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 (E32): Why EdTech Acquisitions! Crypto Crashes, & Copy Cats In Emerging Markets

    VC React Podcast (E32): Why EdTech Acquisitions! Crypto Crashes, & Copy Cats In Emerging Markets
    Apr 27 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. Fares Ghandour, Partner @ Wamda Capital - LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faresghandour/- VC Firm Website: https://wamdacapital.com/2. Saad Hasan, Principal @ Sturgeon Capital- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/syedsaadhasan01/- VC Firm Website: https://www.sturgeoncapital.com/3. Tambi Jalouqa, Founder & General Partner @ Maza Ventures- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tambijalouqa/- VC Firm Website: https://www.maza.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:- Seesaw acquires Little Thinking Minds to expand learning solutions globallySummary: US-based edtech Seesaw has acquired Jordan's Little Thinking Minds for an unknown value. Founded in 2004 by Lamia Tabbaa and Rama Kayyali, Little Thinking Minds is a MENA-based, female-founded edtech company specialising in Arabic literacy solutions. Seesaw, founded in 2007 by Adrian Graham and Carl Sjogreen, offers a suite of AI-driven learning tools and digital curriculum products designed to enhance student engagement, facilitate real-time assessments, and strengthen school-home communication. - Mantra token price collapses by over 90% in 24 hoursSummary: The price of the Mantra (OM) token, the native cryptocurrency powering Shorooq-backed Mantra’s real-world tokenized asset blockchain, has plummeted by over 90% in the past 24 hours—falling from around $6.30 to under $0.50. This collapse erased more than $6 billion from its market capitalization and has led some traders to speculate that it may be a rug pull, drawing parallels with notorious collapses like LUNA and FTX. - Fluent Ventures backs replicated startup models in emerging marketsSummary: Fluent Ventures is a San Francisco-based early-stage venture firm betting on startups that adapt proven Western business models for emerging markets, rather than trying to invent something entirely new. Founded in 2023 by Alexandre Lazarow, the firm calls its approach “geographic alpha,” focusing on local adaptations in sectors like fintech, digital health, and commerce. Fluent is deploying $40 million through a fund, an incubator, and a co-investment vehicle, aiming for 22–25 investments across Latin America, MENA, Africa, Southeast Asia, and select U.S. markets. ---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • VC React Podcast (E31): Consolidation, Investing In Hardware, Traitorous Eight-MENA Version & More!

    VC React Podcast (E31): Consolidation, Investing In Hardware, Traitorous Eight-MENA Version & More!
    Apr 12 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. Ambar Amleh, Founder & Managing Partner @ Ibtikar Fund- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ambaramleh/- VC Firm Website: https://ibtikarfund.com/2. Arnav Danthi, Principal @ Nuwa Capital- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnavdanthi/- VC Firm Website: https://www.nuwacapital.io/3. Fahed Qteishat, Associate Director @ MEVP- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fahedqteishat/- VC Firm Website: https://www.mevp.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:- Saudi’s Sary and Bangladesh’s ShopUp merge to launch SILQ, a B2B commerce platform, with $110M in fresh fundingSummary: Saudi-based Sary and Bangladesh’s ShopUp have merged to form SILQ Group, a new B2B commerce platform, and have raised $110 million in fresh funding. The round was jointly led by Sanabil Investments, the venture arm of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Valar Ventures LLC, founded by Peter Thiel. - Egypt’s InfiniLink raises $10M seed round to build next-gen optical connectivity chips for AI data centersSummary: Egypt-based InfiniLink has raised $10 million in a seed round to develop next-gen optical connectivity chips for AI data centers. The round was led by MediaTek – the Taiwanese semiconductor giant ($70BN market-cap) – alongside Sukna Ventures, with participation from Egypt Ventures and angel investors from the US, Europe, and MENA. - Rabbit enters Saudi market, backed by major regional investorsSummary: Egypt-born quick commerce (q-commerce) startup Rabbit has extended its services to the Saudi market by establishing a regional HQ in Riyadh. Founded in 2021 by Ahmed Yousry, Walid Shabana, Ismail Hafezz, and Tarek El Geresy, Rabbit is a tech-driven hyperlocal e-commerce company that delivers groceries and more in as quick as 20 minutes through its network of dark stores. - Pakistan’s Haball secures $52mn pre-Series A funding round, eyes Saudi Arabia expansionSummary: Haball, Pakistan’s leading supply chain financing and payments fintech, said it raised $52 million pre-Series A funding round, comprising equity investment and a strategic financing allocation. The round’s equity component of $5 million was led by Zayn VC, a Pakistan-based venture capital firm. Other investors included Majlis Advisory SPV and several Saudi Arabian private investors, the company said. ---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
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    53 mins
  • VC React Podcast (E30): Build quietly? Credit Score or AI, FinTech In Africa, Freaky AI Dubbing!

    VC React Podcast (E30): Build quietly? Credit Score or AI, FinTech In Africa, Freaky AI Dubbing!
    Apr 1 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. Cristina Bullon, Principal @ Incubayt Investments- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristina-bullon/- VC Firm Website: https://www.incubayt.com/2. Philipe Moura, Founder & CEO @ Vinci Ventures and president of FDC Angels- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipemoura/- VC Firm Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vinciventures/about/3. Sara Asad, A venture capitalist and ex-Endeavor- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraasad/---#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:- ClearGrid emerges from stealth with $10M to modernise debt collection in MENA with AISummary: Dubai-based ClearGrid has emerged from stealth with $10 million in pre-seed and seed funding, aiming to modernise debt collection and recovery with AI-driven automation. The round includes a $3.5M pre-seed co-led by RAED Ventures and BECO Capital, and a $6.5M seed round co-led by Nuwa Capital and RAED Ventures. Founded in 2023 by Mohammad Al Zaben, Khalid Bin Bader Al Saud, and Mohammad Al Khalili, ClearGrid was created to address a major gap in the debt collection industry, where manual processes, outdated infrastructure, and aggressive recovery tactics still dominate. - enza Secures USD 6.75M to Advance Financial Inclusion in AfricaSummary: UAE-based fintech enza has secured a $6.75 million seed equity round, co-led by Algebra Ventures and Quona Capital. Founded in 2023 by Hany Fekry, enza’s payment solutions allow banks and fintechs to provide locally relevant payment capabilities, including cards, wallets, and real-time payments. With a presence in Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa, the new capital infusion will enable enza to strengthen its presence across other key markets in Africa.- Dubai-based Camb.ai raises $11m to scale AI voice dubbing and video localisationSummary: CAMB.AI (🇦🇪 UAE), an AI-powered voice translation and dubbing platform helping content creators localise videos in multiple languages, has secured an $11 million Pre-Series A funding round. Investors include TRTL Ventures, Accelerate Ventures, 5Point Ventures, Oraseya Capital, Courtside Ventures, Dubai Future District Fund, and Comcast NBCU SportsTech, bringing the startup’s total funding to $15.5 million. Additionally, CAMB.AI announced a multi-year partnership with France’s soccer governing body, LFP, becoming its official global language solution.---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
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    1 hr and 8 mins
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