VC React Podcast (E43): MENA's FoodTech & PropTech, A Computer In Your Eyes, & VC's Social Storm!

VC React Podcast
Written By Ahmad Takatkah
 
 

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, VCs, and investment rounds. Stay tuned for: expert analysis, independent opinions, and maybe some heated conversations!

Hosts:

Available on:

Guests:

1. Chada El Islam Benmahcene, CEO of ENTROGX Ventures, co-founder @ Women Collective, and among the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Dubai.
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benchada/
- Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrogx/
- Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/womencollective/

2. Rummana Dada, Managing Partner @ Vitality Capital, co-founder @ Women Collective, and a SharkTank investor! A tough one!
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romannadada/
- VC Firm Website: https://www.vitality.capital/
- Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/womencollective/

In Today's Episode:

News of the week brought to you by FWDstart:

  • Saudi's Jahez acquires 76.56% of Qatar’s Snoonu in $245 Million deal to expand GCC footprint
    Summary: Saudi-based Jahez Group is acquiring a 76.56% stake in Snoonu, the leading e-commerce and delivery platform in Qatar, for $245 million in a mixed cash and share transaction. The agreement marks one of the region’s largest private startup M&A deals to date, valuing Snoonu at $320 million post-money and cementing its status as Qatar’s first tech startup to surpass a QAR 1 billion valuation. Under the terms of the deal, Jahez will purchase 75% of Snoonu’s equity from existing shareholders for $225 million, paid partly in cash and partly in Jahez shares. It will also inject an additional $20 million into the business in exchange for newly issued shares representing a further 1.56% stake.

  • UAE proptech Huspy raises $59M Series B to double down on operations across the Middle East and expand in Europe
    Summary: UAE-based proptech Huspy has raised $59 million in a Series B round led by Balderton Capital, with continued participation from Peak XV Partners, ExBorder Partners, Turmeric Capital, BY Venture Partners, DARA CAPITAL, and KE Partners. Founded in 2020 by Jad Antoun and Khalid Ashmawy, Huspy provides real estate agents and mortgage brokers with high commissions, powerful technology, and a unified infrastructure designed to serve buyers and sellers more efficiently.

  • Dubai-based XPANCEO raises $250M Series A at $1.35B valuation to advance smart contact lenses
    Summary: UAE-based XPANCEO has raised $250 million in Series A funding to build smart contact lenses capable of augmented vision, real-time health monitoring, and device-level computing, all from within the human eye, per Bloomberg. The round was led by Opportunity Venture (Asia) Ltd., which previously backed the company’s $40 million seed round in 2023. The new investment reportedly brings XPANCEO’s valuation to $1.35 billion. Founded in 2021 by Russian entrepreneur Roman Axelrod and Ukrainian physicist Valentyn Volkov, XPANCEO is attempting to integrate extended reality (XR) directly into soft contact lenses.

  • Startup founders and others in tech call on Sequoia Capital to act after a partner's racist comments Sequoia Capital is facing backlash after partner Shaun Maguire's racist comments. Founders, tech workers, and business leaders are demanding that Sequoia take action in an open letter.


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Ahmad Takatkah
Next

VC React Podcast (E42): Saudi’s New Unicorn, Startups Turn Corporations, Global Games, AI Talent War