Listen "VC React Podcast (E43): MENA's FoodTech & PropTech, A Computer In Your Eyes, & VC's Political Storm!"
Episode Synopsis
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/id1764834384---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/---#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:- MilkStraw AI — The AI that finds hidden savings in your AWS bills, sometimes up to 75%, freeing up capital for growth, hiring, or building faster. See how much you could save in 60 seconds and how much further your runway can go at MilkStraw.aiWebsite: https://www.milkstraw.ai/ - 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:- Saudi's Jahez acquires 76.56% of Qatar’s Snoonu in $245 Million deal to expand GCC footprintSummary: 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, valuing Snoonu at $320M and cementing its status as Qatar’s first tech startup to surpass a QAR 1 billion valuation. - UAE proptech Huspy raises $59M Series B to double down on operations across the Middle East and expand in EuropeSummary: 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. - Dubai-based XPANCEO raises $250M Series A at $1.35B valuation to advance smart contact lensesSummary: 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. Founded in 2021 by Russian entrepreneur Roman Axelrod and Ukrainian physicist Valentyn Volkov. - Startup founders and others in tech call on Sequoia Capital to act after a partner called Zohran Mamdani an 'Islamist'---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
More episodes of the podcast VC React Podcast
VC React MENA E59: xAI & HUMAIN Deal, Founders Fund Invests In Mnzil, Strataphy & Buildroid DeepTech
29/11/2025
VC React SV E1: Quantum VCs, Founders Fund Invests In Mnzil, Gemini Dethrones ChatGPT, New AI Device
29/11/2025
VC React MENA E58: MAGNiTT Report-Series A Valuations Peak , Nabta & HealthTech, Ghanem & PropTech
21/11/2025
VC React MENA E57: Jahez + noon against Keeta, Shgardi shuts down, DataCamp acquires UAE’s Optima
14/11/2025
VC React MENA E56: HUMAIN Launches AI-OS! BRKZ $30M Debt Round. Tabby's $4.5B Premium Secondary Sale
31/10/2025
VC React MENA E55: Gitex, Dubizzle’s IPO by Prosus, Investcorp’s $750M Fund w/ China, & Chari’s BaaS
18/10/2025
VC React MENA E54: BECO’s $370M Fund, Aydi’s $7.5M AgriTech, PIF's $55B EA Deal, Fintech Migration!
12/10/2025
VC React MENA E53: Saudi lifts cap on foreign ownership, private stock market, $100M AI fund & more
28/09/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.