ALGO: A LOT GOING ON WITH RAJ KOTECHA | THE NO1 PODCAST IN DUBAI Raj Kotecha

James Poole is CEO and Founder of Seven Fronds and is responsible for bringing world-class retail and F&B brands like On Running and Gitano to the UAE.

He is also part of the My Friends Your Friends community, so Raj and Vik invited him on to ALGO to learn more about what's enticing huge brands to set up in the Middle East. We also cover what gives these brands the best chance of survival in 2024.

Highlights from our chat with James Poole:

(00:00) Intro
(00:54) What is James Poole’s Background?
(07:31) Where is James Poole Now in 2024?
(10:02) How does James Poole Prepare a Brand to Speak to Operators?
(11:47) What NOT TO DO Entering a Market as a New Brand
(18:47) Is it Worth Opening a New Brand in Dubai in 2024?
(20:57) Why Dubai is an “A” Market
(24:18) GITANO Dubai’s Success Story
(30:33) What to Think About When Consulting a Brand
(35:09) The Success Story Behind On-Running
(40:32) How & Why Networking is so Important?
(44:14) What Should an Up-and-Coming Brand Think of?
(52:45) Biggest Trends & Opportunities for Brands in Dubai’s 2024 Market
(57:12) Thank You to James Poole

Connect with the show
https://www.instagram.com/rajkotecha
https://www.instagram.com/vikmorjaria
https://www.instagram.com/algo.pod

Learn More about Seven Fronds
https://sevenfronds.com/

Search for ALGO: A LOT GOING ON WITH RAJ KOTECHA on Spotify and Apple Podcast too

In this episode of ALGO, we have Vik joining us as we dive into the world of AI. From its potential to preserve digital legacies to its impact on company profits, we explore the multifaceted aspects of AI. Plus, learn how to integrate AI into your business and life starting today.

Stay tuned for all this and more, including updates on My Friends Your Friends 20.

Highlights:

(00:00) Intro
(02:46) Where is AI Today & How Should You Think About it?
(14:12) AI could keep people in your business even after they die.
(20:10) Will AI Affect Company’s Bottom Line?
(31:36) What Do People Want to Know About AI?
(34:27) AI Will Optimize Everything You do
(40:14) How To Start Using AI Today
(44:57) My Friends Your Friends 20 is Almost Sold Out

Connect with the show
https://www.instagram.com/rajkotecha
https://www.instagram.com/vikmorjaria
https://www.instagram.com/algo.pod

Search for ALGO: A LOT GOING ON WITH RAJ KOTECHA on Spotify and Apple Podcast too

In this episode of ALGO, we have Vik joining us as we dive into a packed agenda, covering everything announcing the My Friends Your Friends 20 Cohosts, to New Year's Eve parties with the best DJs in Dubai, as well as Ed Sheeran's record-breaking ticket sales show in Dubai.

We also discuss the latest TikTok and Universal contract drama, and we can't forget that Apple will start allowing third-party apps onto only the EU app store.

Highlights:

(00:00) Intro
(00:47) MFYF Co-Host list
(17:22) Vik’s 2023 NYE House Party
(19:07) Raj’s 2023 NYE Plans took a complete 180° turn
(21:29) NYE DJ's at Monkey Bar
(26:32) Listening to Vinyls at Honeycomb Hi-Fi
(28:51) Reggae on the Roof at Paros
(33:58) Is the Music Scene in Dubai Evolving?
(37:02) Ed Sheeran's Dubai Show Review
(44:20) Ali Abdaal & Sahil Bloom’s Talk at LSE
(51:13) Apple Allows Third-Party App Store
(1:02:25) Tiktok and Universal Beef
(1:12:53) Omar Agamyy on Instagram
(1:14:53) Raj Kotecha’s Interview with VISIONARY MAGAZINE
(1:16:27) Raj on the Thad Cox Podcast
(1:17:56) Matt Gray on Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal
(1:19:28) Shout Outs

Connect with the show
https://www.instagram.com/rajkotecha
https://www.instagram.com/vikmorjaria
https://www.instagram.com/algo.pod

Search for ALGO: A LOT GOING ON WITH RAJ KOTECHA on Spotify and Apple Podcast too

This special episode of ALGO features Raj answering questions that were used to write the following article for Visionary Magazine.

https://www.visionary-mag.com/post/renaissance-man-raj-kotecha-talks-his-come-up-tech-hip-hop-crazy-encounters-with-fat-joe-and-more

Raj dives into the early days of his first job to the essential life lessons learned from family, exploring the balance of business studies and event promotion. You’ll get to hear the behind-the-scenes story of Raj meeting hip-hop icons DJ Khaled and Fat Joe. Raj also talks about the intersection of hip-hop and tech and the state of the hip-hop scene in the Middle East.

Raj also opens up about the origin of My Friends Your Friends, and shares insights from the three most important lessons from his long career.

