The CTO Show with Mehmet - MEA Tech & Startup Digest: Mar 17, 2024

Welcome to the 58th edition of " The CTO Show's MEA Tech & Startup Digest" Weekly Newsletter! If you're new here, I extend a warm welcome to you, joining our dynamic community of 1716 subscribers across LinkedIn and Beehiiv. Your presence, whether as a first-timer or a loyal follower, is the heartbeat of this platform dedicated to unfolding narratives in tech, startups, and entrepreneurship.

What is inside?

-????? Weekly Startup Insights From Middle East, Türkiye & Africa

-????? Global Tech Industry and Startup Trends & News This Week

-????? Episodes Recap

?Let's not wait any longer and dive into this week's rich insights!

Are you a startup founder with a transformative idea? Or an Angel Investor or VC firm committed to elevating the regional startup scene?

I invite you to reach out for a chance to be featured in this newsletter. Join us in celebrating the achievements within our community and inspiring others to dream big and innovate boldly.

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??? Regional Investment Highlights & Startup Insights:

?This edition brings an array of transformative ventures and significant investments from the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa, showcasing the diversity and dynamism within these regions' startup ecosystems.

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• Kitchenara, a Saudi Arabia-based foodtech startup, secured $380,000 from regional angel investors, enhancing its AI-driven personalized meal suggestions platform. Read More
• Rakeez Capital, also from Saudi Arabia, closed a $2 million seed round, focusing on Sukuk issuance for investors and companies, aiming to develop innovative financial solutions. Read More
• Mojo in Kuwait raised a seven-figure seed round for its social commerce platform, focusing on beauty, skincare, and wellness, planning expansion into Saudi Arabia and beyond. Read More
• Conducive Capital launches a $50 million VC fund in Johannesburg, aiming to create tech unicorns across South Africa and Africa, focusing on disruptive tech companies. Read More
• 30Med, an Egypt-based B2B healthtech startup, secured pre-seed funding to bridge the gap between pharmaceutical companies and physicians with interactive platforms. Read More
• Grintafy in Jeddah received funding from Chiliz to accelerate its Web3 transition, aiming to revolutionize talent identification in sports through blockchain. Read More
• Seeru, a UAE-based traveltech startup, secured pre-seed funding from Nabtah Ventures, focusing on simplifying travel planning for individual travelers and businesses. Read More
• 216 Capital in Tunisia aims to disrupt the local startup ecosystem by investing in early and growth-stage tech companies, supporting innovation in e-banking, logistics, and more. Read More
• The Women’s Health Accelerator Programme by Flat6Labs and Organon focuses on digital health startups improving women's health in the MENA region and Turkey. Read More
• Tookez, a Morocco-based fintech, raised $1.5 million for its loyalty points consolidation platform, aiming to expand within and outside Morocco. Read More
• ORA Technologies, also from Morocco, secured $1.5 million for its superapp, featuring P2P transactions, e-commerce, and more, planning to launch a digital wallet. Read More
• Gulf Capital and the Saudi RDIA invest over $100 million in the Saudi tech sector, aiming to support local and international innovation companies. Read More
• Akbank in Türkiye launches a service model for entrepreneurs, aiming to reach 25,000 startups with a $20 million venture capital fund. Read More
• The African tech startup scene faces a "funding winter," with a near 28% drop in funding, totaling $2.4 billion, underscoring the need for resilience and innovation. Read More
• Saudi Arabia's T2 acquires Omani startup Promize, enhancing tech and software solutions in the region and promoting local innovation and digital transformation. Read More
• The Saudi Venture Capital Company (SVC) invests $30 million in Olive Rock Partners Fund I, aiming to support startups and SMEs in Saudi Arabia. Read More
• MNT-Halan in Egypt acquires Advans Pakistan Microfinance Bank, marking a significant move in the microfinance banking sector and financial inclusion initiatives. Read More

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?? Actionable Insights From Mehmet

Entrepreneurs in the MEA region and Türkiye should capitalize on the fintech boom, particularly in innovative payment and digital banking solutions. Healthtech and foodtech sectors also present substantial opportunities for addressing unmet needs through technology.

?Investors are encouraged to diversify portfolios by tapping into emerging markets, prioritizing early-stage startups with scalable solutions and a clear path to profitability. Moreover, fostering sustainability and social impact initiatives can yield long-term benefits.

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?Global Tech Industry and Startup Trends & News This Week

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• LinkedIn?is making a surprising move by planning to integrate gaming features into its platform.?TechCrunch
• The potential ban on?TikTok?in the US continues to be debated, with some states pushing back against the House bill Bloomberg
• Gates-backed nuclear energy company?TerraPower?is expressing confidence in being the first to bring next-generation nuclear plants to the US. GeekWire

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?Episodes Recap:

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#307 Outsourcing Tips for Startups: An Inside Look With Sean Languedoc

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In this episode of the CTO show with Mehmet, Russell Sean Languedoc , the CEO of Outforce.ai from Canada, shares his journey as a tech entrepreneur and how it led him to create a solution for the common challenges faced in outsourcing for tech startups

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#308 Beyond Bits and Bytes: A Tech Tale of QR Codes and Customer Centricity with Ravi Pratap

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Mehmet interviews Ravi Pratap Maddimsetty , the CTO and Co-founder of Uniqode, a company that is at the forefront of QR code technology. Ravi shares his journey as an entrepreneur and the evolution of Uniqode. He discusses the pivotal role QR codes play in bridging the physical and digital world, and how the technology has found widespread application across various industries, especially post-COVID.

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#309 The Entrepreneurial Spirit in Cybersecurity: A Conversation with Brittany Greenfield

?Join us on "The CTO Show with Mehmet" as we welcome Brittany Greenfield , CEO of Wabbi, to discuss the evolving challenges of cybersecurity in software development. Brittany shares her journey into the cybersecurity domain, revealing how Wabbi is pioneering the integration of security within the development lifecycle for companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500s.

?Connect & Grow with Us

• Share Your Story ???: Got insights in tech, startups, or entrepreneurship? Reach out and let's feature your journey on "The CTO Show With Mehmet."
• Support & Collaborate ????: Love our content? Support us here and keep the insights coming. Interested in partnership opportunities? Let's talk collaboration.
• Book Mentorship ??: Elevate your venture with personalized guidance. Book a mentorship session with me, Mehmet, and let's unlock your full potential.
• Spread the Word ??: Know a tech & startup enthusiast? Invite them to our community for weekly doses of innovation and insight.

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Thank You ??: Your engagement drives our shared journey forward. Here's to another week of innovation and growth!

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Best, Mehmet

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