VC React Podcast (E33): Holding Model vs Typical VC! SME Finance Boom, Secondaries Infra, and More!

VC React Podcast:Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, 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://archives.fwdstart.me/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---Available on:Youtube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@VCReactPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vc-react-podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc-react-podcast/id1764834384⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/bdc23d6a-4381-405d-bf59-53560c671c11/vc-react-podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---Guests:1. Abdulrahman AlJiffry, Partner @ 500 Global - LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdulrahman-aljiffry-23834738/- VC Firm Website: https://500.co/2.Abe Seksek, Angel Investor, and Host of the ABEZ Show- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abeseksek/- Show Website: https://www.abezshow.com/3. Dima Shahin, Venture Partner @ SVVI- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dima-shahin/- VC Firm Website: https://www.svvi.co/---#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #privatecredit #privateequity #finance #business #ipo #acquisitions #limitedpartners #revenuebasedfinancing #fintech #climatetech #edtech #accelerator #cvc #web3 #crypto #blockchain #defi ---Sponsors: 💸This week’s episode is brought to you by OCTA – the AI-powered accounts receivable platform trusted by 100+ companies like Careem, Lean Technologies, and ZenHR to automate collections, resolve disputes, and unlock financing with zero hassle. Visit: ⁠⁠⁠www.weareocta.com/fwdstart ⁠⁠⁠to get your first 6 months free.---News of the week brought to you by FWDstart.In Today's Episode:- iMENA Holding raises $135M and restructures as Saudi company ahead of IPOSummary: iMENA Group, one of MENA's leading digital platform operators, has raised $135 million in the first tranche of its pre-IPO funding round. - Erad secures $16 million pre-Series A to bridge SME credit gap in MENASummary: Saudi Arabia-based fintech erad has raised a $16 million pre-Series A funding round, backed by Y Combinator, Nuwa Capital, Khwarizmi Ventures, Aljazira Capital, VentureSouq, Oraseya Capital, and Joa Capital.- Zest Equity secures $4.3mln in pre-series A funding led by Prosus VenturesSummary: UAE-based fintech Zest Equity has raised $4.3 million in pre-Series A funding, led by Prosus Ventures with participation from Morgan Stanley Inclusive and Sustainable Ventures (MSISV). Founded in 2021 by Rawan Baddour and Zuhair Shamma, Zest Equity enables ecosystem players like founders and venture capitalists to sell their secondary shares online.- Calo absorbs Fresh Fitness Food and Detox Kitchen in UK launchSummary: Saudi-HQ’d personalised meal platform Calo has launched in the UK and acquired Fresh Fitness Food and Detox Kitchen, two of London’s most established meal delivery brands. The move marks Calo’s first expansion beyond the Gulf and sets the stage for broader European growth.---(أحمد طقاطقه)---