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How Adam Neumann Is Turning Riyadh into His Second Act

How Adam Neumann Is Turning Riyadh into His Second Act

$350 million from a16z, $300 million from 33 Saudi families, a full Saudi launch in 60 days, and 92% of “trial guests” now tenants. Is Flow just WeLive in a thobe, or the first real brand in the Kingdom’s untapped BtR market? We unpack what Flow is, why a16z doubled down, how Neumann went local overnight, and just how big Saudi’s premium-renting gap really is.

Jul 9, 2025

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5 min read

What led to Ebrahim Al-Jassim’s exit from HungerStation in 2019

What led to Ebrahim Al-Jassim’s exit from HungerStation in 2019

A detailed look at HungerStation’s 2019 leadership transition, the legal dispute between Delivery Hero and Ebrahim Al-Jassim, and the rise of Ninja as one of Saudi Arabia’s first q-commerce unicorns.

Jul 3, 2025

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4 min read

Valu and the Discipline Engine

Valu and the Discipline Engine

Inside Valu’s EGX debut: With Amazon now on the cap table, we unpack the model behind Egypt’s most disciplined fintech, covering product strategy, underwriting logic, unit economics, investor dynamics, and the operators running the machine.

Jun 25, 2025

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9 min read

Why Careem’s ride-hailing chapter in Pakistan is ending after nearly a decade

Why Careem’s ride-hailing chapter in Pakistan is ending after nearly a decade

In 2019, Pakistan was the company’s single largest market, accounting for nearly 30% of its billion cumulative rides. Six years later, Careem's ride-hailing days in Pakistan are numbered.

Jun 19, 2025

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4 min read

Why Talabat isn’t rushing into Saudi Arabia

Why Talabat isn’t rushing into Saudi Arabia

Six months after its blockbuster IPO, Talabat is prioritising margins, loyalty, and strategic M&A over market conquest.

Jun 11, 2025

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5 min read

Tamara turned a profit, but the real story is how

Tamara turned a profit, but the real story is how

Saudi Arabia’s fintech crown jewel is now profitable. But its Q1 financials come with caveats, and reveal a seemingly quiet re-architecture of its business model.

Jun 4, 2025

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3 min read

The return of the SPAC, Saudi-style

The return of the SPAC, Saudi-style

What the CMA’s new draft framework tells us about the next chapter of public markets in the region.

May 29, 2025

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3 min read

Why are we suddenly seeing a surge in funding for Egyptian startups?

Why are we suddenly seeing a surge in funding for Egyptian startups?

As of mid-May, Egyptian startups have raised $124 million across at least six major deals, a 406% YoY surge and a staggering 8,000% MoM increase.

May 23, 2025

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2 min read

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