The Next Big Thing (Podcast)

Happy Holidays from the TNBT podcast! May your year-end meetings be as short as your coffee breaks and your holiday cheer be as endless as a buffet line. Here’s to a week filled with big ideas and even bigger snacks! #HappyHolidays #TheNextBigThing #TNBT

53 years of progress, innovation, and unity! As the UAE continues to lead with ambition and vision, The Next Big Thing (Podcast) celebrates the nation's commitment to creating opportunities, fostering talent, and driving innovation. Here’s to the entrepreneurs, dreamers, and doers fueling the next big thing. Happy UAE National Day!

Communities play a key role in fostering innovation, while government support is evolving to become a serious partner, especially in deep tech. Governments are stepping in to become customer #1 for these ventures, helping bridge the gap until they’re ready for the private market. With technological sovereignty as a priority, local deep tech players in places like Saudi Arabia are essential to secure homegrown innovation. Do you agree with this perspective? Don't miss the latest episode! Building Tech Giants in Saudi Arabia: The Next Wave of Innovation | The Next Big Thing s02 e09 Where to watch? ✅ YouTube: https://lnkd.in/d4UZGaDf ✅ Spotify: https://lnkd.in/dXBfzaPk ✅ Apple Podcast: https://lnkd.in/dtUyQBVq ► Waleed A. Alballaa | General Partner, Sukna Ventures A 24SIX9 community podcast

Is government support the only reason Saudi’s startup ecosystem is booming, or is there more beneath the surface? Some claim that funding drives growth, but others point to Saudi’s digital transformation, where ministries compete to hit innovation KPIs, and hackathons spark new MVPs.   Does this environment offer opportunities you’re ready to seize, or are you still thinking inside the box? Don't miss the latest episode! Building Tech Giants in Saudi Arabia: The Next Wave of Innovation | The Next Big Thing s02 e09 Where to watch? ✅ YouTube: https://lnkd.in/d4UZGaDf ✅ Spotify: https://lnkd.in/dXBfzaPk ✅ Apple Podcast: https://lnkd.in/dtUyQBVq ► HASAN JABARTI | Serial Entrepreneur ► Anamaria Meshkurti | Investor & Advisor #thenextbigthing #24six9communitypodcast

According to Waleed A. Alballaa, investors are not the source of validation - the market is. If you’re stalling your solution just to inflate your valuation, you risk killing your startup. Customers truly validate your startup.    What do you think?   Don't miss the latest episode! Building Tech Giants in Saudi Arabia: The Next Wave of Innovation | The Next Big Thing s02 e09 Where to watch? ✅ YouTube: https://lnkd.in/d4UZGaDf ✅ Spotify: https://lnkd.in/dXBfzaPk ✅ Apple Podcast: https://lnkd.in/dtUyQBVq ► HASAN JABARTI | Serial Entrepreneur ► Anamaria Meshkurti | Investor & Advisor ► Waleed A. Alballaa | General Partner, Sukna Ventures #thenextbigthing #24six9communitypodcast

How much of startup success is skill and how much is luck? While having the right team, funding, and market timing is crucial, aligning all these factors - what some call "luck" - can make or break success. In a world where luck plays varying roles, refining your strategy and decision-making over time is essential.    How much do you think luck shapes startup success?   Don't miss the latest episode! Building Tech Giants in Saudi Arabia: The Next Wave of Innovation | The Next Big Thing s02 e09 Where to watch? ✅ YouTube: https://lnkd.in/d4UZGaDf ✅ Spotify: https://lnkd.in/dXBfzaPk ✅ Apple Podcast: https://lnkd.in/dtUyQBVq Joining us, we have: ► Javier Sanchez-Marco | Entrepreneur & Business Angel ► Waleed A. Alballaa | General Partner, Sukna Ventures #thenextbigthing #24six9communitypodcast  

