VC React Podcast (E23): DeepSeek Moment! New Growth Funds In MENA, New Sector Focus For MENA VCs!

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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 www.vcpreneur....
Jamie Lane, FWDstart.
Sign up to FWDstart Newsletter on www.fwdstart.me/
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VC React Podcast Available on:
UA-cam: / @vcreactpodcast
Spotify: podcasters.spo...
Apple: podcasts.apple...
Amazon: music.amazon.c...
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#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #privatecredit #privateequity #finance #business #ipo #acquisitions #limitedpartners #revenuebasedfinancing #fintech #climatetech #edtech #accelerator #cvc #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi
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Guests:
1. Ahmed Al-Thukair, GP @ Stealth mode Deeptech Saudi fund
LinkedIn Profile: / ahmed-al-thukair-b759b599
VC Firm Website: www.gccangels....
2. Ali Zewail, Venture Partner @ Endure Capital
LinkedIn Profile: / alizewail
VC Firm Website: endurecap.com/
3. Hadi Halabi, Co-Founder | CEO @ Stryde
LinkedIn Profile: / hadihalabi
Company Website: gostryde.com/
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News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.
In Today's Episode:
500 Global launches new early growth-stage MENA fund
Summary: 500 Global has announced the launch of a new fund dedicated to investing in early-growth stage startups across the MENA region both from outside and inside the current 500 Global portfolio. 500 MENA, L.P., will be led by Amjad Ahmad, and supported on the investment committee by Courtney Powell. The fund will support startups beyond the seed stage, providing up to $10M per check for Series A and later-stage startups across the region. The Fund is backed by Jada Fund of Funds, a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company, and Saudi Venture Capital Investment Company (SVC), as well as supported by Sanabil Investments.
BioSapien extends its pre-Series A round to $7 million
Summary: UAE-based healthtech BioSapien has extended its pre-Series A funding round to $7 million, joined by new investors like Golden Gate Ventures, marking the first deployment of its dedicated MENA Fund. Founded in 2018 by Khatija Ali. The extension follows December’s $5.5 million pre-Series A funding round, which was led by Global Ventures, with additional participation from Dara Holdings.
Silkhaus Expands to Saudi Arabia after New Investment Round
Summary: UAE-based proptech Silkhaus has closed a seven-figure growth round, led by Nuwa Capital and Oraseya Capital, with participation from Impulse International, Yuj Ventures, Nordstar, and other family offices.
Founded in 2021 by Aahan Bhojani, Silkhaus offers a marketplace for short-term rentals across the UAE. The new funding will fuel Silkhaus’s expansion in Saudi Arabia, where it is now open for bookings for guests from around the world. A year ago, Silkhaus closed multi-million-dollar pre-Series A financing from San Francisco-headquartered Partners for Growth (PFG).
DeepSeek gets Silicon Valley talking
Summary: Since Chinese AI company DeepSeek released an open version of its reasoning model R1 at the beginning of this week, many in the tech industry have been making grand pronouncements about what the company achieved, and what it means for the state of AI. R1 seemingly matches or beats OpenAI’s o1 model on certain AI benchmarks. And the company claims one of its models only cost $5.6 million to train, compared to the hundreds of millions of dollars that leading American companies pay to train theirs.
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(أحمد طقاطقه)
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