🔍 Deep-dives

🗞️ Weekly round-up🔍 Deep-dives
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Can Kitopi deliver on its $1 billion+ valuation?

Can Kitopi deliver on its $1 billion+ valuation?

As it approaches its sixth anniversary, the company sits in an awkward position — too large to be easily acquired, yet facing tepid public markets that are showing little appetite for new listings.

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
🔍 Deep-dives🔍 Deep-dives
The repeated reinvention of Kitopi

The repeated reinvention of Kitopi

Kitopi’s journey has been one of relentless iteration. From its origins as a managed cloud kitchen to its transformation into a fully integrated food ecosystem, the company has continually adapted to challenges, market shifts, and consumer demands.

Jamie Lane
Jamie Lane
🔍 Deep-dives🔍 Deep-dives
The GCC's reinvention of restaurants

The GCC's reinvention of restaurants

What makes the region such a fertile ground for food industry disruption, particularly in the realm of cloud kitchens?

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
🔍 Deep-dives🔍 Deep-dives
FWDstart turns 1

FWDstart turns 1

The highs and lows of the past year, our triumphs and failures, and the lessons learned covering MENA's startup, VC and tech landscape over 82 editions.

Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer, +1
🔍 Deep-dives🔍 Deep-dives
MENA events season begins

MENA events season begins

The tech world descends on Dubai for Expand North Star, GITEX and SuperReturn ME, and an update on our deep-dive on cloud kitchens.

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
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MENA's streaming battle

MENA's streaming battle

How local platforms like Shahid and StarzPlay are fending off Netflix and other global giants in the battle for eyes on screens

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
🔍 Deep-dives🔍 Deep-dives
The story of Talabat

The story of Talabat

Ahead of its IPO, we look back at Talabat's remarkable rise from its start in Kuwait in 2004.

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
🔍 Deep-dives🔍 Deep-dives
Building MENA's cities of the future

Building MENA's cities of the future

Can the region’s ambitious giga-projects spark a startup transformation in construction?

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
🔍 Deep-dives🔍 Deep-dives
Keeping track of MENA's mega-projects

Keeping track of MENA's mega-projects

Meet the Dubai-based YC-backed startup with Paul Graham and Peter Thiel on its cap table

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
🔍 Deep-dives🔍 Deep-dives
Stopping MENA cyber attacks

Stopping MENA cyber attacks

Meet the cybersecurity startups defending regional businesses against costly data breaches

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
🔍 Deep-dives🔍 Deep-dives
Where is the funding for food waste?

Where is the funding for food waste?

An outsized problem, with underfunded startups. Not the best recipe for success.

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1
🔍 Deep-dives🔍 Deep-dives
Solving MENA's food waste crisis

Solving MENA's food waste crisis

The region wastes an average of 250 kg of food per person, can these startups change things for the better?

Jamie Lane
Zoe O Dwyer
Jamie Lane, +1