Yasmine El-Mehairy is the Co-Founder and CEO of Dija, a platform helping Muslim women invest with confidence in a way aligned with their faith and values. Yasmine is a serial entrepreneur, passionate about startups with purpose. Before launching Dija, she worked in global financial service organizations like City Ventures and Deloitte Digital, as well as founding and managing other startups in various fields, like digital media and e-commerce. She previously Co-Founded SuperMama, the one-stop shop for mothers in the Arab world, which was acquired by Mawdoo3. She's also an expert in entrepreneurship, serving as a lecturer and tutor at Oxford University. Yasmine holds an executive MBA from London Business School, a master's in online media from the University of Westminster, and a bachelor's in computer Science from Egypt's Aisha's University, and has been strongly committed to creating the change she wants to see in the world by starting purposeful startups that contribute to the growing ecosystem. 

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Yasmine’s LinkedIn account: @Yamine El-Mehairy

Dija Money’s Website: https://www.dija.money/ 

—-----------------------------------------------------------

SHOW NOTES:

00:00 Introduction to the Startups Arabia Podcast

00:25 Meet Yasmine El-Mehairy: A Serial Entrepreneur

02:17 Yasmine's Early Career and First Startup

03:01 The Turning Point: From Corporate to Startup

07:28 The Birth of SuperMama

09:11 Challenges and Pivots in SuperMama's Journey

19:46 SuperMama's Growth and Traction

34:31 Navigating Investor Relations and Board Dynamics

38:37 The Acquisition of SuperMama

45:07 Transition to Dija Money and Financial Empowerment

45:30 The Origin of Dija Money

46:29 Financial Mistakes and Lessons Learned

49:32 Gender and Financial Literacy

54:18 Geopolitical and Socioeconomic Factors

01:00:45 The Dija App: Vision and Development

01:06:23 Building a Startup: Strategies and Challenges

01:10:51 Personal and Professional Reflections

01:20:53 Quickfire Questions and Closing Thoughts

Ramez El-Serafy is the General Partner and Co-Founder of F6 Ventures, bringing over 18 years of experience in technology, investments, entrepreneurship, and management. Before launching F6 Ventures, Ramez served as CEO of Flat6Labs from 2011 to 2025, where he led its transformation into one of the most active innovation platforms in the Middle East and Africa, expanding its footprint, scaling its operations, and investing in hundreds of high-growth startups.

Earlier in his career, Ramez was responsible for building and managing the mobile applications business at Sarmady – a Vodafone company – and served as a board member of the Global Accelerator Network from 2014 to 2016. He holds a B.Sc. in Computer Engineering from Alexandria University and is deeply committed to fostering innovation, empowering entrepreneurs, and building impactful businesses that shape the future of emerging markets.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Ramez’s LinkedIn account: @Ramez El-Serafy

F6 Ventures’ Website: https://f6.vc/

—-----------------------------------------------------------

SHOW NOTES:

00:00 Introduction to Ramez El-Serafy and the Podcast

02:41 The Birth of Flat6Labs

07:14 Challenges and Growth of Flat6Labs

24:00 Expanding Beyond Egypt

30:36 The Evolution into F6 Ventures

38:59 Introduction to F6 Ventures

39:30 Launching F6 Ventures and Portfolio Management

40:33 Regional Strategies and Consolidation

41:54 Investment Programs and Mandates

43:00 Focus on Africa, Levant, and GCC

52:07 Personal Transformation and Health Journey

57:11 Fundraising Advice for Founders

01:03:51 Investment Decision-Making Process

01:10:22 Challenges in the Regional Ecosystem

01:13:04 Navigating Market Challenges

01:14:00 Geographical Diversification Strategy

01:15:07 Startup Exit Options

01:15:51 Investor Exit Strategies

01:18:33 Impact of Exits on Ecosystems

01:22:33 Key Questions for Founders

01:25:36 Challenges in Fundraising

01:28:38 Emerging Sectors and Technologies

01:35:19 Building a Sustainable Ecosystem

01:40:12 Future Goals and Expansion

01:41:43 Quickfire Questions and Closing Thoughts

Born in Tunisia and “well-travelled”.

Geek, started my first software company at the age of 16.

Studied Software Engineering and AI at INSA Toulouse and University of Western Ontario.

Joined Microsoft, where I spent 7 years — from Software Engineer to Engineering Manager — and truly fell in love with testing and quality.

