Roger Rouhana

Gate Capital latest update for the week from 7-13 June 2024 on what's happening in M&A transactions, startups and tech companies fundraise drives in GCC region and beyond. Please download our Newsletter using the link below; https://lnkd.in/dYdtpkDV #startupfunding #venturecapital #jointventures #mergersandacquisition #fintech #investmentfund #angelivestors #innovativesolutions #artificialintelligence #financialservices #investmentbanking #transactionalnews #MENAregion #UAE #Saudivision2030 #economicstability #healthtechindustry #globaltechecosystem #techinnovation #renewableenergy #sustainability #weeklynewsupdate #newsletter #GateCapital

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For our next sessions, we have an exciting fireside chat between Mohammad Atif Mahmood, Fajr Capital and Paula Tavangar, Injaz Capital! They will be discussing the local ecosystem of the Middle East: How is the region retaining talent and fostering homegrown financial growth? How are regional PE and VC in the middle east developing and how are governments speeding up innovation, creating new spaces and boosting local empowerment?  This is not one to miss!

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A Dubai-based fund-of-funds focused on backing emerging venture investors, has raised $5 million of the $10 million target for its debut fund. Amkan Ventures is connecting family offices in the Gulf region and emerging U.S.-based VCs — two groups unlikely to otherwise meet. A fund led by Female GP Raida Daouk El Jisr decided to raise a fund after helping a number of family offices and other institutions vet and invest in American venture firms and tech startups as a consultant and building out another prior employer's portfolio. #fundraising #investment #GCC #USfunds #venturecapitalists #limitedpartners #generalpartners #Funds #LPs #GPs #VCs #emergingfunds #fundmangergs

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Are #secondaries the solution to #MENA's Exits? In a recent conversation with Basil M. from Key Capital, we discussed the emerging potential for IPOs, secondaries and exits in the market. Secondary funds, which target shares in early stage investment rounds at a discount, can stimulate market participation by providing liquidity to existing shareholders without diluting company equity. These investments enable early investors to exit, allowing founders to clean up their cap table and receive a potential fresh injection of capital. Of course, the secondaries market in the #MENA region is still emerging, but given the global increase in secondary investments, perhaps it’s not too long before it becomes more commonplace in the region. Check out my full conversation with Basil M. for more MAGNiTT insights: https://lnkd.in/gT5X5Q7D PS: Great recent pod from the Unreasonable Podcast discussing just this and the impact in the South East Asian Venture space. Well worth a lisen! CC: Hian Goh, Vishal Harnal and Michael Blakey #webinar #exits #IPOs #venturecapital #startups

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Riyad Capital Launches 1957 Ventures Fund, Backed by Riyad Bank, to Transform Saudi Arabia's FinTech Landscape Nadir Al-Koraya, CEO of Riyad Bank, stated "The launch of the 1957 Ventures fund demonstrates Riyad Bank's unwavering commitment to driving FinTech innovation and digital transformation, this fund builds upon our track record of supporting cutting-edge initiatives in this pivotal sector. By empowering startups and entrepreneurs, we fuel Saudi Arabia's economic growth and diversification, aligning with the bold ambitions of Vision 2030. While proud of our past impact, we recognize the vast potential still ahead and are dedicated to fostering sustainable growth." https://lnkd.in/eWZ93Hv4 Abdullah Alshwer, PhD, CFA #fintech #finance #banking #paytech #payments #fintechnews #paymentsnews

