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How to get (and keep) your first 100 customers
21 hours ago

How to get (and keep) your first 100 customers

An 18,000-word playbook drawn from interviews with 7 of MENA’s top post-Series A founders, tackling how to build trust before brand equity, validate before users, retain in transient markets, and know when to follow data – and when to trust your gut.

Jamie Lane, +1
🔍 Deep-dives🔍 Deep-dives
+1+1
How to get (and keep) your first 100 customers (#2)
21 hours ago

How to get (and keep) your first 100 customers (#2)

An 18,000-word playbook drawn from interviews with 7 of MENA’s top post-Series A founders, tackling how to build trust before brand equity, validate before users, retain in transient markets, and know when to follow data – and when to trust your gut.

Jamie Lane, +1
🔍 Deep-dives🔍 Deep-dives
+1+1
How to get (and keep) your first 100 customers (#3)
21 hours ago

How to get (and keep) your first 100 customers (#3)

An 18,000-word playbook drawn from interviews with 7 of MENA’s top post-Series A founders, tackling how to build trust before brand equity, validate before users, retain in transient markets, and know when to follow data – and when to trust your gut.

Jamie Lane, +1
🎧 Podcast🎧 Podcast
VC React Podcast (Episode #34)
May 12, 2025

VC React Podcast (Episode #34)

Two stories that hint at how exits are evolving in the region — from a cybersecurity acquisition that keeps the core team and tech intact, to a surprise IPO push from one of Silicon Valley’s most controversial founders, now looking east.

Jamie Lane
🗞️ Weekly round-up🗞️ Weekly round-up
AI, autonomy, and MENA cybersecurity
May 09, 2025

AI, autonomy, and MENA cybersecurity

A rare MENA cybersecurity startup exit, Money Fellows raises $13M pre-Series C, and Nama Ventures becomes first foreign VC licensed by Saudi CMA, plus this week’s MENA startup, VC, and tech news round-up.

Jamie Lane, +1
📰 News📰 News
Turkey’s Dream Games hits $5B valuation in CVC-led deal, early VCs exit as founders retain control
May 08, 2025

Turkey’s Dream Games hits $5B valuation in CVC-led deal, early VCs exit as founders retain control

Backed by over $2B in combined equity and debt financing (including from Blackstone), the move positions Dream Games to expand its “Royal Universe” following a breakout 2023 with $1.5B in revenue and the launch of Royal Kingdom.

Jamie Lane
📰 News📰 News
Money Fellows raises $13M pre-Series C to scale digital ROSCA platform across North Africa
May 08, 2025

Money Fellows raises $13M pre-Series C to scale digital ROSCA platform across North Africa

The round was co-led by Al Mada Ventures and DPI Venture Capital (via the Nclude Fund), with participation from Partech, CommerzVentures, and others.

Jamie Lane
📰 News📰 News
Nama Ventures becomes first foreign VC licensed by Saudi CMA
May 08, 2025

Nama Ventures becomes first foreign VC licensed by Saudi CMA

Originally Cayman-based, Nama has now localised its regulatory base to align with Vision 2030 and will launch Shariah-compliant funds targeting high-growth startups across Saudi, MENA, and select global markets.

Jamie Lane
📰 News📰 News
UAE’s CPX acquires Wa’ed-backed spiderSilk to bring offensive cyber-AI in-house
May 08, 2025

UAE’s CPX acquires Wa’ed-backed spiderSilk to bring offensive cyber-AI in-house

Founded in 2019 by Rami El Malak and Mossab Hussein, the startup has built an autonomous threat intelligence and exposure management platform used by public and private entities across MENA.

Jamie Lane
🎙️ Interview🎙️ Interview
+1+1
AdalFi: Powering credit infrastructure across emerging markets
May 07, 2025

AdalFi: Powering credit infrastructure across emerging markets

What it takes to digitise lending inside legacy banks without triggering resistance, how to underwrite customers with no formal credit history, and why AdalFi’s refusal to lend may be its biggest strategic moat.

Jamie Lane, +1
🎧 Podcast🎧 Podcast
VC React Podcast (Episode #33)
May 07, 2025

VC React Podcast (Episode #33)

Four moves that speak to a maturing ecosystem — from a pre-IPO restructure and SME fintech, to infra for private markets and a rare outbound acquisition from the Gulf.

Jamie Lane
🗞️ Weekly round-up🗞️ Weekly round-up
Saudi’s IPO pipeline and $100M venture debt push
May 02, 2025

Saudi’s IPO pipeline and $100M venture debt push

STV launches $100 million venture debt fund, iMENA raises $135M in pre-IPO round, and Travis Kalanick’s CloudKitchens eyes IPO for Middle East unit, plus this week’s MENA startup, VC, and tech news round-up.

Jamie Lane, +1
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