Episode 28-MENA VC Insights: Saudi surge and regional trends

Majlis & Markets

The Middle East, Pakistan and Turkey secured $665 million in funding in the first half of 2024, equating to an 18% drop from last year, according to Magnitt, a Dubai-based VC data platform.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia led the MENA region with $412 million in VC funding, despite a slight 7% decline. Investor numbers in the MENA increased by 33%, showing resilience in early-stage funding.

In our 28th episode, we spoke with Ivo Detelinov, General Partner at Oryx Fund, an early stage VC fund focused on the MENA region and managed by London-based VC firm Salica Investments.
In this episode, we spoke over several topics including:

• The current VC landscape in Saudi Arabia and the region
• Type of financing to start-ups
• VC outlook for 2H24 and 2025

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Intro theme song-Arab and Muslim by StockMusic via Pixabay

פרקים

1. Episode 28-MENA VC Insights: Saudi surge and regional trends (00:00:00)

2. Monologue intro (00:00:52)

3. Beginning of discussion (00:01:44)

4. Ivo's background (00:02:20)

5. Saudi VC before Vision 2030 (00:03:59)

6. State of Saudi VC ecosystem today (00:07:05)

7. What kinds of start-ups are receiving funding? (00:10:13)

8. How conducive is Saudi Arabia to start-ups? (00:13:03)

9. Seeding Saudi start-ups with finance (00:16:50)

10. Comparing to regional VC ecosystems (00:22:31)

11. GCC/MENA VC growth markets (00:24:25)

12. Types of financing to start-ups (00:26:56)

13. VC outlook in 2H24 and 2025 (00:33:43)

14. Helping start-ups, getting in touch (00:36:55)