Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by:
- OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
---
News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
In Today's Episode:
- A $48M Series A for Alaan الآن?! Corporate expense management has officially become a red ocean in MENA, with Alaan, Qashio, Pluto, Nqoodlet, and others. Is this going to be a winner-takes-all game, or will there be vertical domination? And can those companies be challenged by Neo corporate banks with similar services like Brex, Mercury and Revolut Business? or will they evolve into banks themselves?
- Salasa | سلاسة wants to be the AI-powered logistics backbone of e-commerce in MENA. But is AI really a game-changer in e-commerce fulfillment? How is AI helping here? And How is Salasa eating Aramex’s lunch?
- Wuilt ditched the ARR model, went fully free in Egypt, and onboarded 20,000 merchants. Is this genius or desperate? Would this challenge Salla E-Commerce Platform and Zid | زد? Also are we entering a new era where the product is free again with no subscriptions but monetized through fintech instead of advertising?
- And finally — آفاق المالية | Afaq Capital just bought an entire VC portfolio, in a landmark secondaries deal. Is this the beginning of a real liquidity market in MENA? Will secondaries outperform primaries? And where are the secondaries dedicated funds in MENA?
---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds.
---
Hosts:
---
Available on:
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Guests:
1. Mian Manoff, Founding Partner @ CLNM Capital
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mianfan/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.clnm.capital/
2. Philipe Moura, Founder & CEO @ Vinci Ventures and Chairman of FDC Angels
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipemoura/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fdcangels/
3. Santiago Rojas, managing partner @ Meridian 75 by Cube Ventures and MKF group
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santiagorojasmontoya/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.cube.ventures/
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#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #business #ipo #acquisitions #fintech #edtech #accelerator #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
---
Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by:
- MilkStraw AI — The AI that finds hidden savings in your AWS bills, sometimes up to 75%, freeing up capital for growth, hiring, or building faster. See how much you could save in 60 seconds and how much further your runway can go at MilkStraw.aiWebsite: https://www.milkstraw.ai/
- OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
---
News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
In Today's Episode:
- Meta Now Tries Poaching From Mira Murati's AI Startup As Zuckerberg’s Hiring Blitz Continues.
Summary: According to a Wired report, Zuckerberg and his team have approached more than a dozen people at the barely six-month-old company founded by the former CTO of OpenAI. Quoting unnamed sources, the publication reported that one of those offers was more than $1 billion over a multi-year span.
- Calo closes $39M Series B extension, pushing total raise to $64M for global expansion and AI-powered personalisation
Summary: Riyadh-headquartered meal subscription startup, Calo, has raised $39 million (SAR 146.27 million) in a Series B extension led by AlJazira Capital, bringing its total Series B funding to $64 million (SAR 240 million). Founded in late 2019 by Ahmed Al Rawiand Moayed Almoayed.
- Sawt raises $1M to build Arabic AI voice agents for call center automation
Summary: Sawt, a Saudi-based startup building AI-native voice call systems, has raised $1 million (SAR 3.75 million) in a pre-seed round led by STV and T2. The company is developing Arabic-language voice agents for use in customer support, bookings, and sales, targeting an underserved niche in the GCC’s AI infrastructure stack. Founded earlier this year by Abdulmalik Al-Saeed, Khalid Al-Jaraiwi, and Bassem Al-Harbi.
- Lean Technologies gains regulatory approval under UAE’s Open Finance Framework
Summary: Lean Technologies, a financial infrastructure provider serving MENA, has received In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the Central Bank of the UAE under the country’s newly launched Open Finance Framework. Founded in 2019 by Hisham Al-Falih, Ashu Gupta, and Aditya Sarkar.
---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds.
