VC React Podcast (E45): Anthropic's hypocrisy, xAI In Saudi, Qlub $30M Round, 500 Global $300M Fund

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. Abe Seksek, An Angel Investor & Host of the ABEZ Show

- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abeseksek/

- VC Firm Website: https://www.thelaunchventures.com/

2. Amer Nasereddin, VC at Fikr Ventures, Board Member & Co-founder @ Yaseer

- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amernasereddin/

- VC Firm Website: https://www.fikrventures.com/

3. Chada El Islam Benmahcene, CEO @ ENTROGX Ventures, & Co-founder @ Women Collective

- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benchada/

- VC Firm Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrogx

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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.

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News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.

In Today's Episode:

- “Not thrilled about it”: Anthropic rethinks Gulf capital stance to fund AI growth

Summary: In a leaked internal memo, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei confirms that the company is now exploring investment from the UAE and Qatar – a reversal of its 2024 stance on Gulf capital, when it declined funding from Saudi Arabia over “national‑security concerns.”

- Elon Musk’s xAI eyes Saudi Arabia for next wave of data centre expansion

Summary: Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, xAI, is in early talks to lease data centre capacity in Saudi Arabia, as it hunts for energy-rich regions with capital depth and geopolitical alignment to scale its compute infrastructure, according to Bloomberg.

- Qlub raises $30M to take UAE-born dining payments platform global

Summary: Qlub allows customers to instantly scan a QR code to view the menu, order, split the bill, and pay without waiting for a server or using a card machine. Founded in 2021 by Eyad Alkassar and Mahmoud Fouz, Qlub has quickly become a go-to digital layer for the hospitality sector. Its new funding round, co-led by long-time backers Shorooq Partners and Cherry Ventures, also saw participation from telecom giant e&, sovereign investor Mubadala, and Legend Capital.

- 500 Global launches $300M Sustainable Growth initiative from new Abu Dhabi base

Summary: 500 Global is doubling down on emerging markets with the launch of a new Sustainable Growth practice based in Abu Dhabi and plans to deploy up to $300 million into startups solving critical challenges across Africa, Brazil, India, and the Gulf over the next two years.

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