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We are thrilled to announce the first close of our $100 million second private credit fund, Nahda Fund II, paving the way for continued innovation and growth in the MENA tech ecosystem. 🌍💡 🚀 With a successful track record from our first fund, which set new standards as the region's first tech-focused private credit fund, we're doubling down on our commitment to fueling innovation and driving economic growth across the Middle East and North Africa. Our first credit fund has already seen remarkable success, with investments in game-changers like Pure Harvest Smart Farms and Tamara, revolutionizing agriculture and fintech in the region, respectively. These ventures highlight the transformative impact of our credit facility in fueling innovation and propelling economic growth. Shane Shin (شين شن) 유근, Founding Partner at Shorooq Partners, emphasizes the importance of non-dilutive financing in the MENA region, offering a sophisticated alternative to traditional equity-based approaches. As the MENA region continues to thrive as a hub of entrepreneurial dynamism, non-dilutive funding provides a compelling avenue for sustained growth and enduring success. The MENA private credit market has witnessed remarkable growth, with significant opportunities for expansion and investment. Nathan Yonghyun Kwon, Principal and Lead at Nahda Fund II at the firm, notes the surge in deal flow, highlighting our mission to foster scalable growth in innovative companies across various sectors. As we embark on this new chapter, we invite founders and companies across the region to join us in shaping the future of innovation and entrepreneurship. Together, let's unlock new possibilities and drive sustainable growth in the MENA tech ecosystem. 💼💡 Read the news on Bloomberg by the talented Nicolas Parasie here: https://shorturl.at/sTAhI Reach out to us: shorooq.com Partnering with leaders creating tomorrow. #ShorooqPartners #PrivateCreditFund #MENA #TechEcosystem #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #ShorooqPartners #tech #investments #Entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #privatecredit #privateequity #ksa #uae #egypt #korea #riyadh #abudhabi #dubai #cairo #founders #startups #wearehiring #jobs #spotlight #shorooq #alternativeinvestments #fundmanager

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No better partner to access the Saudi Arabia market than aramco, and Saudi aramco's Middle East venture capital investment arm Wa'ed Ventures continues to be active, investing in the $14 million Series A round of Stake, a #Dubai-based digital platform for real estate investment. The financing was led by Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP) with participation from Wa'ed Ventures, UAE sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Co. as well as US-based private investing platform Republic. The company aims to enter the Saudi market. It plans to become the first platform to allow individuals outside of the kingdom to invest in the local real estate market. I find this cross border investment opportunity in the GCC region particularly interesting as it facilitates capital flows into Saudi Arabia's growing property market! Using the fractional ownership model, Stake facilitates property investments starting from 500 dirhams ($136). It has over 500,000 users — 50% of whom are from outside of the United Arab Emirates. Stake plans to triple its headcount in the kingdom to 15 by the end of the year. #middleeast #alternativeassets #privatemarkets #startups #venturecapital #saudiarabia #unitedarabemirates #saudivision2030 #saudiaramco #proptech #fintech #capitalmarkets #sovereignwealthfunds https://lnkd.in/gZQJvDhp

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Gate Capital latest update for the week from 28th June - 4th July 2024 on what's happening in M&A transactions, startups and tech companies fundraise drives in GCC region and beyond. Please download our Newsletter using the link below; https://lnkd.in/d2gRjwq3 #fundinground #mergersandacquisitions #Saudivision2030 #financialservices #investmentbanking #digitalinfrastructure #logistics #investment #economicgrowth #venturecapital #institutionalinvestor #businessstrategy #strategicpartnership #privatequity #assetmanagement #newsletter #Gatecapital #weeklyupdate

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Tether, the largest digital asset issuer, and Fuze, a platform facilitating digital asset transactions in the Middle East, have joined forces to push for digital asset education. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), they aim to advocate for the mainstream adoption of digital assets like #Bitcoin and #stablecoins such as Tether.to (#USDT). This strategic partnership will focus on educational programs across Turkey and the MENA region, emphasizing the benefits of digital assets and ensuring compliance with #regulatory frameworks. By empowering financial #institutions and #businesses with knowledge about the real applications of #digitalassets, Tether and Fuze are paving the way for wider adoption and usage. Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, highlighted the transformative potential of the collaboration, while Mo Ali Yusuf, Co-Founder and CEO of Fuze, emphasized the importance of educating stakeholders at all levels for the future of #finance. Together, they aim to set a new standard for digital asset adoption and create a globally informed and empowered society. The only way to attract people to the #blockchain industry and make them enthusiastic is through education and #financialliteracy. While giveaways, airdrops, and prizes may grab attention, the real focus lies in providing comprehensive #education about #cryptocurrencies and #blockchain technology. As we care about our present, we must also invest in our future by providing the newest #technologies for the next generation to study and explore. https://lnkd.in/eY2v-Rwp