Then co-founded Expensya, an AI-powered expense management scale-up that grew across Europe and was acquired for over $100M.

Now building Thunders: a no-code, agentic AI testing solution that empowers both developers and non-technical teams to automate end-to-end testing at scale — without writing a single line of code. Passionate about shipping faster, with confidence.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Karim’s LinkedIn account: @Karim Jouini

Thunders’ Website: https://www.thunders.ai/

—-----------------------------------------------------------

SHOW NOTES:

00:00 Introduction to Karim Jouini and the Podcast

03:10 Karim's Journey in Tech and Early Ventures

05:00 The Importance of Hard and Soft Skills

07:29 Challenges and Lessons from Building Expensya

10:16 Founding Thunders and Its Vision

25:56 Thunders’ Progress and Future Plans

30:38 AI in Testing and Overcoming Regional Challenges

47:55 Handling Customer Feedback

50:16 Go-to-Market Strategy

53:34 Team Size and Structure

55:56 Remote Work Policy

56:53 Leadership Principles

59:37 Identity and Global Citizenship

01:01:55 Impact of Global Events

01:08:54 Fundraising Strategy

01:13:05 Acquisition Decision

01:17:32 Co-Founder Dynamics

01:22:21 Regional Startup Ecosystem

01:25:13 Quickfire Questions and Closing Thoughts

Jon Santillan is the co-founder of OCTA, a platform automating financial operations for businesses — starting with accounts receivables and embedded financing. He’s a second-time founder, previously building and selling Denarii to Careem. Based in Dubai, Jon’s been operating in the region for over a decade, and he’s now focused on helping SMEs across the Middle East get paid faster, streamline workflows, and access capital when they need it.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Jon’s LinkedIn account: @Jon Edward Santillan

OCTA’s Website: https://weareocta.com/

—-----------------------------------------------------------

SHOW NOTES:

00:00 Introduction to Jon Santillan and the Podcast

03:06 Journey to Founding OCTA

04:49 Challenges and Solutions in Payment Collections

09:21 Revenue Streams and Business Model

17:40 Global Market Aspirations

20:22 Fundraising and Investor Relations

27:35 Early Career and SEO Expertise

32:31 Entrepreneurial Journey and Founding Denarii

45:03 Acquisition by Careem and Lessons Learned

53:35 The Role of Capital in Ambition and Creativity

54:19 Integration Process Post-Acquisition

58:00 Reflections on Selling the Company

01:01:16 Angel Investing Approach

01:03:31 Building in Public: Strategy and Benefits

01:08:28 Challenges of Being an Expat Founder

01:11:42 Advice on Co-Founding Relationships

01:18:00 Managing Investor Relationships

01:27:03 Quickfire Questions and Closing Thoughts

Khaled Talhouni is the Managing Partner and co-founder of Nuwa Capital, a VC firm investing in early-stage startups across the MENAPT region, based in Dubai and Riyadh. He has managed over 150 early-stage deals with a total AUM exceeding $300M and has successfully exited 15+. With deep expertise in venture investing and portfolio management, he plays a key role in shaping the region’s startup ecosystem.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Khaled’s LinkedIn account: @Khaled Talhouni

Nuwa Capital’s Website: https://www.nuwacapital.io/

—-----------------------------------------------------------

SHOW NOTES:

00:00 Introduction to Khaled Talhouni and the Podcast

01:50 Early Career and Entry into VC

08:05 Wamda Capital and Its Impact

11:49 Founding of Nuwa Capital

13:44 Investment Thesis and Founder Profiles

22:57 AI's Impact on SaaS and Future Trends

37:14 Regional Startups Going Global

42:33 The Golden Age for the Region

44:50 Technological Transformation in the GCC

45:32 The Impact of Youth and Demographics

47:18 Geopolitical Neutrality and Economic Reforms

48:40 Case Study: A Successful Acquisition

52:21 The Importance of Founder-Investor Relationships

54:34 Reflecting on Missed Opportunities

57:49 Challenges in the Venture Capital Landscape

01:00:47 Spotting and Supporting Great Founders

01:03:23 Quick Investment Decisions

01:07:22 The Future of the Regional Ecosystem

01:12:42 Quickfire Questions and Closing Thoughts

Michael Lints has over 20 years of experience helping innovative businesses obtain the resources, insights, and expertise they need in order to be successful. Michael has been a startup operator, investor, and mentor, and is currently a Partner at the Singapore-based venture capital firm Golden Gate Ventures. He joined the firm in 2013 and is currently leading growth venture efforts, which include LP fundraising and portfolio management for Golden Gate Ventures investments at Series B and beyond.