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro
(00:55) What was your first ever job?
(01:44) What are the most important lessons you learned from your parents & grandparents?
(03:42) How did you balance studying business & party promotion?
(05:09) What made you keep working & start an agency after an exit instead of taking a break?
(06:33) The story behind meeting DJ Khaled & Fat Joe
(09:03) Where do hip-hop & tech intersect & how do they influence each other?
(10:17) What do you think bout the hip-hop scene in the Middle East/Dubai & what does it need to blow up?
(12:50) Does AI benefit or hinder creatives?
(14:46) Which city is at the top of your list & why?
(16:33) What is the origin story of MyFriendsYourFriends and what’s the future of it?
(18:33) Which of your event brand is your favorite & why?
(19:45) From the beginning of your journey till now what are the 3 most important lessons?

Connect with the show

http://www.instagram.com/rajkotecha
http://www.instagram.com/vikmorjaria
http://www.instagram.com/algo.pod

Connect with Majid & Visionary Magazine


https://www.instagram.com/visionarymagazine/

In this episode of ALGO, join us as we go on a journey, discussing a lot of different topics from our 2024 New Year's plans, spending Christmas Day in Dubai on a Yacht as well as interesting conversations we’ve recently had with creatives. We also discuss what we believe you should focus on in 2024, weaknesses we need to stop to make our 2024 more productive, and lastly what we believe are the biggest opportunities of 2024. We hope you enjoy this episode and wish you a Happy New Year!

(00:00) Intro
(00:20) Raj & Vik’s New Years Plans
(02:15) Raj’s Conversation with Alv on Experience Design
(05:02) Our Conversation with Drock AKA the Man Behind GaryVee’s Content Machine
(07:12) Yacht Party & Lunch for Christmas Day
(10:50) Rest in Peace Farah Khaleck
(12:10) Jus Reign is Back
(15:50) Don’t sleep on AI in 2024
(21:31) Get good at Learning How to Learn
(27:21) Process’ are Important
(28:36) Stop Over Consuming Content
(31:32) Vik on Needing to Stop Procrastinating
(33:40) Business’ Need to be More Thoughtful about Content
(36:10) You Should Move to the UAE in 2024
(37:49) Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
(39:26) Don’t Let People Drain Your Energy

Connect with the show

http://www.instagram.com/rajkotecha
http://www.instagram.com/vikmorjaria
http://www.instagram.com/algo.pod

This episode was recorded at Tara Rose Podcast Studios. For more information check out

Tara Rose Salon
Arenco Warehouse 10, Al Quoz, Al Quoz 1, Dubai
+971 4 324 6613
http://www.tararosesalon.com
info@tararosesalon.com

Back to a classic episode format this week as Raj and Vik discuss Instagram leveling up to a marketing technology firm for the masses with split A/B testing, what kept Raj and Vik from recording ALGO for 6 months and their highlights of 2023.

(00:00) Feedback on the SoleDXB Episode
(00:28) Tara Rose Podcast Studio Details
(01:12) What we'll be discussing today
(01:25) Instagram launches Split A/B testing of captions
(07:23) Why Gary Vee, Steven Bartlett and Mr Beast keep changing thumbnails
(10:38) Instagram is making creators level up
(11:53) How split testing can create better brands online
(21:46) Indo Warehouse Dubai show 6th January 2024
(23:50) Scarface Tiny Desk Performance Review (No Spoilers)
(29:24) Why Raj follows US Politics
(30:05) Why we haven't published ALGO since the summer
(30:43) My Friends Your Friends in London, New York and Toronto
(33:29) Raj is a Course Director for Chartered Institute of Marketing
(34:08) Shout out to Creative Content Agency clients
(37:00) Working with celebrities again
(45:30) Getting healthy is easier your 40's
(48:41) Raj's thoughts on the business becoming systemised
(50:35) How Raj spots trends in other cities to bring back to Dubai
(54:38) Why all-hands meetings are the most expensive things for a business
(59:09) First and Ten Productions shout out
(59:01) Vik loved working with Ryan Serhant
(01:01:22) Raj loved working with Jay Shetty
(01:03:53) Daniel Priestley is Raj's 2024 pick
(01:05:47) Daniel Priestley is Dizzee Rascal
(01:07:05) Raj responds to critics on his strategy
(01:08:39) Raj's plans for ALGO in 2024
(01:09:24) Raj's plans for his own brand in 2024
(01:10:09) Raj's plans for Creative Content Agency in 2024
(01:12:06) Raj's plans for The 4Ps of Content in 2024
(01:12:21) Raj's plans for My Friends Your Friends 20 in 2024
(01:15:05) Tara Rose Salon shout outs
(01:15:58) Shout out to Park Hill Clothing

Connect with the show

http://www.instagram.com/rajkotecha
http://www.instagram.com/vikmorjaria
http://www.instagram.com/algo.pod



This episode was recorded at Tara Rose Podcast Studios. For more information check out

Tara Rose Salon
Arenco Warehouse 10, Al Quoz, Al Quoz 1, Dubai
+971 4 324 6613
http://www.tararosesalon.com
info@tararosesalon.com