#348: Maaz Sheikh on Building Starz Play, Surviving the Storm, and Scaling to $370M

What does it take to go from survival mode to a $370 million exit – all without breaking?

 

Maaz Sheikh, co-founder and CEO of Starz Play, has lived the answer. 

 

In this episode, Maaz opens up about the high-stakes journey of building one of the Middle East’s leading streaming platforms, from battling burnout and chasing investment, to navigating a buyout and preparing for what’s next.

 

This is the untold story behind one of the region’s biggest media growth plays, and a powerful conversation about resilience, vision, and the relationships that hold it all together.

 

01:48 – Where Starz Play fits in the global streaming race

05:52 – COVID’s impact: 6 years of growth in 6 weeks

13:41 – How audiences are shifting, fast

16:55 – Hitting content home runs 

21:37 – The power of the right investors

30:00 – Inside the buyout

40:46 – Resilience under pressure

42:23 – Gym time, support, and real relationships

52:27 – The $370 million milestone and what’s next

01:04:32 – Why in-person connection still matters

Show Sponsors:

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