📰 News📰 News
Maseera acquires Egypt’s ADVA to power North Africa fintech expansion

Maseera acquires Egypt’s ADVA to power North Africa fintech expansion

Founded in 2020 by former Careem Egypt GM Rania Gaafar, ADVA allows consumers to access short-term credit for essential services like healthcare and education through a buy now, pay later model.

Jamie Lane
📰 News📰 News
Pakistan supply chain fintech Haball secures $52 million pre-Series A to expand to GCC

Pakistan supply chain fintech Haball secures $52 million pre-Series A to expand to GCC

The round includes $5 million in equity led by Zayn VC and $47 million in shariah-compliant debt from Meezan Bank, Pakistan’s largest Islamic bank, alongside participation from Saudi private investors.

Jamie Lane
🎙️ Interview🎙️ Interview
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Hubpay: Building the financial backbone of MENA and beyond

Hubpay: Building the financial backbone of MENA and beyond

The long road to fintech infrastructure in MENA, the overlooked power of remittance corridors, why stablecoins are no longer a sideshow – and what it really means to build a business from the trenches of regulatory complexity.

Jamie Lane, +1
📰 News📰 News
Saudi’s Sary and Bangladesh’s ShopUp merge to launch SILQ, a B2B commerce platform, with $110M in fresh funding

Saudi’s Sary and Bangladesh’s ShopUp merge to launch SILQ, a B2B commerce platform, with $110M 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.

Jamie Lane
🗞️ 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, +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
📰 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
📰 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
🎧 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
🗞️ 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, +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
📰 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
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