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The past few years have witnessed the growth of Saudi Arabia's dynamic venture capital and private equity ecosystem MAGNiTT team has released 2019-2023 Saudi Arabia Private Equity Report, sponsored by SVC. Farah El Nahlawi shares key insights and highlights from this report in an interview with Al Arabiya News Channel. You can watch the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/eg9unk7M #SaudiArabia #Saudi2030 #Vision2030 #PrivateEquity #VentureCapital

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The Middle East is on the brink of a digital banking transformation. It’s visible everywhere from the billions being invested in cloud infrastructure to become the next AI superpower, to the luminaries who flocked to this week’s Dubai FinTech Summit. Our colleagues from Lab49 attended the event and noted that in addition to a heavy emphasis on AI, there was a lot of focus on how the financial arena is being disrupted. A confluence of events is driving change. There is the diversification of economies beyond oil, the emergence of a growing number of funds and startups, as well as the appearance of foreign competition including neo banks such as Revolut and Alipay. Lab49 established a presence in the UAE a few years ago anticipating the need for large banks to reimagine their customer touchpoints, and in turn their underlying data and services infrastructure. The fintech summit attracted more than 8,000 people from 118 countries, including Charith Mendis, Head of Worldwide Banking Industry at AWS; Michael Demissie, Head of Applied AI and Practice at Bank of New York; Kfir Godrich, Chief Innovation Officer at Blackrock and Alfonso Castillo, President & CEO of Santander’s U.S. Private Bank. One notable speaker was Nik Storonsky, Founder & CEO of Revolut, a bank created in 2015 that has taken Europe by storm. It has attracted 35 million customers in 38 countries by offering digital-native and mobile-first banking services. Storansky said that Revolut is in the process of applying for a banking license in the region and expects to be operational in 2025. The expansion of digital services in the Middle East has led to an unprecedented increase in the number of people with access to financial services. It was that kind of promise that prompted Mashreq Neo to open the first digital bank in the region in 2017. Mashreq Neo offers a mobile-first banking experience, including transactional accounts, savings accounts, person-to-person payments, insurance, and investment products. For the established banks, a lot of the challenge comes down to offering new products and services, and distributing them in new ways for a changing business demographic while rapidly overcoming their legacy constraints.  Young tech-savvy entrepreneurs expect digital native experiences. Even mature businesses want easier and more efficient ways to manage tax payments, treasury operations, cross border payments, and employee compensation. They want the ability to make wire payments without paying exorbitant fees. Neo banks have grown fast worldwide, but many have struggled to reach profitability in the U.S., the world’s largest market. AI will also be a wildcard. Startups benefit from agility, but incumbents have reams of data and analytics that could help them better anticipate and service client needs. For the incumbent institutions there are risks, but also big opportunities.

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Shorooq Partners announces the first close of our $100 million second private credit fund, Nahda Fund II, marking a significant milestone in their mission to foster innovation and growth within the #MENA tech ecosystem. Building on the success of their first fund, which established new benchmarks as the region's inaugural tech-focused private credit fund, Shorooq Partners are reaffirming their dedication to driving economic development and supporting groundbreaking advancements across the Middle East and North Africa. With Nahda Fund II, they aim to continue empowering visionary entrepreneurs and catalyzing transformative projects that will shape the future of the region’s tech landscape. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dSvD8ZYh Shorooq Partners, Shane Shin (شين شن) 유근, Nathan Yonghyun Kwon #ShorooqPartners #PrivateCreditFund #MENA #TechEcosystem #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #ShorooqPartners #tech #investments #Entrepreneurship #venturecapital #venturedebt #privatecredit #privateequity #ksa #uae #riyadh #abudhabi #dubai #founders #startups #wearehiring #jobs #spotlight #shorooq #alternativeinvestments #fundmanager #FintechnewUAE

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Rede Partners specializes in private markets Set to Open Dubai Office to Tap Mideast Investors : Seeing strong concentration of investors in Dubai: CEO : Advisory firm has raised €6 billion from the region to date “Dubai stands out as a very strong hub” due to its regulatory environment and connectivity “There is quite a strong concentration of investors in Dubai in particular. We’re also seeing a big increase in family offices that are based there” Sitting atop nearly $4 trillion in assets, the region’s wealth funds are evolving and seeking opportunities to co-invest with global money managers. These firms are now “encouraging their managers to develop activities in the Middle East to support the development of Middle Eastern markets” Rede Partners has raised over €100 billion since its founding in 2011, including €6 billion from Middle Eastern investors

