🎙️ Interview🎙️ Interview
Trubuild’s blueprint to build better

Trubuild’s blueprint to build better

Trubuild’s CEO Bisrat Degefa on what makes construction tech such a tough sell, why most tools fail in the field, and what meaningful disruption actually looks like in one of the world’s most traditional industries.

Jamie Lane
🎙️ Interview🎙️ Interview
+1+1
Building a band-aid for cancer

Building a band-aid for cancer

Seven years, 959 rejections, and a circuitous journey from San Diego to New York to Abu Dhabi – Khatija Ali MD and BioSapien’s mission to deliver chemotherapy locally is as much about persistence as it is about innovation.

Jamie Lane, +1
🎧 Podcast🎧 Podcast
VC React Podcast (Episode #31)

VC React Podcast (Episode #31)

Exploring what it looks like when founders expand with intent — from cross-border B2B consolidation and fintech infrastructure built for Gulf markets, to Cairo-born chips powering AI data centres, and the next phase of online grocery competition in Saudi Arabia.

Jamie Lane
🗞️ Weekly round-up🗞️ Weekly round-up
The battle for Saudi quick commerce

The battle for Saudi quick commerce

Inside Rabbit’s Saudi expansion with CEO Ahmad Yousry, Saudi’s Sary and Bangladesh’s ShopUp merge to launch SILQ, a B2B commerce platform, with $110M in fresh funding, plus this week’s MENA startup, VC, and tech news round-up.

Jamie Lane, +1
🎙️ Interview🎙️ Interview
Inside Rabbit’s Saudi Expansion

Inside Rabbit’s Saudi Expansion

Rabbit’s CEO Ahmad Yousry on localising dark stores, rejecting discount wars, and why winning quick commerce in MENA is a supply chain challenge — not a marketing one.

Jamie Lane
📰 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
+1+1
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
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