Couchonomics with Arjun What the Data Actually Says About Venture Capital in MENA
Venture capital is often discussed through funding totals and headline deals.
But the real signal sits underneath the numbers.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Philip Bahoshy, Founder and CEO of MAGNiTT, to break down what the latest venture data actually says about emerging markets and where capital is really moving.
Drawing from MAGNiTT’s newest annual report, Philip unpacks the divergence across emerging markets, the growing dominance of the GCC in venture funding, and why Saudi Arabia and the UAE are increasingly shaping the region’s venture outcomes. The conversation goes beyond raw numbers to explore liquidity, exits, fund cycles, and what maturity really looks like for venture ecosystems.
The episode dives deep into FinTech’s continued dominance, the realities behind mega rounds, why exits remain the biggest unlock for founders and investors, and how AI, private credit, and digital assets are reshaping capital allocation.
🎙️ In this episode:
• Why venture funding in emerging markets is diverging
• How Saudi Arabia and the UAE came to dominate MENA venture capital
• What the data reveals about deal volume versus deal quality
• Why exits, not funding rounds, define ecosystem maturity
• The real state of FinTech, digital assets, and venture debt
• How AI is changing venture economics beyond the hype
• What founders should understand about liquidity and long-term outcomes
• Where emerging markets could see the next wave of growth
👉 Watch the full conversation to understand how venture capital in the Middle East is evolving, what the data is really saying beneath the headlines, and why the next phase of growth will be defined by exits, not valuations.
PARTNERS
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Venture capital beyond the headlines
02:00 What MAGNiTT
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