VC React MENA E55: Gitex, Dubizzle’s IPO by Prosus, Investcorp’s $750M Fund w/ China, & Chari’s BaaS
VC React Podcast:
Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, and Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, funds, 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://www.fwdstart.me/
Available on:
Youtube: VC React Podcast
Spotify: VC React Podcast
Apple: VC React Podcast
Guests:
1. Mustafa Nabelsi, General Partner @ 2Pi Ventures
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafanabelsi/
- Company Website: https://2pi.vc/
2. Xavier Kris, CEO of IMX Funds
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xavkris/
- Company Website: https://www.imxfunds.com/
This Week On The VC React Podcast:
News of the week brought to you by FWDstart:
It’s GITEX week — everyone’s in Dubai, and every booth says AI. We react to Gitex and Expand Northstar.
But there’s even bigger news from Dubai — a second tech IPO! Dubizzle is going public at a $2 billion valuation. It’s not AI, it’s not fintech — it’s classifieds… and it’s profitable. Can profitability still excite investors when the sector is not trendy? And is this really a a win for the region, or a liquidity event for Prosus?
Over in Bahrain and Riyadh — Investcorp just closed a $750 million fund to back growth-stage tech across the GCC and China. Why China, why now — and which industries will this fund really focus on?
And finally, from the streets of Casablanca — Chari raises $12 million to turn corner shops into fintech hubs and launch a Banking-as-a-Service platform. But can one startup really handle logistics, payments, lending, and infrastructure? And when every B2B startup ends up with embedded finance, what happens to Fintech startups?!
--- (أحمد طقاطقه) ---