Michael’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2000 when he co-founded an IT managed services startup in Europe that was acquired by a large data and telecom company six years later. In 2007, Michael founded a venture fund focused on Dutch small- and medium-sized enterprises to help them with capital financing, business development, and strategy. During the same period, he was invited to join the Economic Development Board Rotterdam as Vice Chairman. In that role, he launched the Young Economic Development Board where he brought together a highly influential Dutch network to develop a sustainable framework for public-private relationships that increased local business investment while leveraging the public infrastructure.

Michael has helped support firm and portfolio-level priorities that have spanned fundraising, capital allocation, and corporate development. He has helped to raise over USD $60M for Golden Gate Ventures and its portfolio companies, including helping to raise later stage rounds from external investors as well as leading two early strategic acquisitions.

Outside of work, sport is an essential part of Michael’s life. He is a former member of the Dutch karate team and the former ambassador for Treknology (Trek bikes distributor in Singapore). Michael actively participates in Ironman 70.3 races and marathons. He is also passionate about social justice and uses sport as a vehicle to raise awareness for important issues such as civil rights, economic opportunity, and education. 

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Michael’s LinkedIn account: @Michael Lints

Michael’s Website: michaellints.com

Golden Gate Ventures' Website: https://www.goldengate.vc/

—-----------------------------------------------------------

SHOW NOTES:

00:00 Introduction to Michael Lints and the Podcast

02:44 Who is Michael Lints?

06:16 Golden Gate Ventures: Mission and Early Days

09:39 Expanding to the MENA Region

12:55 Investment Strategies and Portfolio Insights

33:26 AI's Impact on Venture Capital and Industry

41:08 Michael Lints' Documentary: Broken Chains

42:56 Challenges Faced by Minority Founders

46:44 Personal Reflections on Career and Opportunity

48:38 From Martial Arts to Ironman

54:28 Investment Decisions and Regrets

57:02 The Impact of Market Trends on Fundraising

59:53 Key Questions for Founders

01:01:18 Characteristics of a Great Investor

01:03:12 The Importance of Founders in Early-Stage Investments

01:05:31 Navigating Exit Options in the Region

01:09:36 Wishes for the Regional Ecosystem

01:10:40 Quickfire Questions and Closing Thoughts

Julien is the Senior Partner at Oraseya Capital, where he leads the firm’s investment strategy, oversees deal sourcing and execution, and actively manages a diverse portfolio of early-stage startups. Oraseya Capital invests from pre-Seed to Series B stages, fostering innovation and scaling transformative businesses across key sectors. Julien is also a member of the investment committee.

In 2021, Julien launched SANDBOX, Oraseya’s program for investing in and mentoring pre-Seed/Seed stage startups. The program has supported hundreds of founders, with 16 investments made in 2024 alone.

Julien plays a pivotal role in mentoring founders, building long-term partnerships, and guiding portfolio companies toward sustainable growth and success.

With a presence in the UAE’s startup ecosystem since 2012, Julien brings extensive experience as both a founder and investor. Prior to joining Oraseya Capital, he was Principal and Portfolio Manager at Dtec Ventures, where he led investments across various industries and helped drive the growth of the regional entrepreneurial landscape.

He began his career as an Investment Banker with Société Générale CIB in Italy, working on multi-billion-dollar corporate finance transactions. After moving to Dubai, he launched his first startup—an online artist agency representing over 1,000 talents across the region—which he successfully exited. He subsequently contributed to several ventures as a co-founder, advisor, and product director.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Julien’s LinkedIn account: @Julien Plouzeau

Oraseya Capital’s Website: https://oraseyacapital.com/

—-----------------------------------------------------------

SHOW NOTES:

00:00 Introduction to Julien Plouzeau and the Podcast

02:34 Julien's Move to Dubai and Early Ventures

04:50 The Challenges and Rewards of Building Startups

08:26 Investment Banking vs. Venture Capital

12:17 The Role and Mission of Oraseya Capital

17:16 Oraseya Capital's Investment Strategy and Achievements

22:15 Multi-Stage Investing: Strategies and Approaches

37:28 Path to Profitability and Scaling

38:37 Lessons from Regional Trailblazers

43:16 Success Strategies for Startups

48:26 Investment Stories: Podeo and Ogram

54:50 Navigating the Investment Landscape

01:06:58 Quickfire Questions and Closing Thoughts

Waleed A. Alballaa is a technologist-turned-investor with a proven track record across global and MENA markets, spanning semiconductors, wireless, mobility, and eGovernment. As a Founding General Partner at Sukna Ventures, he backs early-stage, tech-driven startups across the region. Prior to Sukna, Waleed co-founded STV, one of the MENA region’s largest VC funds, and led pivotal initiatives at Elm—including launching the firm’s first business sector and founding its corporate venture arm.

Waleed’s earlier career includes high-tech development roles at Cadence Design, Conexant, Skyworks Solutions, and Microsoft in the U.S. He holds a Master’s in Computer Science from Oregon Health & Science University and a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from King Saud University.

Beyond investing, Waleed serves on multiple boards and actively mentors founders. He also co-founded the Saudi Venture Capital & Private Equity Association and the Business Analysis Association Group, where he currently serves as Vice Chairman. A committed technology optimist, Waleed is passionate about fueling innovation and strengthening the startup ecosystem across the MENA region.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Waleed’s LinkedIn account: @Waleed Alballaa

Sukna Ventures’ Website: https://suknaventures.com/

—-----------------------------------------------------------

SHOW NOTES:

00:00 Introduction to Waleed Alballaa and the Podcast

02:50 Waleed's Journey: From the US to Saudi Arabia

08:16 Founding STV and the Corporate VC Experience

14:10 The Birth of Sukna Ventures

20:03 Focus on Early-Stage Tech and Disruptive Technologies

20:35 Exploring Space Tech and AI Innovations

29:25 The Future of the Saudi Startup Ecosystem

34:56 Global Ambitions and Product Development

37:29 The Evolving Software Market and VC Landscape

41:15 Exploring Future Computing Technologies

41:37 The Role of Venture Capital in Emerging Tech

42:26 Challenges in Predicting the Future of Tech

43:17 The Importance of Understanding the Present Market

44:06 Finding Early Seeds of Innovation

46:19 Global Investment Strategies

48:43 A Contrarian Bet on Hardware

51:51 The Evolution of LPs in Venture Capital

54:50 The Role of Endowments and Foundations

01:00:46 Effective Board Governance

01:07:06 Lessons from Missed Investment Opportunities

01:15:12 The Impact of Market Externalities on Startups

01:16:11 The Importance of Early Relationships with Founders

01:16:53 Challenges in Market Sizing and Portfolio Strategy

01:20:04 Current Trends in Saudi's Investment Landscape

01:22:23 The Role of Mergers and Acquisitions in Growth

01:26:37 Emerging Vertical Trends in the Region

01:30:17 The Semiconductor Industry's Potential in Saudi

01:34:43 Investment Decision-Making and Ecosystem Improvements

01:39:41 Quickfire Questions and Closing Thoughts

Saoud was born in Kuwait during the Gulf War and left to the US at the age of 18. Saoud launched Fakespot.com in 2016, a platform that detects fake reviews using AI, after being scammed by a supplement with fake ratings. Since then, Fakespot is now used by millions of shoppers worldwide when browsing popular eCommerce websites. Fakespot was acquired by Mozilla in 2023 and is now integrated into Mozilla Firefox, one of the world's most utilized browsers. Prior to working at Fakespot, Saoud was a software engineer at Goldman Sachs and graduated from Monmouth University with his Bachelors and Masters in Software Engineering.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Saoud’s LinkedIn account: @Saoud Khalifah

Fakespot’s Website: https://www.fakespot.com/

Mozilla’s Website: https://www.mozilla.org/

—-----------------------------------------------------------

SHOW NOTES:

00:00 Introduction to Saoud Khalifah and the Podcast

01:50 Saoud's Early Life and Career Beginnings

13:12 The Birth of Fakespot

21:23 Challenges and Growth of Fakespot

38:42 The Spontaneous Start and Early Challenges

39:18 The Struggle of Fundraising

41:56 The Road to the First Investment

47:24 Pivoting During the Pandemic

49:06 The Browser Extension Boom

49:55 The Battle with a Trillion-Dollar Company

59:54 The Mozilla Acquisition

01:09:41 The Rise of Specialists in a Generalist World

01:13:48 The Intersection of Music and Programming

01:17:16 The Role of Music in Enhancing Cognitive Skills

01:19:03 The Future of Machine-Generated Content

01:20:03 Challenges and Opportunities in Generative AI

01:20:39 The Importance of Security in AI Development

01:24:05 The Need for New AI Infrastructure

01:28:34 Cultural Shifts and Technological Ambitions in the Middle East

01:29:07 The Role of Competition and Innovation in the Middle East

01:35:20 The Future of Coding and Best Practices

01:39:22 Investing in Startups: What to Look For

01:46:28 Quickfire Questions and Closing Thoughts

Leena Khalil is currently a Partner at Key Capital and was the co-founder of Mumzworld. In 2011, she co-founded Mumzworld.com, a leading platform dedicated to making parenting easier across the region. Following its strong growth, Mumzworld.com was fully acquired by the Saudi healthcare giant Tamer Group. Leena stepped down as CEO in 2024.

Before her role at Mumzworld, Leena worked in investment banking in London, where she successfully launched equity transactions for TMT clients across multiple geographies. She later transitioned to business process outsourcing, focusing on optimizing local government processes and customer service through the integration of technology into daily life.

Leena has been named one of the top female entrepreneurs by Forbes Middle East for four consecutive years, including the most recent Forbes 2023 list. Additionally, she was recognized as one of the most powerful retail leaders by Retail ME in 2023.

She serves on the board of APIC, a publicly listed company focused on driving investments to Palestine. Leena is also a member of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) Board of Advisors, a mentor at the Win Fellowship, and a judge supporting Eureka!, the Gulf region edition of Asia's Largest Business Model Competition.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Leena’s LinkedIn account: @Leena Khalil

Key Capital’s Website: https://www.key.capital/

—-----------------------------------------------------------

SHOW NOTES:

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

02:57 The Birth of Mumzworld

06:24 Challenges and Strategies in E-Commerce

11:33 Fundraising and Investment Insights

24:13 Acquisition by Tamer Group

32:16 Transition to Key Capital

39:45 Market Making Strategies

39:58 Challenges and Benefits of Secondaries Market

41:36 APIC: Arab Palestinian Investment Company

45:29 Benefitting Society through Business

47:27 Balancing Motherhood and Professional Life

50:24 E-commerce Trends and Investor Insights

53:55 The Importance of Co-founder Relationships

59:06 Mental Health in the Startup World

01:04:52 Reflections on Regional Ecosystem and Education

01:09:32 Quick Fire Questions and Closing Thoughts

Mohammad AlRazaz is a serial entrepreneur and the Co-founder & CEO of OTO, MENA’s largest shipping integrator and aggregator platform, powering online businesses and omni-channel brands. At just 22, Mohammad launched Jeeny (formerly EasyTaxi) in Saudi Arabia with Rocket Internet, becoming the youngest Country Manager globally. An MIT Global Entrepreneurship Bootcamp alumnus, he has built multiple ventures spanning transportation, e-commerce, logistics, and technology.

A curious soul, new father, coffee addict, remote work advocate, desserts maker, and a proud MENAT region nationalist.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Mohammad’s LinkedIn account: @Mohammad AlRazaz

OTO’s Website: https://tryoto.com/

—-----------------------------------------------------------

SHOW NOTES:

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

02:55 Mohamed's Early Career and Education

08:23 The Easy Taxi Journey

13:19 Lessons from Launder and Jak

20:42 The Birth of Oto

44:01 Cracking the Market

45:13 Launching the Marketplace

47:21 Challenges of Moving from Enterprise to SMB

50:35 Raising the Series A

55:13 Expanding into New Regions

01:20:47 The Importance of Customer Focus

01:26:35 The Importance of Fulfillment Rate and Data in Shipping

01:27:26 Privacy and Performance in Shipping Companies

01:29:41 Advising Aspiring Founders

01:30:43 The Value of Co-Founder Relationships

01:36:27 Fatherhood and Entrepreneurship

01:43:31 Reflecting on Professional and Personal Growth

01:50:14 Challenges and Opportunities for Startups in the Arab Region

01:59:56 Quick Fire Questions and Closing Thoughts

Amal Dokhan is an entrepreneurship advocate, a venture capitalist and an ecosystem builder operating for more than a decade in the MENA region. Amal is the managing partner at 500 Global managing the Sanabil 500 MENA seed accelerator fund focusing on investing in early stage tech startups. She previously worked at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, managing accelerator programs and delivering corporate innovation programs with many large organizations. Amal also has worked on several government initiatives during her time in the Small and Medium enterprise Authority.

