VC React Podcast (Episode #14)

In this week's episode, we kicked things off by getting meta with a discussion on Podeo’s $5.4 million Series A round and their plan to expand into emerging markets by focusing on local creator monetisation. This sparked a broader conversation about the ongoing podcasting boom in MENA, and the value of being a guest on podcasts for VCs.

Next, we got into Coral’s $3 million seed round and its AI-driven carbon emission management platform. We debated why climatetech continues to attract less VC backing comparative to other sectors in the region, and learned a thing or two about carbon credits to boot.

We then unpacked Saudi adtech startup Quantum’s recent funding from HearstLab, gaining insider insights from Hussein on why Tech Invest Com originally backed them. We also tackled data privacy regulations in Saudi and how Quantum’s forward-thinking approach has them well positioned for continued growth.

Finally, we wrapped up with VelyVelo, the French e-bike rental startup, which secured investment from Beltone Venture Capital to expand in MENA. We discussed the company’s fleet model for delivery drivers and freelancers, and considered how it could work in the region’s e-commerce and micro-mobility landscape.

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This week Ahmad and I had the pleasure to be joined by the terrifically insightful:

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Hamed Masri (Partner @ Silicon Badia)

‍Hussein A. Attar (CEO @ Tech Invest Com)

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We covered:

📌 MENA podcast platform Podeo | بوديو raises $5.4m in series A round led by Oraseya Capital, with participation from Ibtikar Fund, Cedar Mundi Ventures.

📌 Coral Announces Closure of Seed Round Funding, Raising $3m to Transform Carbon Emission Management.

📌 Saudi Arabia’s Quantum Platform - Your Local Ad-Tech Enabler raises $7m Pre-Series-A from HearstLab

📌  Egypt: Beltone Venture Capital invests in France-based VelyVelo

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