VC React Podcast: Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds. Stay tuned for: expert analysis, independent opinions, and maybe some heated conversations! Hosts: Ahmad Takatkah, VCpreneur. Sign up to VCpreneur Newsletter on https://www.vcpreneur.com/ Jamie Lane, FWDstart. Sign up to FWDstart Newsletter on https://www.fwdstart.me/ --- Available on: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VCReactPodcast Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vc-react-podcast Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vc-react-podcast/id1764834384 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/bdc23d6a-4381-405d-bf59-53560c671c11/vc-react-podcast --- Guests: 1. Andrea Azzolari, Senior Associate @ Plug & Play - Saudi - LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreaazzolari/ - VC Firm Website: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/ 2. Ayat Al-Sabbag, Investment Principal @ Suhail Ventures - LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayat-sabbagh/ - VC Firm Website: https://suhail.vc/ 3. Julien Plouzeau, Senior Partner @ Oraseya Capital - LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julienplouzeau/ - Company Website: https://www.oraseyacapital.com/ --- #startups #vc #tech #ai #investments #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #privatecredit #privateequity #finance #business #ipo #acquisitions #limitedpartners #revenuebasedfinancing #fintech #climatechange #edtech #accelerator #cvc #web3 #crypto #blockchain #DeFi --- News of the week brought to you by FWDstart. In Today's Episode: - Saudi rent now, pay later firm Rize closes $35m in equity and debt funding Summary: Saudi Arabia-based proptech Rize has closed a Series A investment round worth $35 million in a mix of equity and debt. The round was led by Raed Ventures, with participation from SEEDRA Ventures through its second fund as well as Aqar Platform, JOA Capital, NAMA Ventures, and HALA Ventures. Founded in 2021 by Ibrahim Balilah and Mohammed AlFraihi, Rize adopts the rent-now-pay-later model, which allows tenants to pay their rent in flexible monthly installments. - MoneyHash, which provides single access to payment services in MENA, banks $5.2M Summary: US-based Egyptian fintech MoneyHash has secured $5.2 million in pre-Series A funding. The round is led by Flourish Ventures, along with Vision Ventures, Arab Bank's Xelerate, and Emurgo Kepple Ventures, with participation from Jason Gardner and existing investors, including COTU, RZM Investment, and Github founder Tom Preston-Werner. - Saudi agritech Arable closes $2.55 million Seed round Summary: Saudi Arabia-based agritech Arable has closed a $2.55 million Seed funding round, led by undisclosed investors. Founded in 2024 by Lawrence Ong and Christina Khalife, ARABLE creates hydroponic farms for vegetable production that are cost-effective and locally adjusted to the desert climate. Unlike many hydroponic technologies imported from the West—where conditions such as low sunlight and moderate temperatures are drastically different—Arable’s systems are engineered to thrive in the arid, high-temperature environment of Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region. - Halo AI closes $6 million Seed led by Raed Ventures, Shorooq Summary: Saudi Arabia-based AI-powered networking platform Halo AI closed a $6 million Seed funding round, led by Raed Ventures and Shorooq, along with other investors. --- (أحمد طقاطقه) ---
