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 (E26): Five Acquisitions, Startups Investing In Startups, Qatar and Global VCs!

    VC React Podcast (E26): Five Acquisitions, Startups Investing In Startups, Qatar and Global VCs!
    Feb 23 2025
    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: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:⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@VCReactPodcast⁠⁠Spotify:⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vc-react-podcast⁠⁠Apple:⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc-react-podcast/id1764834384⁠⁠Amazon:⁠⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/bdc23d6a-4381-405d-bf59-53560c671c11/vc-react-podcast⁠⁠---Guests:1. Dana Qtaishat, Investment Manager @ AB Ventures- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-qtaishat-44850a16a/ - VC Firm Website: https://abventures.vc/2. Feras Al Safwan, Investment Manager @ Aramco Wa'ed Ventures, and Host of @podcast_riyadah - LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ferasalsafwan/ - VC Firm Website: https://www.waed.net/ - Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@podcast_riyadah---#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:(A). Acquisition News:- Salla acquires Sweply, rebrands it as “Salla Ads”Summary: Saudi Arabia-based SaaS provider Salla has entered into an agreement to acquire Sweply, an innovative Saudi digital advertising platform. Following the acquisition, Sweply will be rebranded as "Salla Ads," becoming the official advertising solution within Salla’s ecosystem.- Saudi’s Foodic’s has fully acquired UK-based Solo Venture, a self-ordering kiosk and app specialist, enhancing its AI-driven restaurant solutions. The company is also investing in three startups: Norma, a Greek AI-powered data analytics firm; Add, an accounting system for SMEs; and Arzaq Plus, an AI-driven supply chain platform. CEO Ahmed El-Zaini announced a $100 million fund for acquisitions in fintech, AI, and transformative tech over the next three years. - Saudi’s Mush Social has acquired Pubbles, a Saudi social media app.- T2 has acquired a majority stake in MOOLA, a specialised platform that streamlines and automates financial processes and expense management.- UAE-based online classifieds platform Dubizzle Group has acquired the Egyptian online car marketplace, Hatla2ee, in an undisclosed deal value. (B). Venture Capital News:- Builders VC expands into Middle East with new Doha office and a strategic partnership with QIASummary: This expansion marks Builders VC's first presence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and is in partnership with Q​IA, Qatar's sovereign wealth fund.The office will be led by Tarik Sultan, Partner and Head of the MENA Region. A seasoned investor with a proven track record, Sultan brings a wealth of experience in venture capital, ecosystem building, and a deep understanding of MENA's growing global importance for software, AI, cleantech, and healthcare. The firm will continue to expand its operational footprint in Doha through team growth and continuous engagement with local innovators. QIA's Fund of Funds Program, first announced in February 2024, will invest more than USD 1 billion in international and regional venture capital funds and will place a priority focus on the tech and healthcare sectors. ---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
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    48 mins
  • VC React Podcast (E25): Six new funds! The Rise of ConstructTech, Startups Too Large For Acquisition

