ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.
Listen "VC React Podcast (E47): Series B Gap? No More ARR, Expense Management or Banks! MENA LP Secondaries"
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. Ali Almajthoob, Partner @ MEVP- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alialmajthoob/- VC Firm Website: https://www.mevp.com/2. Aly El Shalakany, Venture Partner @ A-typical Ventures- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aly-el-shalakany-a6aa0b31/- VC Firm Website: https://a-typicalventures.com/---#startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #business #ipo #acquisitions #fintech #edtech #accelerator #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:- A $48M Series A for Alaan الآن?! Corporate expense management has officially become a red ocean in MENA, with Alaan, Qashio, Pluto, Nqoodlet, and others. Is this going to be a winner-takes-all game, or will there be vertical domination? And can those companies be challenged by Neo corporate banks with similar services like Brex, Mercury and Revolut Business? or will they evolve into banks themselves? - Salasa | سلاسة wants to be the AI-powered logistics backbone of e-commerce in MENA. But is AI really a game-changer in e-commerce fulfillment? How is AI helping here? And How is Salasa eating Aramex’s lunch? - Wuilt ditched the ARR model, went fully free in Egypt, and onboarded 20,000 merchants. Is this genius or desperate? Would this challenge Salla E-Commerce Platform and Zid | زد? Also are we entering a new era where the product is free again with no subscriptions but monetized through fintech instead of advertising?- And finally — آفاق المالية | Afaq Capital just bought an entire VC portfolio, in a landmark secondaries deal. Is this the beginning of a real liquidity market in MENA? Will secondaries outperform primaries? And where are the secondaries dedicated funds in MENA?---(أحمد طقاطقه)---
More episodes of the podcast VC React Podcast
VC React MENA E62: Noon's $500M Raise & MENA IPO Roadmap, Algeria's Largest Local currency Round!
22/12/2025
VC React SV E4: Lightspeed's $9B Mega Funds, Circles's Arc L1 Blockchain, & The Consumer AI Pivot.
22/12/2025
VC React MENA E61: Qatar Joins AI Race with Qai, Reno: Renovate Now-Pay Later, COGNNA's Agentic SOC
12/12/2025
VC React SV E3: Paramount vs. Netflix, Kalshi Doubles Valuation, SpaceX's Secondary Sale at $800B
12/12/2025
VC React MENA E60: The Rise of Secondaries, What Happened to the Dubizzle lPO, and Egyptian Deeptech
09/12/2025
VC React SV E2: OpenAl's Power Loop with Thrive, America's Chip Gambit, and Apple's Al Reset
08/12/2025
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
In God we trust