---
Hosts:
---
Available on:
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Guests:
1. Abe Seksek, An Angel Investor & Host of the ABEZ Show
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abeseksek/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.thelaunchventures.com/
2. Amer Nasereddin, VC at Fikr Ventures, Board Member & Co-founder @ Yaseer
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amernasereddin/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.fikrventures.com/
3. Chada El Islam Benmahcene, CEO @ ENTROGX Ventures, & Co-founder @ Women Collective
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benchada/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrogx
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#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #business #ipo #acquisitions #fintech #edtech #accelerator #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
---
Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by:
- MilkStraw AI — The AI that finds hidden savings in your AWS bills, sometimes up to 75%, freeing up capital for growth, hiring, or building faster. See how much you could save in 60 seconds and how much further your runway can go at MilkStraw.aiWebsite: https://www.milkstraw.ai/
- OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
---
News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
In Today's Episode:
- “Not thrilled about it”: Anthropic rethinks Gulf capital stance to fund AI growth
Summary: In a leaked internal memo, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei confirms that the company is now exploring investment from the UAE and Qatar – a reversal of its 2024 stance on Gulf capital, when it declined funding from Saudi Arabia over “national‑security concerns.”
- Elon Musk’s xAI eyes Saudi Arabia for next wave of data centre expansion
Summary: Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, xAI, is in early talks to lease data centre capacity in Saudi Arabia, as it hunts for energy-rich regions with capital depth and geopolitical alignment to scale its compute infrastructure, according to Bloomberg.
- Qlub raises $30M to take UAE-born dining payments platform global
Summary: Qlub allows customers to instantly scan a QR code to view the menu, order, split the bill, and pay without waiting for a server or using a card machine. Founded in 2021 by Eyad Alkassar and Mahmoud Fouz, Qlub has quickly become a go-to digital layer for the hospitality sector. Its new funding round, co-led by long-time backers Shorooq Partners and Cherry Ventures, also saw participation from telecom giant e&, sovereign investor Mubadala, and Legend Capital.
- 500 Global launches $300M Sustainable Growth initiative from new Abu Dhabi base
Summary: 500 Global is doubling down on emerging markets with the launch of a new Sustainable Growth practice based in Abu Dhabi and plans to deploy up to $300 million into startups solving critical challenges across Africa, Brazil, India, and the Gulf over the next two years.
---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds.
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Hosts:
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Available on:
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Guests:
1. Arjun Chopra, VC @ Khwarizmi Ventures
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjun-chopra-170146168/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.khwarizmivc.com/
2. Asia Kabel, Investment Manager @ Arzan VC
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-kabel-cfa-527749148/
- VC Firm Website: https://arzanvc.com/
3. Firas Atwa, Senior Associate @ Algebra Ventures
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/firasatwa/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.algebraventures.com/
4. Mohamad Khawaja, Founding Partner @ Fikr Ventures
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khawaja/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.fikrventures.com/
---
#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #business #ipo #acquisitions #fintech #edtech #accelerator #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
---
Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by:
- MilkStraw AI — The AI that finds hidden savings in your AWS bills, sometimes up to 75%, freeing up capital for growth, hiring, or building faster. See how much you could save in 60 seconds and how much further your runway can go at MilkStraw.aiWebsite: https://www.milkstraw.ai/
- OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
---
News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
In Today's Episode:
- Saudi's Lucidya raises $30M Series B led by Impact46 to expand Arabic-language AI and digital workforce offering
Summary: The round was led by Impact46, the Riyadh-based VC behind IPOs like Jahez and Rasan. Wa’ed Ventures, Takamol Ventures, SparkLabs, and returning backers Rua Growth Fund and ARG. Founded in 2016 by Abdullah Asiri and Dr. Zuhair Khayyat.
- ORA Technologies closes $7.5M Series A to deepen digital payments and last-mile reach in Morocco
Summary: The round was led by Azur Innovation Fund, joined by three unnamed strategic investors, bringing its total local fundraising to $11.9 million since January 2023. Founded by Omar Alami in 2023, ORA has taken an ambitious swing at building Morocco’s first true SuperApp.
- Saudi’s Yasmina raises $2M Seed to embed insurance into everyday transactions
Summary: The round was co-led by Scene Holding and Access Bridge Ventures, with participation from Arzan VC, and the Sanabil Investment Accelerator by 500 MENA. Founded in 2023 by Masoud Alhelou and Bashar Abalkhail, Yasmina integrates insurance directly into digital customer journeys.
- Windsurf’s CEO goes to Google; OpenAI’s acquisition falls apart, Google gets non‑exclusive license to Windsurf’s tech and hiring away CEO Varun Mohan, co‑founder Douglas Chen and key researchers, and most of Windsurf’s 250‑person staff will go to Cognition AI.
