The 2020s have not been an easy time for investors. Although investing seemed to be showing signs of recovery, recent trends have seen investment into some sectors take a nose-dive. Businesses struggle to keep pace with rising interest rates, record levels of inflation, and many other seemingly overwhelming economic macro-forces. A stinging question lurks si ... Show More
Aug 18
Why Islamic Fintech Is Still Being Underestimated
Islamic finance is growing globally, but the companies pushing it forward are not always the ones talking about it the loudest.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Abdullo Kurbanov, CEO and Co-founder of Ayan Capital, shares how he helped build Alif from a $200,000 start i ... Show More
52m 55s
Aug 11
The $80 Billion SME Lending Opportunity Banks Keep Missing
SMEs are central to the UAE economy, yet access to credit remains one of their biggest challenges.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Hassan Reda, Co-Founder & CPO of CredibleX, and Anand Nagaraj, Co-Founder & CEO of CredibleX, unpack why SME lending has remained difficul ... Show More
51m 44s
Jul 28
Why Most Digital Banks Will Never Make Money
Digital banks have spent years chasing customer growth. But scale alone does not create profitability.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Simon Loong, Founder and Group CEO of WeLab, explains what it takes to build a successful digital bank across Asia.He shares why lendi ... Show More
55m 50s
Dec 2022
The keys to framing a winning investor pitch
It wasn’t very long ago that venture capital was so free-flowing it seemed as if any entrepreneur with a half-decent idea could raise an initial round of financing. Those halcyon days are clearly now past us, with inflation, rising interest rates, and slowing economic growth (or ... Show More
31m 47s
Jan 2023
Investing in transformative tech: EQT Ventures’ long view
On today’s episode of McKinsey on Startups, we talk to Gautam Nadella, an operating partner at EQT Ventures in the Bay Area, where he drives M&A, fundraising, and partnership efforts within their portfolio of more than 100 companies. EQT invests in a wide range of companies in bo ... Show More
22m 49s
Jan 2025
VC React Podcast (E23): DeepSeek Moment! New Growth Funds In MENA, New Sector Focus For MENA VCs!
<p>VC React Podcast:</p>
<p>
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: </p>
<p>Ahmad ... Show More
52m 33s
Feb 2024
Ali Hamed - Building an Investment Firm - [Invest Like the Best, EP.362]
My guest today is Ali Hamed. Ali was first on Invest Like the Best six years ago. He was 26 at the time and four years into building his investing firm, CoVenture. Both then and now, Ali is an example of what’s possible when you think creatively. Six years later, CoVenture now ma ... Show More
1h 30m
Oct 2024
Kareem Zaki - Small Ideas Attract Competition - [Invest Like the Best, EP.392]
My guest today is Kareem Zaki. Kareem is a General Partner at Thrive Capital and has been at the firm for a decade. In an episode last year, Thrive's founder, Josh Kushner, told me he is the best healthcare investor in the world. Kareem has co-founded three healthcare businesses ... Show More
1h 28m