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๐Ÿ“ฐ News๐Ÿ“ฐ News
๐Ÿ‡ถ๐Ÿ‡ฆ QIAโ€™s $1B fund of funds draws global VCs to Doha
Feb 21, 2025

๐Ÿ‡ถ๐Ÿ‡ฆ QIAโ€™s $1B fund of funds draws global VCs to Doha

Five global firms, Builders VC, Utopia Capital Management, B Capital, Deerfield, and Human Capital are opening new offices in Doha.

Jamie Lane
๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Interview๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Interview
+1+1
Tipping the scales in favour of restaurants
Feb 19, 2025

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, +1
๐ŸŽง Podcast๐ŸŽง Podcast
VC React Podcast (Episode #25)
Feb 18, 2025

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
๐Ÿ—ž๏ธ Weekly round-up๐Ÿ—ž๏ธ Weekly round-up
Tabby LEAPs to $3.3 billion valuation
Feb 14, 2025

Tabby LEAPs to $3.3 billion valuation

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

Jamie Lane, +1
๐Ÿ“ฐ News๐Ÿ“ฐ News
Saudi BNPL Tabby raises $160M Series E at a $3.3B valuation, becoming MENAโ€™s most valuable fintech
Feb 14, 2025

Saudi BNPL Tabby raises $160M Series E at a $3.3B valuation, becoming MENAโ€™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 yearsโ€”its seed round was in November 2019.

Jamie Lane
๐Ÿ” Deep-dives๐Ÿ” Deep-dives
+1+1
A closer look at Saudiโ€™s first e-commerce IPO
Feb 12, 2025

A closer look at Saudiโ€™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, +1
๐ŸŽง Podcast๐ŸŽง Podcast
VC React Podcast (Episode #24)
Feb 10, 2025

VC React Podcast (Episode #24)

Saudi fintech and building AI agents for MENA

Jamie Lane
๐Ÿ—ž๏ธ Weekly round-up๐Ÿ—ž๏ธ Weekly round-up
Qatarโ€™s $1 billion Fund of Funds backs its first VC
Feb 07, 2025

Qatarโ€™s $1 billion Fund of Funds backs its first VC

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

Jamie Lane, +1
๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Interview๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Interview
+1+1
Building agentic AI for Arabic dialects
Feb 05, 2025

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, +1
๐Ÿ—ž๏ธ Weekly round-up๐Ÿ—ž๏ธ Weekly round-up
Saudi startup Lendo secures $690M facility
Jan 31, 2025

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, +1
๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Interview๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Interview
+1+1
Growing vegetables in the Saudi desert
Jan 29, 2025

Growing vegetables in the Saudi desert

Saudi Arabiaโ€™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, +1
๐Ÿ—ž๏ธ Weekly round-up๐Ÿ—ž๏ธ Weekly round-up
MENA's new early growth-stage fund
Jan 24, 2025

MENA's new early growth-stage fund

Saudi rent-now, pay-later firm Rize closes $35M, Egyptian payment orchestration platform MoneyHash raises $5.2 million pre-Series A for MEA expansion, plus a round-up of this week's MENA startup, VC, and tech news.

Jamie Lane, +1
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