- Meta acquires PlayAI, a US-based voice AI startup led by Egyptian founder
Summary: Meta has acquired PlayAI, a California-based voice AI company founded and led by Egyptian engineer Mahmoud Felfel and Hammad Syed in 2020.
---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds.
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Hosts:
---
Available on:
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Guests:
1. Chada El Islam Benmahcene, CEO of ENTROGX Ventures, co-founder @ Women Collective, and among the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Dubai.
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benchada/
- Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrogx/
- Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/womencollective/
2. Rummana Dada, Managing Partner @ Vitality Capital, co-founder @ Women Collective, and a SharkTank investor! A tough one!
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romannadada/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.vitality.capital/
- Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/womencollective/
---
#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #privatecredit #privateequity #finance #business #ipo #acquisitions #limitedpartners #revenuebasedfinancing #fintech #climatetech #edtech #accelerator #cvc #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
---
Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by:
- MilkStraw AI — The AI that finds hidden savings in your AWS bills, sometimes up to 75%, freeing up capital for growth, hiring, or building faster. See how much you could save in 60 seconds and how much further your runway can go at MilkStraw.aiWebsite: https://www.milkstraw.ai/
- OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
---
News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
In Today's Episode:
- Saudi's Jahez acquires 76.56% of Qatar’s Snoonu in $245 Million deal to expand GCC footprint
Summary: Saudi-based Jahez Group is acquiring a 76.56% stake in Snoonu, the leading e-commerce and delivery platform in Qatar, for $245 million in a mixed cash and share transaction, valuing Snoonu at $320M and cementing its status as Qatar’s first tech startup to surpass a QAR 1 billion valuation.
- UAE proptech Huspy raises $59M Series B to double down on operations across the Middle East and expand in Europe
Summary: UAE-based proptech Huspy has raised $59 million in a Series B round led by Balderton Capital, with continued participation from Peak XV Partners, ExBorder Partners, Turmeric Capital, BY Venture Partners, DARA CAPITAL, and KE Partners. Founded in 2020 by Jad Antoun and Khalid Ashmawy, Huspy provides real estate agents and mortgage brokers with high commissions, powerful technology, and a unified infrastructure.
- Dubai-based XPANCEO raises $250M Series A at $1.35B valuation to advance smart contact lenses
Summary: UAE-based XPANCEO has raised $250 million in Series A funding to build smart contact lenses capable of augmented vision, real-time health monitoring, and device-level computing, all from within the human eye, per Bloomberg. The round was led by Opportunity Venture (Asia) Ltd. Founded in 2021 by Russian entrepreneur Roman Axelrod and Ukrainian physicist Valentyn Volkov.
- Startup founders and others in tech call on Sequoia Capital to act after a partner called Zohran Mamdani an 'Islamist'
---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds.
---
Hosts:
---
Available on:
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Guests:
1. Abe Seksek, Angel Investor and Host of the ABEZ Show
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abeseksek/
- Website: https://www.abezshow.com/
2. Atheer AlKhalifa, Angel Investor with Oqal Angel Group
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atheerak/
- VC Firm Website: https://oqal.org/
---
#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #privatecredit #privateequity #finance #business #ipo #acquisitions #limitedpartners #revenuebasedfinancing #fintech #climatetech #edtech #accelerator #cvc #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
---
Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
---
News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
In Today's Episode:
- Ninja becomes Saudi Arabia’s latest tech unicorn with $250M raise ahead of 2027 IPO
Summary: Ninja, the Saudi-based quick commerce startup founded by HungerStation’s Ebrahim Al-Jassim, has raised around $250 million in new funding from Riyad Capital and local investors, reaching a reported valuation of $1.5 billion and becoming one of the Kingdom’s newest tech unicorns. Founded in 2022 by Al-Jassim, Saud Al Qahtani, and Canberk Donmez, Ninja began as a grocery delivery platform and has since expanded to include food delivery. It operates across Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait. The company is reportedly targeting a public listing by 2027.
- PetroApp raises $50M to expand digital fuel platform, targets 2028 IPO
Summary: Jadwa Investment has committed $45 million to PetroApp, a Saudi digital fuel payment and fleet management platform, as part of a $50 million round that also included Abu Dhabi-based Bunat Ventures. Founded in 2018 Abdulaziz Alsenan, PetroApp offers digital fuel payment and fleet management solutions. It now manages more than 500,000 vehicles for over 10,000 corporate clients, operating across 5,000 fuel stations in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Thailand, and Nigeria.
