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
MENA's streaming battle

MENA's streaming battle

How local platforms like Shahid and StarzPlay are fending off Netflix and other global giants in the battle for eyes on screens

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
🔍 Deep-dives🔍 Deep-dives
Tackling MENA's mental health

Tackling MENA's mental health

How startups in the region are battling stigma and promoting mental wellness

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1

Past Editions

🗞️ Weekly round-up🗞️ Weekly round-up
Qatar's $1BN fund draws global VCs

Qatar's $1BN fund draws global VCs

Saudi VC hits first close of $30 million debut early-stage fund, Dubizzle continues pre-IPO acquisitions, Nice One surpasses $2 billion market cap, plus this week’s MENA startup, VC, and tech news round-up.

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
đź“° Newsđź“° News
🇶🇦 QIA’s $1B fund of funds draws global VCs to Doha

🇶🇦 QIA’s $1B fund of funds draws global VCs to Doha

two global firms, Builders VC and Utopia Capital Management, are opening new offices in Doha.

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
🎙️ Interview🎙️ Interview
+1+1
Tipping the scales in favour of restaurants

Tipping the scales in favour of restaurants

Why AI and embedded finance aren't always the answer, getting pricing strategies right in cost-sensitive markets, and why the biggest cost drivers are in the back-of-house.

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
🎧 Podcast🎧 Podcast
VC React Podcast (Episode #25)

VC React Podcast (Episode #25)

Reviewing LEAP 2025, Tabby achieves $3.3BN valuation, the rise of construction tech and capital continues to pour in for early-stage funds

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
🗞️ Weekly round-up🗞️ Weekly round-up
Tabby LEAPs to $3.3 billion valuation

Tabby LEAPs to $3.3 billion valuation

Over $330M raised across 24 startups, multiple new fund launches, unpacking LEAP 2025, plus this week’s MENA startup, VC, and tech news round-up.

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
đź“° Newsđź“° News
Saudi BNPL Tabby raises $160M Series E at a $3.3B valuation, becoming MENA’s most valuable fintech

Saudi BNPL Tabby raises $160M Series E at a $3.3B valuation, becoming MENA’s most valuable fintech

It is now the second most valuable internet company in the region, trailing only Talabat. Notably, Tabby reached this milestone in just five years—its seed round was in November 2019.

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
🔍 Deep-dives🔍 Deep-dives
+1+1
A closer look at Saudi’s first e-commerce IPO

A closer look at Saudi’s first e-commerce IPO

Nice One commands a 29% market share of the online beauty e-commerce landscape, but competition from giants is not far behind

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
🎧 Podcast🎧 Podcast
VC React Podcast (Episode #24)

VC React Podcast (Episode #24)

Saudi fintech and building AI agents for MENA

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
🗞️ Weekly round-up🗞️ Weekly round-up
Qatar’s $1 billion Fund of Funds backs its first VC

Qatar’s $1 billion Fund of Funds backs its first VC

Dubai-based AI agent startup secures $10M Seed, Egypt’s Khazna raises $16M for its financial super app, SVC reports $1 billion invested across 54 funds, plus this week’s MENA startup, VC, and tech news round-up.

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
🎙️ Interview🎙️ Interview
+1+1
Building agentic AI for Arabic dialects

Building agentic AI for Arabic dialects

Why it's so difficult, the benefits of offering LLM flexibility, and how AI is changing the enterprise pricing model.

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
🗞️ Weekly round-up🗞️ Weekly round-up
Saudi startup Lendo secures $690M facility

Saudi startup Lendo secures $690M facility

UAE biotech BioSapien extends pre-Series A to $7M for cancer treatment platform, STC Bank secures approval to operate as a digital bank in Saudi, plus a round-up of this week's MENA startup, VC, and tech news.

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
🎙️ Interview🎙️ Interview
+1+1
Growing vegetables in the Saudi desert

Growing vegetables in the Saudi desert

Saudi Arabia’s reliance on food imports for 90% of its fresh produce is a problem. This startup thinks it has the food security solution.

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
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