Learn what matters in MENA tech and VC

Two editions per week.

Friday: weekly news and insights roundup.

Wednesday: a case study, interview, or deep dive.

Featured Posts

🔍 Deep-dives🔍 Deep-dives
The GCC's reinvention of restaurants

The GCC's reinvention of restaurants

What makes the region such a fertile ground for food industry disruption, particularly in the realm of cloud kitchens?

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
🔍 Deep-dives🔍 Deep-dives
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🎯 How Tabby bootstrapped customer acquisition

🎯 How Tabby bootstrapped customer acquisition

Analysing how MENA's most valuable fintech company embedded itself into hearts, minds, and checkouts.

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
🎙️ Interview🎙️ Interview
+1+1
Building the iTunes for spare parts

Building the iTunes for spare parts

Why the next industrial revolution will be local, breaking ‘pilot purgatory’ in deeptech sales, and the biggest misconceptions about additive manufacturing.

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1

Past Editions

🗞️ Weekly round-up🗞️ Weekly round-up
Egypt's semiconductor renaissance

Egypt's semiconductor renaissance

InfiniLink raises $10M seed round to build next-gen optical connectivity chips for AI data centres, Fuse raises $6.6M to bring virtual IBANs to MENA, PayLater becomes first BNPL firm licensed by Qatar Central Bank, plus this week’s MENA startup, VC, and tech news round-up.

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
📰 News📰 News
Fuse raises $6.6M to bring virtual IBANs to MENA, simplifying cross-border payments for global businesses

Fuse raises $6.6M to bring virtual IBANs to MENA, simplifying cross-border payments for global businesses

The round was led by MediaTek – the Taiwanese semiconductor giant – alongside Sukna Ventures, with participation from Egypt Ventures and angel investors from the US, Europe, and MENA.

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
📰 News📰 News
Dubai backs robotaxis: WeRide & Uber join RTA pilot after Apollo Go deal

Dubai backs robotaxis: WeRide & Uber join RTA pilot after Apollo Go deal

Dubai’s shift to a multi-vendor strategy – following setbacks with GM’s Cruise – suggests a broader commitment to autonomous mobility.

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
📰 News📰 News
Egypt’s InfiniLink raises $10M seed round to build next-gen optical connectivity chips for AI data centres

Egypt’s InfiniLink raises $10M seed round to build next-gen optical connectivity chips for AI data centres

The round was led by MediaTek – the Taiwanese semiconductor giant – alongside Sukna Ventures, with participation from Egypt Ventures and angel investors from the US, Europe, and MENA.

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
🎧 Podcast🎧 Podcast
VC React Podcast (Episode #30)

VC React Podcast (Episode #30)

Exploring what it looks like when local founders tackle legacy systems head-on — from automating debt collection and rebuilding Africa’s financial rails, to creating real-time AI dubbing engines that break language barriers at scale.

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
🗞️ Weekly round-up🗞️ Weekly round-up
Preventing illness with AI

Preventing illness with AI

UAE-based reverse logistics platform Cartlow acquired by Basatne, Warner Bros. invests $57 million in OSN+ for minority stake, UAE Central Bank unveils new dirham symbol, plus this week’s MENA startup, VC, and tech news round-up.

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
📰 News📰 News
Warner Bros. invests $57 million in OSN+ for minority stake

Warner Bros. invests $57 million in OSN+ for minority stake

Warner Bros. Discovery has just acquired a ~30% stake in OSN+, the streaming arm of Dubai-based OSN Group, for $57 million. While the deal is still subject to regulatory approval, it marks the deepening of a relationship that’s been quietly building.

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
📰 News📰 News
UAE-based reverse logistics platform Cartlow acquired by Basatne

UAE-based reverse logistics platform Cartlow acquired by Basatne

Founded in 2019 by Mohammed Sleiman, Cartlow last raised $18 million in Series A funding from AlSulaiman Group back in 2022, and expanded across the UAE and KSA.

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
📰 News📰 News
Valeo Health secures $12 million Series B to scale AI-personalised healthcare

Valeo Health secures $12 million Series B to scale AI-personalised healthcare

Founded in 2021 by Sundeep Sahni, Nadine Karadag, and Ankur Majumder, the round was led by Flintera, with participation from Nuwa Capital, FJ Labs, Oryx, Mindshift Capital, and new backers Oraseya and Eirad.

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
🎙️ Interview🎙️ Interview
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MNT Halan: from ride-hailing to fintech unicorn

MNT Halan: from ride-hailing to fintech unicorn

CEO Mounir Nakhla on achieving fintech ecosystem lock-in, the company's acquisition and expansion strategy, why tailored risk models beat copy-paste approaches, and the potential path toward becoming a fully-fledged digital bank.

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
🗞️ Weekly round-up🗞️ Weekly round-up
Gulf funds are betting on biotech

Gulf funds are betting on biotech

ClearGrid emerges from stealth with $10M to modernise debt collection, QED leads NymCard $33m Series B round, Yango Group launches $20m VC fund, plus this week’s MENA startup, VC, and tech news round-up.

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
📰 News📰 News
Yango Group launches $20m VC fund to back startups across MENA, Africa, and Latin America

Yango Group launches $20m VC fund to back startups across MENA, Africa, and Latin America

The fund will focus on O2O (online-to-offline), B2B SaaS, and fintech, aiming for high-growth opportunities without taking control stakes.

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
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