VC React Podcast

By: Ahmad Takatkah (VCpreneur)
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  • Summary

  • Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds. Stay tuned for: expert analysis, independent opinions, and maybe some heated conversations! Host: Ahmad Takatkah, VCpreneur Sign up to VCpreneur Newsletter on https://www.vcpreneur.com/ Co-Host: Jamie Lane, FWDstart Sign up to FWDstart Newsletter on https://www.fwdstart.me/ #startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #founders #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #privatecredit #finance #business #ipo #acquisitions #revenuebasedfinancing #fintech #web3
    Ahmad Takatkah (VCpreneur)
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Economics Personal Finance
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Episodes
  • VC React Podcast (E19): More Global VCs In MENA, Talabat IPO, The AI Startup That Got Away, & More

    VC React Podcast (E19): More Global VCs In MENA, Talabat IPO, The AI Startup That Got Away, & More
    Nov 14 2024
    VC React Podcast: Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds. Stay tuned for: expert analysis, independent opinions, and maybe some heated conversations! Hosts: Ahmad Takatkah, VCpreneur. Sign up to VCpreneur Newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.vcpreneur.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jamie Lane, FWDstart. Sign up to FWDstart Newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fwdstart.me/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Available on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube: VC React Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify: VC React Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple: VC React Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon: VC React Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Guests: 1. Omar Sati, Managing Partner @ Dash Ventures - LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ojsati/ - VC Firm Website: https://www.dashventures.com/ 2. Yana El Dirani, Head of MENA @ Endeavor Catalyst - LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yana-el-dirani/ - VC Firm Website: https://endeavor.org/ 3. Zafer Younis, Founder & CEO @ Silicon Valley Venture & Innovation (SVVI) - LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaferyounis/ - VC Firm Website: https://www.svvi.co/ --- #startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #privatecredit #privateequity #finance #business #ipo #acquisitions #limitedpartners #revenuebasedfinancing #fintech #climatechange #edtech #accelerator #cvc #web3 #crypto #blockchain #DeFi --- News of the week brought to you by FWDstart. In Today's Episode: - Silicon Valley’s General Catalyst makes first investment into Saudi Arabia through fintech Lean Technologies Source: CNBC Summary: Silicon Valley venture capital firm General Catalyst has made its first investment in Saudi Arabia through fintech startup Lean Technologies, which just closed a Series B round worth $67.5 million. Lean Technologies’ fundraising round also saw participation from Bain Capital Ventures, Stanley Druckenmiller’s Duquesne Family Office, and Arbor Ventures, among others, bringing the Riyadh-based firm’s total funding to over $100 million to date. - Talabat Eyes IPO That May Value It More Than Delivery Hero Source: Bloomberg Summary: Delivery Hero SE’s Middle Eastern subsidiary is looking to diversify beyond its core business of food and groceries delivery, a top executive said, after the firm teed up a share sale that could value it more than its parent company. Talabat is eying verticals including health care, beauty, pharmacy, pet services and fintech, its Chief Executive Officer Tomaso Rodriguez said in an interview. Analysts at Emirates NBD said Talabat was debt free, compared to Delivery Hero’s $3.5 billion of borrowings, and operated in one of two regions that positively contributed to the German firm’s Ebitda in 2023. Delivery Hero is selling a 15% stake in the business. Investors can submit orders until Nov. 27, and shares are expected to start trading on or around Dec. 10. - Generative AI startup Writer raises $200M at a $1.9B valuation Source: Techcrunch Summary: Writer has raised $200 million at a $1.9 billion valuation to expand its enterprise-focused generative AI platform. Writer CEO May Habib says the new cash, which brings the startup’s total raised to $326 million, will be used for product development and “cementing the company’s leadership in the enterprise generative AI category.” Writer was founded in 2020 by Habib and Waseem AlShikh. - Astra Tech founder Abdallah Abu Sheikh is selling his stake, steps down as CEO Source: Gulfnews Summary: Abdallah Abu Sheikh, co-founder and CEO of Astra Tech, one of UAE’s high-profile fintechs and owner of the video-calling app Botim, is exiting from the business. He will be selling his stake in Astra Tech to existing shareholders. --- (أحمد طقاطقه) ---
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    56 mins
  • VC React Podcast (E18): DeepTech and TelecomTech News, Revenue Based Fund, More Global VCs in MENA