    VC React Podcast (E25): Six new funds! The Rise of ConstructTech, Startups Too Large For Acquisition
    Feb 15 2025
    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: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:⁠https://www.youtube.com/@VCReactPodcast⁠Spotify:⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vc-react-podcast⁠Apple:⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc-react-podcast/id1764834384⁠Amazon:⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/bdc23d6a-4381-405d-bf59-53560c671c11/vc-react-podcast⁠---Guests:1. Abe Seksek, an angel investor and host of the ABEZ Show- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abeseksek/- Website: https://www.abezshow.com/2. Tara Arnaout, Principal @ BY Venture Partners- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-arnaout-305035b7/- VC Firm Website: https://www.byvp.com/3. Walied Albasheer, Managing Partner @ Intuitio Ventures- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/waliedalbasheer/- VC Firm Website: https://intuitio.vc/---#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:- Saudi-based BNPL Tabby has raised $160 million in a Series E round at a $3.3 billion valuation, becoming MENA’s most valuable fintech company.- Buildnow Secures $10M Funding, Launches $80M Infrastructure Fund. Joa Capital has launched a new $80 million investment fund in partnership with Buildnow Trading, targeting the construction sector.- BRKZ, a Riyadh-based construction tech startup founded by Ibrahim Manna, has secured $9 million ($8 million in equity and $1 million in debt), bringing its total Series A funding to $17 million as investors double down. Existing investors, including BECO Capital, Wa'ed Ventures, 9900 Capital, Better Tomorrow Ventures, RZM Investment, Class 5 Global, MISY Ventures, Knollwood Investment Advisory, and Fluent Ventures, re-participated in this round, along with $1 million in venture debt from Capifly.- Suhail Ventures Launches $50 Million Investment Fund for StartupsSummary: Suhail Ventures has announced the launch of its $50 million investment fund at LEAP 2025, aimed at supporting early-stage startups across Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. The fund will back businesses from pre-seed to Series A, with a focus on fintech, insurtech, logistics, and artificial intelligence. - Other Fund Announcements: -- Ula Capital, a data-driven venture capital firm, launched a USD 75 million fund. The fund is dedicated to investing in deep-tech including healthcare, climate and AI. It is aiming to support technical innovation in the Kingdom and the region.-- HGM launched a USD 300 million investment fund specializing in gaming. The fund aims to attract game developers to Saudi as well as develop and distribute games locally and globally. This comes amid the growing importance of e-sports in Saudi, which has been recently hosting major international tournaments.-- The National Technology Development Program (NTDP) launched accelerators and funds worth USD 150 million. Its aim is to foster innovation in the IT sector and support tech startups in Saudi Arabia.Sharaka Financial announced the launch of its USD 30 million investment fund to support startups in the MENA region. -- Orbit Startups also announced the launch of a USD 60 million accelerator in collaboration with Sanabil Investments, aiming to invest in early stage tech startups.---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • VC React Podcast (E24): Lendo's $690M Facility Led by J.P. Morgan, & qeen.ai’s $10M Seed round

    VC React Podcast (E24): Lendo's $690M Facility Led by J.P. Morgan, & qeen.ai’s $10M Seed round
    Feb 8 2025

    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 on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.vcpreneur.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jamie Lane, FWDstart. Sign up to FWDstart Newsletter on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fwdstart.me/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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    Available on: Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@VCReactPodcast Spotify:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vc-react-podcastApple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc-react-podcast/id1764834384Amazon:https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/bdc23d6a-4381-405d-bf59-53560c671c11/vc-react-podcast---


    Guests:1. Asjid Hayat, Venture Partner @ Palm Ventures- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asjidhayat/ - VC Firm Website: https://www.palm-ventures.com/2. Dina Toukan, Investment Manager @ ISSF - LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinatoukan/ - VC Firm Website: https://issfjo.com/ 3. Marwan Mohammad, Angel Investor, and Venture Builder @ Gia- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marwan1995/ - VC Firm Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/giavc/


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    #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:


    - Lendo Secures $690 Million Facility Led by J.P. Morgan to Boost SME Financing in Saudi ArabiaSummary: Saudi Arabia-based fintech Lendo has secured a $690 million warehouse facility led by J.P. Morgan to expand its lending capacity, develop new products, and increase SME coverage in the Kingdom. Founded in 2019 by Osama Alraee and Mohamed Jawabri, Lendo operates a crowdlending marketplace connecting businesses seeking financing with investors looking for short-term returns. In late 2023, the company closed its $28 million Series B round, led by Sanabil Investments, with participation from Shorooq Partners, AB Ventures, and others. To date, Lendo claims to have facilitated over $667 million in financing across 5,000+ transactions, generating $33.3 million in investor returns.- Wamda Capital participates in qeen.ai’s $10 million Seed roundSummary: UAE-based AI startup qeen.ai has secured a $10 million Seed funding round, in one of the largest seed investments in the MENA region to date. The round is led by Prosus Ventures, with participation from existing investors including Wamda Capital, 10x Founders and Dara Holdings.Founded in 2023 by Dina Alsamhan, Ahmad Khwileh and Morteza Ibrahimi, qeen.ai provides accessible and autonomous AI solutions tailored to e-commerce businesses. The seed round will support qeen.ai’s growth strategy by expanding the reach and capabilities of its agentic AI platform, scaling the team, and attracting a wider customer base. This investment brings qeen.ai’s total funding to $12.2 million, after closing a $2.2 million pre-Seed in June 2024.---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
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    45 mins

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