Amal has also angel invested in many startups as well as managing Babson college’s MENA entrepreneurial programs and has held many other technology supporting roles in the region. Amal sits on the board of the Venture Capital and Private Equity Association in Saudi as well as the board of the Middle East venture capital association in UAE. She’s a Kauffman fellow and has been featured two years in a row -2023 and 2024- as one of most powerful women in the Middle East by Forbes.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Amal’s LinkedIn account: @Amal Dokhan

500 Global’s Website: https://500.co/

—-----------------------------------------------------------

SHOW NOTES:

00:00 Introduction of Amal Dokhan

03:13 Amal's Journey into Entrepreneurship

05:58 Joining King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

09:23 The growth of the MENA Startup Ecosystem

20:07 500 MENA and Investment Strategies

43:16 Personal Reflections on Resilience

49:26 Balancing Social and Alone Time

50:24 The Power of Teaching and Knowledge Sharing

52:05 From Kindergarten Teacher to Managing Partner

53:55 Navigating the Saudi Startup Ecosystem

55:43 Opportunities and Challenges in Saudi Arabia

01:03:16 Global Investors' Perspective on the Region

01:05:58 Impact of Global Trends on Regional Startups

01:11:35 The Rise of Venture Debt and New Financing Models

01:18:33 Promoting Diversity in Venture Capital

01:26:54 Future Trends and Sectors to Watch

01:31:09 The Role of VC Associations in the Region

01:34:56 Personal Reflections and Advice

01:37:49 Concluding Remarks and Quickfire Questions

Mohammed is the Managing Partner at Nama Ventures, a pre-seed / seed stage fund fueling tech

innovation in the MENA region, especially in Saudi. Previously, he was the managing director of

Tharwa Capital, a Dubai based financial investment and advisory firm focusing on the technology

equity markets.

He’s also led the Venture Capital practice at Global Investment House, a Kuwait based investment

company. Prior to that, he was the Director of Technology Investments at Dubai Silicon Oasis

Authority (DSOA). and the Founder and CEO of Sulaf Solutions, a tech solutions provider based in Silicon Valley.

Mohammed has worked and consulted for many blue chip technology companies as well as been an active Angel investor. He’s a member of Sand Hill Angels (SHA), on the Advisory Board of LinkSV, an Advisory Board member of kyube.com, and a founding board member of Techwadi.

Mohammed is a mentor to many regional technology companies and an advisor with In5 incubator in

Dubai and Oasis 500 incubator in Jordan. He holds an MBA from London Business School and has a BS in Electrical Engineering from Brigham Young University.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Mohammed’s LinkedIn account: @Mohammed Alzubi

Nama Ventures’ Website: https://www.namaventures.com/

—-----------------------------------------------------------

SHOW NOTES:

00:00 Introduction of Mohammed Alzubi

03:14 The Decision to Return to the MENA Region after years in Silicon Valley

07:40 The Entrepreneurial Experience and Its Impact on Investing

17:03 The Founding and Vision of Nama Ventures

20:49 Investment Philosophy: The Importance of Team

25:22 Decision-Making Process at Nama Ventures

32:01 Brev.dev's Journey to Acquisition by NVIDIA

40:42 The Power of a Complementary Team

42:06 From Founder to Investor

44:30 Launching a New Podcast

45:22 The Story of Salla

46:29 Localizing Business Models for MENA

54:08 Navigating the Saudi Startup Ecosystem

01:01:01 Investing in Funds as an LP and the Value of Trust

01:06:56 The Importance of Effective Boards

01:13:39 Concluding Remarks and Quickfire Questions

Ameer Sherif is the founder and chairman of Basharsoft, the company behind Wuzzuf and Forasna, Egypt's leading online employment platforms for both white collar and blue collar workers, respectively. Collectively, both platforms impacted the lives of over seven million job seekers in Egypt and helped 70,000+ companies hire more than one million people over the past years.

They've had significant growth and impact on the local online employment market, and they have been one of Egypt's fastest growing local tech companies. He's raised a total of 12 million in VC funding along the way, and he's built a team of over 300 employees. And many of his investors, as we will tell the story, were investing in the region for the first time when they invested in Basharsoft. Today, he leads the company's expansion into Saudi Arabia, the GCC, and Africa. 