- Impact46 backs Spekter Games in $5M seed round to expand global gaming footprint
Summary: Spekter Games has raised $5 million in seed funding to build crypto-integrated games for social platforms, with the round led by a16z Speedrun and participation from Impact46, London Bay Venture Partners, BRV Capital Management, Chamaeleon, Accelerator Ventures, and Alumni Ventures. Founded in 2024 by Taehoon Kim, Spekter Games is building web3-hybrid games that integrate blockchain elements without sacrificing gameplay. Its first title, Spekter Agency, is live on Telegram, offering social gameplay with crypto-native incentives built in.
- OpenAI Loses 4 Key Researchers to Meta
Summary: Four senior researchers—Shengjia Zhao, Shuchao Bi, Jiahui Yu and Hongyu Ren—have quit OpenAI and moved to Meta’s newly announced super-intelligence team, where they will work under Alexandr Wang (now Meta’s chief AI officer) and Nat Friedman.
---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds.
---
Hosts:
---
Available on:
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Guests:1. Ivo Detelinov, General Partner @ Salica Oryx Fund
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivodetelinov/
- VC Firm Website: https://salicainvestments.com/
2. Basem Abu Dagga, Co-Founder @ The Learning Curve Holdings
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/basem-abu-dagga-pevc/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.reimagined.cc/
3. Salem Washeely, Partner @ Sadu Capital
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salem-w-40276554/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.sadu.vc/
---
#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #privatecredit #privateequity #finance #business #ipo #acquisitions #limitedpartners #revenuebasedfinancing #fintech #climatetech #edtech #accelerator #cvc #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
---
Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
---
News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
In Today's Episode:
- Valu begins trading on EGX with Amazon as investorSummary: Valu made its market debut on Monday, becoming the first consumer finance company to list on the Egyptian Exchange. Shares trading under the ticker VALU.CA surged 852% on day one. In parallel, Amazon converted a long-standing option into a 3.95% direct stake, acquiring shares at EGP 6.041 per share, giving the $2 trillion firm a rare, strategic entry point into MENA fintech.
- Careem announces end of ride-hailing service in Pakistan from next monthSummary: Careem will suspend its ride-hailing service operations in Pakistan from July after nearly a decade in the industry, its CEO announced on Wednesday, adding that its journey in the country would continue “in a different role”. Mudassir Sheikha, Careem’s CEO and co-founder, shared a post on LinkedIn announcing “a new chapter” for the company.
- AppliedAI closes oversubscribed $55M Series A with backing from MEVP, G42, Bessemer, and e&Summary: AppliedAI has closed a $55 million oversubscribed Series A round with participation from Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP), G42, Bessemer Venture Partners, and strategic partner e&. Its enterprise-grade platform, Opus, is powered by a Large Work Model (LWM) and a proprietary Work Knowledge Graph (WKG), designed to handle complex workflows with precision and scale.
- OpenAI designs rival to Office and Workspace, The Information reportsSummary: OpenAI is developing productivity features for ChatGPT that would position the company as a competitor to Google Workspace and Microsoft Office, according to a report from The Information.
---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds.
---
Hosts:
---
Available on:
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Guests:
1. Ally Salama, An angel investor with Qora71
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allysalama/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.superordinary.co/
2. Hadi Halabi, CEO @ Stryde
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hadihalabi/
- VC Firm Website: https://gostryde.com/
3. Youssef Salem, Founder @ Qora71
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssefsamysalem/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.qora71.com/
---
#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #privatecredit #privateequity #finance #business #ipo #acquisitions #limitedpartners #revenuebasedfinancing #fintech #climatetech #edtech #accelerator #cvc #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
---
Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
---
News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
In Today's Episode:
- Exclusive: Stryde Acquires Qora71Summary: As part of the deal, Qora71 will be rebranded as Stryde71 and serve as Stryde’s new venture investment arm. Qora71 was launched five months ago through Hub71 in Abu Dhabi. In that time, it built a network of more than 100 angel investors, participated in over 50 startup investments, and deployed more than $2 million into startups across various sectors. As part of the acquisition, Youssef Salem, who led Qora71, will join Stryde as a Partner.