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Especially in the tech sector, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as a leader in the GCC startup ecosystem. It has never been easier to turn ideas into successful businesses thanks to government initiatives such as interest-free loans. #uae #abudhabi #business #growth #startups #funding #government #strategy

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Demystifying Private Credit: #VentureDebt lending peaked in MENA last year, following four years of consecutive growth. But why? Next week I will discuss this and a lot more around Private Credit with Nathan Yonghyun Kwon from Shorooq Partners. As MAGNiTT continues to develop its coverage across Emerging Market Private Capital, Private Credit is a key pillar that has been historically under represented. Attend our upcoming conversation where we will: - Delve deep into the dynamics of #privatecredit - What role venture debt plays in the #MENA region - Identify the opportunities and challenges in a high interest environment - Examine the key trends and developments shaping the private credit market Do you have a question you want me to ask? Let me know below 👇 Make sure to save your spot for June 5th at 3PM: https://lnkd.in/dMrjdKXB #webinar #venturecapital #venturedebt #startups

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Fintech Funding in MENA Sees a 650% Increase From 2020 to 2023, Remaining the Top Investor Choice in H1'24 🚀 Get to know the latest FinTech trends in MENA from our latest report: https://lnkd.in/dSCtgwm3 #MENA #Fintech #Trends #Startups #VentureCapital

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Saudi Arabia’s 24 Fintech conference kicks off in Riyadh, highlighting sector’s rapid growth and ambitious future The 24Fintech Conference serves as a platform for startups, academics, and industry leaders to collaborate on shaping the future of the industry Saudi Fintech Milestone: $1.84B in Investments Since 2018 The 24Fintech Conference kicked off today in Riyadh, spotlighting Saudi Arabia’s booming fintech landscape. Since 2018, the sector has attracted $1.84 billion in venture capital, supporting 216 startups and creating over 6,500 jobs. Governor Al-Sayari of the Saudi Central Bank emphasized that fintech growth, fueled by Vision 2030 and technological innovation, has enhanced financial access, efficiency, and system stability. The event gathers global leaders to discuss Saudi’s transformative fintech journey. Original post by Nadin Hassan Repost by : Dr. Salem Bagami Chief Executive Officer Digital Transformation Company & Managing Director 2080 Ventures Email: [email protected] Website: www.2080.ventures - #Fintech #SaudiArabia #Innovation #Vision2030 #24Fintech

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The Information is out with breaking news that OpenAI and their previously disclosed $150B valuation fundraise would be with the support of MGX, a $100B fund, out of the #UnitedArabEmirates as part of Mubadala Capital, with additional support G42. Sam Altman continues to amaze with the breathtaking speed and volume of fundraising he continues to garner for OpenAI. What do you think? #management #venturecapital #privateequity #capitalmarkets #AIfinanane https://lnkd.in/gMEyhfuf

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A $2 million fund has been launched to bolster Jordan's startup ecosystem, supported by the Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund (ISSF), Jordan's largest fund valued at $98 million. ISSF's investment in VentureSouq II aims to nurture MENA startups at the seed stage. VentureSouq is committed to reinvesting profits back into Jordanian companies at multiples of their initial investments, ensuring sustained growth in the local entrepreneurial landscape. VentureSouq focuses on sectors like fintech, climate tech, and logistics, boasting a portfolio of over 200 companies across 30 countries. Notable projects include UAE-based BNPL platform Tabby and Saudi Arabia's logistics innovator Trukker. The portfolio also features successful EdTech startups from MENA, such as Abwaab, offering online educational platforms, and Kido, managing a network of inclusive child care centers and schools. The MENA region is a hotbed for innovation, and we're seeing more and more exciting startups. Hredtech.vc are particularly interested in ventures that are addressing the unique challenges of the region's workforce, such as talent acquisition, education and development. If you're a founder in the MENA with a great hr or ed tech startup, we encourage you to reach out to us!

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