AI can open doors or lock them.

Karima El Hakim (Director & Co-Director Africa at Plug & Play) explains how founders outside the usual hubs can use AI to show up – without perfect English, polish, or even showing their face.

Karima has addressed the Presidents of Egypt and France; she brokers major innovation deals across the continent; and she acts as what I call “the glue” between founders, regulators, corporates, and ecosystem builders.

You’ll hear:

Why “AI is a key for inclusion” (language, avatars, no-code speed)
The Arabic content gap (<10% online) and the danger of outsourced distribution
Due diligence on investors before making intros
Corporate venture as a regional superpower
Why unified cybersecurity standards should come before the next crypto fight
Why Gaming is the next EdTech frontier and essential for our kids in Arabia

Chapters

Intro & why this show is “unfiltered”
Emojis, penguins & self-expression in “censored” spaces
AI for inclusion: language, avatars, no-code speed
Arabic content gap & the risk of outsourced distribution
Build our own platforms vs. stay globally plugged in?
Vetting investors before intros; fixing broken VC dynamics
Corporate venture playbooks & sector-focused accelerators
Cross-border standards: start with cybersecurity, not crypto
Rapid fire: books, $500M bets, impostor syndrome, slowing down, Gaming x EdTech

Links

• All platforms & extras: mchbib.com

• Karima on Instagram

• The show playlist on Youtube

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