    VC React Podcast (E18): DeepTech and TelecomTech News, Revenue Based Fund, More Global VCs in MENA
    Nov 7 2024
    VC React Podcast: Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds. Stay tuned for: expert analysis, independent opinions, and maybe some heated conversations! Hosts: Ahmad Takatkah, VCpreneur. Sign up to VCpreneur Newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.vcpreneur.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jamie Lane, FWDstart. Sign up to FWDstart Newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fwdstart.me/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Available on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube: VC React Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify: VC React Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple: VC React Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon: VC React Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Guests: 1. Asher Siddiqui, General Partner @ Sukna Ventures - LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashersiddiqui/ - VC Firm Website: https://suknaventures.com/ 2. Jamil Shinawi, Founding Partner @ Actual VC - LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamilshinawi/ - VC Firm Website: https://www.actual.vc/ 3. Omar Rebhan, Founding Partner @ Saudi Angel Investors - LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orebhan/ - VC Firm Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/saudi-angels/ --- #startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #privatecredit #privateequity #finance #business #ipo #acquisitions #limitedpartners #revenuebasedfinancing #fintech #climatechange #edtech #accelerator #cvc #web3 #crypto #blockchain #DeFi --- News of the week brought to you by FWDstart. In Today's Episode: - $300 million Beta Lab Fund launches to back Saudi, Asian deeptech startups Summary: Saudi fund and studio specializing in deeptech Beta Lab has kicked off with a capital of $300 million on the first day of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) 2024. The fund aims to support the growth of startups and foster cross-border innovation between the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Beta Lab represents a partnership between Saudi Ministry of Investment, the Research, Development, and Innovation Authority, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), and MDI Ventures by Telkom Indonesia. - General Atlantic announces Riyadh Office opening as firm expands in the Middle East Summary: Global growth investor General Atlantic has opened a new office in Riyadh. With nearly $1 billion invested across the MENAT region — including stakes in eyewa, Property Finder, and Trendyol — the firm aims to deepen its support for local entrepreneurs in sectors like tech, healthcare, fintech, consumer markets, and climate tech. - Arzan VC launches Revenya Capital to back MENA startups Summary: Kuwait-based VC firm Arzan Venture Capital has partnered with Ahmad Takatkah to launch Revenya Capital, a revenue-based financing (RBF) firm focused on empowering tech startups in the MENA region. With an initial seed investment of $2 million from Arzan VC and Arzan Financial Group (AFG) and a credit facility from AFG’s network, Revenya Capital aims to fill the growing demand for non-dilutive financing options in the region. Revenya Capital plans to work closely with venture capital firms to provide their portfolio companies with short-term, non-dilutive financing for various needs. - NorthLadder completes $10 million Series B led by tali ventures Summary: UAE-based device trade-in platform NorthLadder has closed its Series B at $10 million, led by stc Group’s tali ventures, Dutch Founders Fund and Crescent Ventures. Founded in 2021 by Mihin Shah and Sandeep Shetty, NorthLadder is a trade-in platform for pre-owned electronics with an automated assessment journey and home pickups. The funding will fuel NorthLadder's global expansion efforts and the development of its state-of-the-art trade-in platform. NorthLadder has recently established its European operations in Amsterdam and is poised to launch trade-ins with key partners further across Europe. --- (أحمد طقاطقه) ---
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • VC React Podcast (E17): PIF vs NDF, What's an AI Startup, The AI Future, NICE Non-Dilutive Capital

    VC React Podcast (E17): PIF vs NDF, What's an AI Startup, The AI Future, NICE Non-Dilutive Capital
    Oct 31 2024
    VC React Podcast: Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds. Stay tuned for: expert analysis, independent opinions, and maybe some heated conversations! Hosts: Ahmad Takatkah, VCpreneur. Sign up to VCpreneur Newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.vcpreneur.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jamie Lane, FWDstart. Sign up to FWDstart Newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fwdstart.me/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Available on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube: VC React Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify: VC React Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple: VC React Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon: VC React Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Guests: 1. Abdullah AlEssa, Investment Associate @ Vision Ventures - LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullah-kais-alessa/ - VC Firm Website: https://visionvc.co/ 2. Jamil Shinawi, Founding Partner @ Actual VC - LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamilshinawi/ - VC Firm Website: https://www.actual.vc/ 3. Kaan Akın, Managing Partner & CCO @ Tenity - LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaana/ - VC Firm Website: https://www.tenity.com/ --- #startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #privatecredit #privateequity #finance #business #ipo #acquisitions #limitedpartners #revenuebasedfinancing #fintech #climatechange #edtech #accelerator #cvc #web3 #crypto #blockchain #DeFi --- News of the week brought to you by FWDstart. In Today's Episode: - PIF renews focus on domestic investment and AI Summary: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is planning to reduce its foreign investments to around a fifth of its total assets under management, as it focuses on domestic funding and artificial intelligence, its governor said on Tuesday. “AI alone could add $20 trillion to the global economy by 2030. By 2027 AI’s role as an economic driver will become a benchmark of national power.” “The reason we are investing in AI is that Saudi Arabia is very well positioned to be a global hub, not only a regional hub, for many reasons. “One, there is very efficient utilisation and low cost of energy. Two, massive lands. Three – it’s not only fossil fuels we have – we have most of the technologies in renewable energy.” - Saudi Aramco’s venture capital arm allocates $100m to invest in AI start-ups Summary: Saudi Aramco's venture capital arm Waed Ventures has earmarked $100 million to invest in early-stage artificial intelligence start-ups as Saudi Arabia seeks to diversify its economy and shift to growing non-oil sectors. The move will contribute towards “positioning the kingdom as a global AI hub, generating a strong pipeline of global early-stage AI start-ups”, the company said on Sunday. An advisory board consisting of global leaders in AI has been appointed by Wa’ed Ventures to support strategic deal sourcing and accelerate localisation for global start-ups. The board members come from diverse backgrounds, and included experts who have worked in Meta, Amazon, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Oxford and other institutions, the statement said. - Saudi's STV and others invest $8 million in invygo as company seeks profitability Summary: Saudi Arabia-headquartered mobility startup invygo has raised an $8 million Series A extension provided by STV’s newly launched NICE Fund, as well as existing investors including Al Rajhi Partners, Arab Bank Ventures, SPV, MEVP, and C5. invygo, founded in the UAE in 2019 by Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo, is an app-based service that allows people to choose, drive, swap, and own cars with presence in KSA, UAE, and Qatar. To date, invygo has raised over $22 million from regional and global investors. The company is now nearing profitability, which is expected by the end of FY 2024. --- (أحمد طقاطقه) ---
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    44 mins

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