- Abu Dhabi-based eVoost AI has raised seed funding from Qora71 to scale its AI-native real estate sales platform globally.Summary: Founded in 2024 by Cristian G. Pastrana, eVoost replaces the traditional real estate sales funnel with AI-powered virtual agents that personalise buyer journeys through emotional profiling.
- Collectibles investing: Human-sized Labubu doll sells for more than $150,000 Summary: A human-sized Labubu doll was sold this week for a record 1.08m yuan ($150,324; £110,465), according to a Chinese auction house. Labubu dolls are quirky monster characters created a decade ago by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, which have increased in popularity in recent years after a number of celebrity endorsements.
- Content investing: Creator North is making its official debut at Cannes Lions International Festival of CreativitySummary: Creator North is making its official debut at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, and it's coming in loud. With Waleed Laham bringing the Arab creator powerhouse to the global stage with: Ahmed Elghandour (Da7ee7), Haifa Beseisso (Fly with Haifa), Ahmed Albasheer (Lagash), and many more.
---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds.
---
Hosts:
---
Available on:
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Guests:
1. Karima El Hakim, Country Director for Egypt and Co-Director Africa @ Plug and Play Tech Center
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karimaelhakim/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/
2. Mo Salah, Founding Partner @ Pitlane Ventures
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisismosalah/
- VC Firm Website: https://pitlane.ventures/
3. Waleed Al Ballaa, Managing Partner @ Sukna Ventures
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ballaa/
- VC Firm Website: https://suknaventures.com/
---
#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #privatecredit #privateequity #finance #business #ipo #acquisitions #limitedpartners #revenuebasedfinancing #fintech #climatetech #edtech #accelerator #cvc #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
---
Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
---
News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
In Today's Episode:
- Valu prepares EGX debut after securing 25% market share in consumer financeSummary: Egypt's buy now pay later (BNPL) fintech Valu has announced its intention to list on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) following an in-kind dividend distribution by parent company EFG Holding. Valu's shares were officially listed on 21 May 2025, and trading is expected to commence the week of 22 June 2025, pending regulatory approvals. Valu is a subsidiary of EFG Hermes Holding.
- Sukna Fund provides $20 million credit facility to OCTASummary: UAE-based fintech Octa has raised $20 million in a credit facility from Sukna Fund for Direct Financing (SFDF). Co-founded by Jon Santillan, Andrey Korchak, and Nupur Mittal in 2024, OCTA automates financial operations for SMEs — covering invoicing, payments, collections, and now embedded credit.
- Egypt’s Octane raises $5.2 million to digitize fleet payments across MENASummary: Egyptian fintech Octane has raised $5.2 million in a funding round led by Shorooq Partners, Algebra Ventures, and SC Holding. The Cairo-based startup, co-founded by Amr Gamal and Ziad Eladawy in 2022, provides a digital platform that consolidates all fleet-related expenses—including fuel, maintenance, and petty cash—into a single closed-loop wallet.
- HUMAIN and Replit Enable a Nation of AI CodersSummary: Replit and HUMAIN, the PIF-backed AI company, have partnered to make AI-powered coding tools accessible across Saudi Arabia. The collaboration includes a localised version of Replit hosted on HUMAIN Cloud for sovereign data residency, integration of HUMAIN’s Arabic-first LLM (ALLAM), and co-developed education programs to bring AI coding agents to students, professionals, and government teams.
---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds.
---
Hosts:
The newly published "MENA VC Playbook": https://archives.fwdstart.me/p/how-to-build-a-strong-dealflow-pipeline
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Available on:
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Guests:
1. Brant Meyer, Partner @ Trac.vc | xFBI Analyst
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brant-meyer-27846221b/
- VC Firm Website: http://www.trac.vc/
2. Elliott Denham, Head of Programs @ Oraseya Capital
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliott-denham/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.oraseyacapital.com/
---
#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #privatecredit #privateequity #finance #business #ipo #acquisitions #limitedpartners #revenuebasedfinancing #fintech #climatetech #edtech #accelerator #cvc #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
---
Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
---
News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
In Today's Episode:
- Expensya founders return with Thunder Code, raise $9M to automate software testing with AISummary: Paris- and Tunis-based Thunder Code has raised $9 million in Seed funding to rethink how software is tested, using AI agents instead of humans. Founded by Karim Jouini and Jihed Othmani, the team behind Expensya, Thunder Code is their follow-up to one of Africa’s biggest tech exits. Thunder Code replaces that process with autonomous AI agents that test like real users: flagging UI bugs, reviewing specs, simulating flows, and offering product feedback. The product shipped six weeks in, and the company already has customers and pilots live in the U.S., France, Tunisia, and Canada. The $9 million seed round includes Silicon Badia, Janngo Capital, Titan Seed Fund, and angels like Roxanne Varza (Station F) and Karim Beguir (InstaDeep).
