Intro

VC React Podcast:

Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds.

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Hosts:

• Ahmad Takatkah, VCpreneur. Sign up to VCpreneur Newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.vcpreneur.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Jamie Lane, FWDstart. Sign up to FWDstart Newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://archives.fwdstart.me/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Available on:

• Youtube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@VCReactPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vc-react-podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc-react-podcast/id1764834384⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Guests:

1. Eyad Albayouk, General Manager @ Flat6Labs KSA

- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eyad-albayouk/

- VC Firm Website: https://flat6labs.com/

2. Hassan Ikram, Angel Investor, Founder and CEO of Cotyledon, and Founder and Chairman of ThriftPlan

- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassanikram1/

- Website: https://www.cotyledon.sa/

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#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #privatecredit #privateequity #finance #business #ipo #acquisitions #limitedpartners #revenuebasedfinancing #fintech #climatetech #edtech #accelerator #cvc #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi

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Sponsors:

💸This week’s episode is brought to you by OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle.

Visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.weareocta.com/fwdstart ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to get your first 6 months free.

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News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.

In Today's Episode:

- Saudi Arabia creates future AI powerhouse called HumainSummary: Saudi Arabia has launched HUMAIN, a PIF-owned AI company designed to operate across the entire AI value chain – from infrastructure to applications. Headquartered in Riyadh and chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, HUMAIN will build next-gen data centres, develop a powerful Arabic large language model, and offer AI-native platforms across strategic sectors.

- Trump’s Mideast visit opens floodgate of AI deals led by NvidiaSummary: The Trump administration is clearing export barriers to AI chips for Saudi Arabia and the UAE, enabling both nations to accelerate their AI ambitions. US tech giants – including Nvidia, AMD, Amazon, Cisco, and OpenAI – are unveiling multi-billion-dollar partnerships with Gulf firms like Humain and G42 to build data centers and AI infrastructure.

- Google Backs STV’s $100 Million AI Fund to Enable AI-Native Startups in the Middle East & North AfricaSummary: STV has launched a $100 million AI Fund, backed by Google, to support early-stage AI-native startups across MENA. The fund targets ventures focused on application-layer AI, localized models, and critical infrastructure.

- Saudi-based Wyld VC unveils $50m AI fundSummary: Saudi investor Tala Hasan Al-Jabri has launched Wyld VC, the MENA region’s first AI-native venture capital firm, with a $50 million inaugural fund. Backed by the family office of Lawrence E. Golub, the firm seeks to address the region’s AI talent gap and accelerate innovation across sectors. Al-Jabri, a pioneer in MENA’s tech scene and a former Woman of the Year in Finance, brings a strong track record from startups like Tabby and Starcloud.

- WakeCap closes $28 million investment to expand AI-driven construction solutionsSummary: Saudi Arabia-based contech WakeCap has secured $28 million in new funding at the Saudi-US Investment Forum to expand its services and technologies for improving construction site safety and productivity.

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