In 2019, he was selected as an endeavor entrepreneur and named a young global leader by the World Economic Forum. He also sits on the board of Egytrans, a publicly listed logistics company, and ITIDA, the executive arm of the Egyptian Ministry of ICT. Helping set strategies for Egypt on digitization, innovation, entrepreneurship. Ameer is also a venture partner with Khwarizmi Ventures, a 70 million dollar MENA focused VC fund based in KSA, where he spent two years as a partner and continues to advise portfolio founders. He holds a master's degree in computer engineering, and a bachelor's in electrical and communications engineering from Cairo University.

He's also completed a master's in Executive programs on public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and business leadership executive programs at MIT, Stanford, INSEAD, and HBS.

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The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Hasan’s LinkedIn account: @Ameer Sherif

Wuzzuf’s Website: https://wuzzuf.net/jobs/egypt

Forasna’s Website: https://forasna.com/

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SHOW NOTES:

00:00 Introduction to Ameer Sherif and Basharsoft

03:26 Ameer’s Journey into Entrepreneurship

06:58 Overcoming Early Challenges

10:06 Innovative Solutions and Growth

17:56 Securing Funding and Expansion

26:32 Impact and Future Plans

42:18 Insights from the VC World

50:16 Insights on Founder Management and Success

50:59 Expanding to New Markets and Company Vision

52:53 Experience in Public Policy and Board Certification

53:50 Introduction to Khwarizmi Ventures

54:49 Investment Decision-Making Process

56:18 Promising Verticals and Team Focus

58:11 Co-Founder Relationships and Best Practices

01:01:16 Mental Health and Burnout in Founders

01:04:27 Balancing Work and Life as a Founder

01:06:31 Joining the Board of ITIDA

01:10:58 Advice to Younger Self and Definition of Success

01:15:58 Second-Time Founders and Market Maturity

01:19:07 Exit Options for Startups in the Region

01:22:08 Characteristics of Effective Board Directors

01:24:21 Choosing the Right Investors

01:25:56 Investing in the HR Space

01:29:16 Future Vision for Basharsoft

01:29:51 Concluding Remarks and Quickfire Questions

Hasan Haider has over 13 years of experience investing in MENA startups. Hasan is the Founder and Managing Partner of +VC, one of the most active early stage venture capital firms focused on the MENA region. Hasan was previously Managing Partner, MENA at 500 Startups and led the firms growth in the MENA Region, turning 500 Startups into the most active VC fund in the MENA region, raising and deploying the 500 Falcons fund, building partnerships and running programs in the region to help build the regional ecosystem. Hasan has invested in more than 250 startups in the region over the course of the last 5 years. 

Prior to 500, Hasan was the co-founder and CEO of Tenmou, the first business angel’s organization in Bahrain and one of the first in the MENA region. Hasan’s work in developing angel investment in emerging markets through Tenmou has been picked up as a case study by the World Bank and was taught to Entrepreneurship Policy makers at Babson College. Previously, Hasan’s career was in finance and investment banking at Sico where he spent a number of years.

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The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Hasan’s LinkedIn account: @Hasan Haider

+VC’s Website: https://plus.vc/

VCpreneur, at The Intersection Of VC & Data

Ahmad Takatkah is a technical founder turned VC, with a background in computer engineering, data science (AI and ML), and product management. 

Over the past 15 years, Ahmad has helped set up and operate three VC firms. For which he created new deal sourcing, startup evaluation, and exit prediction tools. 

Ahmad utilized a new AI model he customized to summarize startup pitch decks and prepare investment memos and DD reports. He utilized a new data model he designed to collect 300+ data points on startups, and then used ML to score companies based on price, market, team, differentiation, and performance, and to predict exit timelines, valuations, and fund returns. 

He's also created internal products to automate the collection of portfolio companies’ performance data, and encourage knowledge sharing among portfolio companies’ founders and teams. 

Ahmad comes with technical, entrepreneurial, and active VC investing experience, he managed small and large teams of both business and engineering talents. He is an Engineer with an MBA, and a Kauffman Fellow since 2012.

