VC React MENA E59: xAI & HUMAIN Deal, Founders Fund Invests In Mnzil, Strataphy & Buildroid DeepTech

VC React Podcast - MENA:

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. Ali Almajthoob, Partner at Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP)
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alialmajthoob/
- Company Website: https://www.mevp.com/

2. Hala Zahran, Head of AB Xelerate (ABX)
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/halazahran/
- Company Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ab-xelerate/

This Week On The VC React Podcast:

News of the week brought to you by FWDstart:

• xAI and HUMAIN team up on a 500MW data centre in Saudi. Is this the start of an AI corridor with Silicon Valley—or just giga-scale marketing with insane power numbers?

• Founders Fund makes its first lead bet in Saudi with Mnzil. Is this a one-off “tourist” deal, or the beginning of a long-term GCC thesis from top US funds?

• Climatetech finally feels real: Strataphy is using geothermal cooling to cut data centre energy bills in half. Is this just climatetech—or the hidden AI infrastructure that will power the region’s superclusters?

• And Finally, Robots hit the construction site. Buildroid AI is rolling out block-laying robots in the UAE. In markets built on cheap labour, will construction robotics actually make economic sense?

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