🗞️ 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, +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
🔍 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, +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
🗞️ 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, +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
🎙️ 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, +1
🎧 Podcast🎧 Podcast
VC React Podcast (Episode #25)

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
🗞️ Weekly round-up🗞️ Weekly round-up
Tabby LEAPs to $3.3 billion valuation

Tabby LEAPs to $3.3 billion valuation

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

Jamie Lane, +1
📰 News📰 News
Saudi BNPL Tabby raises $160M Series E at a $3.3B valuation, becoming MENA’s most valuable fintech

Saudi BNPL Tabby raises $160M Series E at a $3.3B valuation, becoming MENA’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 years—its seed round was in November 2019.

Jamie Lane
🔍 Deep-dives🔍 Deep-dives
+1+1
A closer look at Saudi’s first e-commerce IPO

A closer look at Saudi’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
🎧 Podcast🎧 Podcast
VC React Podcast (Episode #24)

VC React Podcast (Episode #24)

Saudi fintech and building AI agents for MENA

Jamie Lane
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