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:

• Ahmad Takatkah, VCpreneur. Sign up to VCpreneur Newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.vcpreneur.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Jamie Lane, FWDstart. Sign up to FWDstart Newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://archives.fwdstart.me/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Available on:

• Youtube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@VCReactPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vc-react-podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc-react-podcast/id1764834384⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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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

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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.

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)---