In today’s tech landscape, you don’t need to be in Silicon Valley or Palo Alto to get recognized. The Middle East is making its mark, with startups scaling globally thanks to the democratization of technology. Saudi Arabia, driven by the urgency of Vision 2030, is becoming a hub for innovation.    With companies like Classera proving that global success can come from this region, the question is: Will the Middle East region be the next big player in tech advancements? How do you see it unfolding?   Don't miss the latest episode! Building Tech Giants in Saudi Arabia: The Next Wave of Innovation | The Next Big Thing s02 e09 Where to watch? ✅ https://lnkd.in/d4UZGaDf ✅ https://lnkd.in/dXBfzaPk ✅ https://lnkd.in/dtUyQBVq Joining us, we have: ► Waleed A. Alballaa | General Partner, Sukna Ventures #Vision2030 #24six9communitypodcast #thenextbigthing

AI has become a buzzword that many startups feel compelled to include just to attract investors, but are they truly AI-driven or simply adding it to their pitch? Investors in Saudi Arabia and beyond should focus on the real problem a startup is solving, not just if they have AI.    The key is whether the team can effectively utilize AI to enhance their solution - not just sprinkle it in for appeal. Is AI a true advantage or just a marketing play?   Don't miss the latest episode! Building Tech Giants in Saudi Arabia: The Next Wave of Innovation | The Next Big Thing s02 e09 Where to watch? ✅ https://lnkd.in/d4UZGaDf ✅ https://lnkd.in/dXBfzaPk ✅ https://lnkd.in/dtUyQBVq Joining us, we have: ► HASAN JABARTI | Serial Entrepreneur ► Waleed A. Alballaa | General Partner, Sukna Ventures ► Anamaria Meshkurti | Investor & Advisor ► Javier Sanchez-Marco | Entrepreneur & Business Angel

The Next Big Thing - s02 e09 is out! 🚀 Building Tech Giants in Saudi Arabia: The Next Wave of Innovation In our latest podcast episode, we explore the future of Saudi Arabia's startup ecosystem. With Vision 2030 driving rapid growth, our panel of experts offer insights into how entrepreneurs can build multi-sector tech giants from the region. From overcoming market challenges to leveraging tech and talent, we discuss the impact of urgency, valuations in Deep Tech and Defense, and the global opportunities emerging from KSA. Watch and learn how borders should no longer limit innovation. Share your thoughts!   Where to watch? ✅ https://lnkd.in/d4UZGaDf  ✅ https://lnkd.in/dXBfzaPk  ✅ https://lnkd.in/dtUyQBVq    Joining us, we have: ► HASAN JABARTI | Serial Entrepreneur  ► Waleed A. Alballaa | General Partner, Sukna Ventures ► Anamaria Meshkurti | Investor & Advisor ► Javier Sanchez-Marco | Entrepreneur & Business Angel   Follow us on our social media! → https://lnkd.in/dXiJNJ-x → The Next Big Thing (Podcast)   This podcast episode was recorded live in Riyadh at The Garage | الكــراج, sponsored by Bellman Media and Integrated Production

We had an amazing turnout at the 24SIX9 Riyadh Chapter, and we couldn’t be more thankful!   The 24six9 Community Podcast “The Next Big Thing” had the privilege of welcoming some of the industry’s brightest stars - HASAN JABARTI, Waleed A. Alballaa, Javier Sanchez-Marco, and Anamaria Meshkurti - who delivered invaluable insights into Saudi Arabia's vibrant startup ecosystem and the endless opportunities for entrepreneurs ready to take the leap. The discussion ran deep, covering everything from the next generation of startups emerging from the MENA region, to the challenges and opportunities the region presents in building multi-sector tech giants.    A big thank you to our sponsors The Garage | الكــراج, Bellman Media and Integrated Production to supporting the first of many LIVE Podcast series in the 24six9 world. From the Meet & Greet to the Live Podcast and engaging Q&A session, our 24six9 Riyadh Chapter members had an equally big role in helping gather this remarkable group of innovators, creators, and thought leaders to discuss Saudi Arabia's emerging role in global innovation.   We can't wait to collaborate and host more meet-ups in the upcoming days!   #24six9RiyadhChapter #TheNextBigThing #SaudiInnovation #communitypodcast Adel Mazi Umair Khalid عمير خالد