VC React Podcast (Episode #8)

In this week's episode, we had a really candid discussion about the challenges female founders in the region face, in light of funding for female-led startups accounting for just 0.01% of overall funding in July. We also reflected on the surge in MENA startup investments last month, with Egypt leading the way after a difficult few months, and examined why fintech continues to dominate. To round things off, we dug into the details of MealPlanet's $6 million seed round just eight months after launch and explored Magic Leap's continued ability to attract significant investment despite its turbulent history.

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This week Ahmad and I were delighted to be joined by the fantastic:

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Amal Dokhan (Managing Partner at 500 Global)

Hamed Masri (Partner at Silicon Badia)

Issa Aghabi (Founder & Managing Director Access Bridge Ventures)

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We covered:

📌 MENA Start-up Investments Surge by 260% in July 2024, Reaching $355 Million

📌 MealPlanet raises $6 million Seed led by Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP)‍

📌 Magic Leap seeks additional funds after big Public Investment Fund (PIF) investment

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And a reminder, if you haven't subscribed yet, join readers from 500 Global, Antler, and Global Ventures getting a FWDstart twice weekly 👇

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