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

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

Email us: hassan@majlisandmarkets.com

Intro theme song-Arab and Muslim by StockMusic via Pixabay

Chapters

• 0:52 Monologue intro
• 1:44 Beginning of discussion
• 2:20 Ivo's background
• 3:59 Saudi VC before Vision 2030
• 7:05 State of Saudi VC ecosystem today
• 10:13 What kinds of start-ups are receiving funding?
• 13:03 How conducive is Saudi Arabia to start-ups?
• 16:50 Seeding Saudi start-ups with finance
• 22:31 Comparing to regional VC ecosystems
• 24:25 GCC/MENA VC growth markets
• 26:56 Types of financing to start-ups
• 33:43 VC outlook in 2H24 and 2025
• 36:55 Helping start-ups, getting in touch