VC React Podcast (E21): 2 Tech IPOs, 3 Big Rounds, 9 New VC Funds, 2024 VC Activity Report, & More!

Jan 18, 2025

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

VC React Podcast:

Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds. Stay tuned for: expert analysis, independent opinions, and maybe some heated conversations! Hosts:

Ahmad Takatkah, VCpreneur. Sign up to VCpreneur Newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.vcpreneur.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jamie Lane, FWDstart. Sign up to FWDstart Newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fwdstart.me/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--- Available on:

---

Guests:

1. Ian Arden, Co-founder and GP @ Mempool Ventures - LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-arden/ - VC Firm Website: https://www.mempool.ventures/ 2. Latifa BaNasr, Founding Principal @ Sharaka Financial - LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latifabanasr/ - VC Firm Website: https://sharaka.sa/en/home/ 3. Philip Bahoshy, Founder & CEO @ MAGNiTT - LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipbahoshy/ - Company Website: https://magnitt.com/

--- #startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #privatecredit #privateequity #finance #business #ipo #acquisitions #limitedpartners #revenuebasedfinancing #fintech #climatechange #edtech #accelerator #cvc #web3 #crypto #blockchain #DeFi ---

News of the week brought to you by FWDstart. In Today's Episode:

- Talabat debut on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), marking the largest global tech IPO of 2024. Raised AED 7.5 billion ($2.04 billion) in an oversubscribed offering. - Nice One, the Saudi beauty e-commerce platform went public on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul). Surged 30% on its first trading day. - Calo raised $25 million in an oversubscribed Series B round led by Nuwa Capital, with participation from Khwarizmi Ventures, STV, and regional family offices. - CredibleX secured $55 million in Seed funding to expand its SME lending solutions. - Zension raised $30 million in Series A funding to expand its warranty and buyback services for electronics. - Aliph Fund I ($250M GCC growth fund by Aliph Capital) – Focused on mid-market Saudi and GCC companies with tech enablement strategies. Aliph also acquired a 25% stake in SANIPEX GROUP. - Jadwa Investment’s GCC Private Equity Fund I ($400M blind-pool fund) targeting high-potential private equity across Saudi Arabia and the GCC. - MEVP’s Middle East Venture Fund IV ($150M) anchored by the European Investment Bank, focusing on Seed to Series B startups across the GCC, Levant, and North Africa. - RAED Fund III (target size $150M) by RAED Ventures, targeting early-stage fintech and SaaS startups in MENA. - Global Ventures Fund III ($150M) – Early-stage focus on supply chain, energy, and agri-tech across MENA. - Iliad Partners launched its $50M Tech Ventures Fund I, targeting early-stage B2B fintech, logistics, and proptech startups with a cross-border focus. - Global Web3 early-stage venture asset manager Sigma Capital has launched the $100 million Sigma Capital Fund I dedicated to accelerating the next wave of Web3 innovation in the Middle East and globally. - 100Unicorns, India’s largest early-stage accelerator VC, opened its first international office in Abu Dhabi with a $200M fund. - Sanabil Accelerator by Orbit (backed by PIF-owned Sanabil Investments) launched a 4-month accelerator supporting early-stage Saudi, MENA, and global startups expanding into the region.. --- (أحمد طقاطقه) ---