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. --- 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/ --- Available on: Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@VCReactPodcastSpotify:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vc-react-podcastApple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc-react-podcast/id1764834384 --- 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 --- #startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #business #ipo #acquisitions #fintech #edtech #accelerator #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi --- 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. Visit: www.weareocta.com/fwdstart to get your first 6 months free. --- 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. ---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