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The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Ahmad’s LinkedIn account: @Ahmad Takatkah (أحمد طقاطقه)

Ahmad’s Website: https://www.vcpreneur.com/

VC Evolve book: Navigating the Art, Science, and Future of Venture Capital, in an Ever-Evolving Startup Frontier

Rama Kayyali is CEO and co-founder of Little Thinking Minds, an award-winning edtech company with a mission to close Arabic language literacy gaps, creating digital learning platforms to improve targeting over 100 million children in MENA and over 100 million globally. Currently Little Thinking Minds platforms are used by half a million students in 800 schools in 10 countries in the MENA region in private and public schools as well as schools that cater to refugee communities.

Little Thinking Minds is a multiple globally recognized and award winning company:

2023 winner of the Innovation Award from the Saudi eLearning Center

2022 MIT SOLVE global competition

2021 Innovation Award of Abdel Hamid Shoman Foundation

2020 and 2021 Elite 200 (GSVCup Competition) representing the top “Pre-K to Gray” EdTech startups across the globe with a mission to ensure that children have access to a better future through education

2019 Selected as one of the top 100 start-ups shaping the fourth industrial revolution

2019 Queen Rania Award for Education in Entrepreneurship

Rama is an Eisenhower Fellow, an Endeavor Entrepreneur and winner of the Arab Women's Award.

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The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Rama’s LinkedIn account: @Rama Kayyali

Little Thinking Minds’ Website: https://www.littlethinkingminds.com/en/

Wael is a Computer Engineer, serial entrepreneur, and YC alumnus who has co-founded various startups in the Silicon Valley and the Middle East. He was one of the early employees of Careem and held roles including VP of Product Management and VP of Platform Superapp Business Unit until Uber's acquisition for $3.1bn. Wael is a techie at heart and has built technology products used by tens of millions of users worldwide. He is currently a General Partner at Raed Ventures​, a VC firm ​investing in early stage startups in the region​,​ and is passionate about building tech capacity and fostering entrepreneurship in the MENA region.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Wael’s LinkedIn account: @Wael Nafee

Raed Ventures’ Website: https://raed.vc/

Dr. Waleed Kadous is Chief Scientist at Anyscale, the company behind the popular open source distributed computing platform Ray. He leads the company’s LLM efforts. Prior to Anyscale, Waleed worked at Uber, where he led overall system architecture, evangelized machine learning, and led the Location and Maps teams. He previously worked at Google, where he founded the Android Location and Sensing team, responsible for the “blue dot” as well as ML algorithms underlying products like Google Fit. He also holds more than 40 patents. 

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The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Waleed’s LinkedIn account: @M Waleed Kadous

Anyscale’s Website: https://www.anyscale.com/

Ray: https://docs.ray.io/en/latest/

Asher Siddiqui is a tech investor with a global career spanning 25+ years, having made 100+ investments valued at $15bn+.

Asher is a General Partner at Sukna Ventures, a MENA focused early-stage VC Fund that backs exceptional teams building the software & data infrastructure layer enabling the digital transformation of industries across the MENA region.

Asher started out in the late 90’s as an entrepreneur and software engineer building J2EE B2B SaaS products (1998-2006), followed by 10 years (2006-2016) in corporate M&A, as Head of M&A and CVC at Etisalat Group (now e& Group - c.$65bn market cap) where he led $15bn of M&A and CVC (founding board member and chair of the IC at iMENA Group) deals and then switched to VC when he joined the global leadership team at 500 Startups (now 500 Global) in San Francisco (2016-2019).

Since then, Asher was involved with the development of several VC firms including Sukna Ventures in the MENA region, Lumikai Fund in India, Zayn Capital in Pakistan, Race Capital in Silicon Valley, etc..

Asher Siddiqui is also a GP coach and advisor to several VC fund managers (GP’s) and sits on the advisory board of several VC firms, including: FootPrint Coalition Ventures (led by Robert Downey Jr. - USA), Merus Capital (led by the former Head of Corp Dev at Google - USA), The Treasury (led by the cofounders of Betterment and Acorns - USA), among others. 

—-----------------------------------------------------------

The Startups Arabia Podcast connects you to the most prominent founders, investors, and operators of the Arab region. You will be inspired by their success, the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they see.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay updated and get in touch:

LinkedIn: Startups Arabia Podcast

Twitter: @ArabiaStartups

Facebook: @startupsarabia

Youtube: Startups Arabia Podcast

—--- Resources—--------:

Asher's LinkedIn account: @Asher Siddiqui

Sukna Ventures’ Website: https://suknaventures.com/