- Qanooni raises $2M to accelerate legal AI expansion across the UAE and UKSummary: Qanooni, a UAE-based legal tech startup, has raised $2 million in a pre-seed round, backed by Village Global, Oryx Fund, TA Ventures, and a group of angel investors. Founded in 2024 by Anuscha Iqbal, Ziyaad Ahmed, and Karim Shiyab, Qanooni is focused on using AI to enhance how lawyers work. The platform simplifies drafting and reviewing legal documents by integrating directly into tools like Outlook and Word.
- Tunisia's Kumulus Water closes $3.5 million seed roundSummary: Kumulus Water, a startup launched in 2021 between France and Tunisia, has raised $3.5 million in a seed round to scale its off-grid water production technology. The round was backed by Bpifrance (via France 2030 SGPI and the Île-de-France Region), regional VCs like PlusVC, Khalys Venture, Flat6Labs, and Spadel, alongside several family offices and startup founders from Europe and North Africa. Founded by Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid, Kumulus designs atmospheric water generators that extract drinking water from air humidity without the need for infrastructure—ideal for underserved areas.
---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds.
---
Hosts:
---
Available on:
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Guests:
1. Hasan Haider, Founder and Managing Partner at +VC
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hasanhaider/
- VC Firm Website: http://www.plus.vc/
2. Laith Kassis, The OG of the startup ecosystem in Palestine
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laithkassis/
3. Romain Assunção, Managing Partner @ Antler
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romainassuncao/
- VC Firm Website: http://www.antler.co/
---
#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #privatecredit #privateequity #finance #business #ipo #acquisitions #limitedpartners #revenuebasedfinancing #fintech #climatetech #edtech #accelerator #cvc #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
---
Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.
Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free.
---
News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
In Today's Episode:
- G42 partners with OpenAI, Nvidia & Cisco to launch Stargate UAE, a 1GW AI megaproject
- QIA-backed unicorn Builder.ai files for insolvency despite $450M in funding
- EQIQ doubles fund to $30 million to accelerate Iraq’s digital economySummary: Abu Dhabi-based EQIQ, a venture capital fund and venture builder focused on Iraq, is doubling its fund size from $15 million to $30 million to deepen its investments in Iraq’s digital economy.
- Toolmart secures seed funding to accelerate expansion plansSummary: Iraq-based B2B e-commerce startup Toolmart has secured a seed funding round for an unknown amount, led by Plus VC and Oasis500, with participation from other regional angel investors. Founded in 2022 by Shawkat Shegem, Ahmed Al Hinti, and Nadeem Al Salem, Toolmart offers a tech-enabled, inventory-light procurement platform that helps large enterprises cut sourcing time, reduce costs, and improve procurement efficiency.
- Prypco launches UAE’s first DLD-approved real estate tokenisation pilotSummary: Prypco, a Dubai-based proptech platform founded by Amira Sajwani, has launched its first-ever pilot enabling UAE residents to invest in tokenised real estate — marking a major milestone in the city’s push to lead in real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation. The pilot, approved by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) and the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), allows Emirate ID holders to co-invest in fractional property ownership via blockchain.
- Egyptian founder Ozzie Osman’s Monarch raises $75M Series B to become the new leader in personal financeSummary: Monarch, a San Francisco-based personal finance platform co-founded by Egypt-born entrepreneur Ozzie Osman, has raised $75 million in a Series B round led by Forerunner Ventures and FPV Ventures — bringing its valuation to $850 million. Founded in 2018 by Osman, Val Agostino (formerly of Mint), and Jon Sutherland, Monarch was designed from day one as a subscription-based alternative to ad-supported personal finance tools.
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