VC React Podcast VC React Podcast (E46): Meta’s $1B Offers, AI In FoodTech, Arabic AI Voice, & Open Banking In UAE
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. Mian Manoff, Founding Partner @ CLNM Capital
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mianfan/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.clnm.capital/
2. Philipe Moura, Founder & CEO @ Vinci Ventures and Chairman of FDC Angels
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipemoura/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fdcangels/
3. Santiago Rojas, managing partner @ Meridian 75 by Cube Ventures and MKF group
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santiagorojasmontoya/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.cube.ventures/
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#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #business #ipo #acquisitions #fintech #edtech #accelerator #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
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Sponsors:
💸This week’s episode is brought to you by:
- MilkStraw AI — The AI that finds hidden savings in your AWS bills, sometimes up to 75%, freeing up capital for growth, hiring, or building faster. See how much you could save in 60 seconds and how much further your runway can go at MilkStraw.aiWebsite: https://www.milkstraw.ai/
- 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:
- Meta Now Tries Poaching From Mira Murati's AI Startup As Zuckerberg’s Hiring Blitz Continues.
Summary: According to a Wired report, Zuckerberg and his team have approached more than a dozen people at the barely six-month-old company founded by the former CTO of OpenAI. Quoting unnamed sources, the publication reported that one of those offers was more than $1 billion over a multi-year span.
- Calo closes $39M Series B extension, pushing total raise to $64M for global expansion and AI-powered personalisation
Summary: Riyadh-headquartered meal subscription startup, Calo, has raised $39 million (SAR 146.27 million) in a Series B extension led by AlJazira Capital, bringing its total Series B funding to $64 million (SAR 240 million). Founded in late 2019 by Ahmed Al Rawiand Moayed Almoayed.
- Sawt raises $1M to build Arabic AI voice agents for call center automation
Summary: Sawt, a Saudi-based startup building AI-native voice call systems, has raised $1 million (SAR 3.75 million) in a pre-seed round led by STV and T2. The company is developing Arabic-language voice agents for use in customer support, bookings, and sales, targeting an underserved niche in the GCC’s AI infrastructure stack. Founded earlier this year by Abdulmalik Al-Saeed, Khalid Al-Jaraiwi, and Bassem Al-Harbi.
- Lean Technologies gains regulatory approval under UAE’s Open Finance Framework
Summary: Lean Technologies, a financial infrastructure provider serving MENA, has received In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the Central Bank of the UAE under the country’s newly launched Open Finance Framework. Founded in 2019 by Hisham Al-Falih, Ashu Gupta, and Aditya Sarkar.
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