Episode number 50!!!
We’re joined by Abdul Haseeb Basit, cofounder of Madinah Angels to discuss Islamophobia in the startup ecosystem, prompted by controversial comments from a top VC partner, and explore how Muslim entrepreneurs can build their own spaces and funding networks. They also delve into the origins and growth of Madinah Angels and the Muslim CEOs Dinner series, aimed at empowering Muslim founders.
This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise
Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/
And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/
Show Notes
00:00 - Trailer and intro
02:20 – The book that changed his career
04:49 - Mystery guest arrives
07:21 – Growing up nomadic and pilot dreams
11:36 – Career in banking (working with Areeb’s dad?!)
15:06 - Islamic Finance Impressions and moving to FinTech
18:08 – Ethical vs. Islamic branding: lessons for founders
24:05 – Why Islamic fintech will outpace Islamic banks
29:28 – Islamophobia in Silicon Valley and start-up culture
35:31 – Madinah Angels: Vision, first deal & founder advice
44:11 - Web3, Stable coins and the future of Islamic fintech
48:31 – The Muslim CEOs Dinner: building community & collaboration
54:41 – Legacy, supporting Muslim businesses & global impact
1:01:22 – Closing thoughts & next steps
