Past Editions

📰 News📰 News
BNPL Tamara receives SAMA license for consumer finance

BNPL Tamara receives SAMA license for consumer finance

This approval makes Tamara one of 65 licensed finance companies in Saudi Arabia, enabling it to serve a broader customer base and diversify its financial products.

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
📰 News📰 News
Saudi-Based Ninja Eyes $1B+ Valuation in New Funding Round

Saudi-Based Ninja Eyes $1B+ Valuation in New Funding Round

The quick commerce platform, which operates in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait, is aiming for an IPO by 2027.

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
📰 News📰 News
🛒 UAE’s Talabat acquires instashop from Delivery Hero for $32 million

🛒 UAE’s Talabat acquires instashop from Delivery Hero for $32 million

Effective February 25, 2025, InstaShop will be consolidated into talabat’s financial accounts while continuing as an independent brand within talabat’s grocery and retail vertical.

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
🎙️ 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
🎧 Podcast🎧 Podcast
VC React Podcast (Episode #27)

VC React Podcast (Episode #27)

Big funding rounds, a major acquisition, and cake.

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
🗞️ Weekly round-up🗞️ Weekly round-up
5 VCs to set up MENA hubs in Doha

5 VCs to set up MENA hubs in Doha

Dubai-based Flow48 secures $69M, Seez acquired for $46.2 million, Disrupt.com to invest $100m to fuel AI-first startups, plus this week’s MENA startup, VC, and tech news round-up.

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
📰 News📰 News
UK’s Pinewood.AI acquires Dubai-based autotech AI Seez for $46.2 million

UK’s Pinewood.AI acquires Dubai-based autotech AI Seez for $46.2 million

Founded in 2016 by Tarik and Andrew Karabit, Seez initially launched as a “Shazam for cars,” attracting almost three million users before shifting to an automotive marketplace model.

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
🔍 Deep-dives🔍 Deep-dives
+1+1
🎯 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
🎧 Podcast🎧 Podcast
VC React Podcast (Episode #26)

VC React Podcast (Episode #26)

A rare surge of startup acquisitions sweeps MENA, and with Qatar attracting major VCs like Human Capital, Utopia, and Builders VC, we debated whether Doha is emerging as a deeptech hub and how its startup ecosystem strategy stacks up against Saudi and the UAE.

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
🗞️ 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
📰 News📰 News
🇶🇦 QIA’s $1B fund of funds draws global VCs to Doha

🇶🇦 QIA’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
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
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