The CTO Show with Mehmet - MEA Tech & Startup Digest: Mar 24, 2024

Author

Mehmet Gonullu
March 24, 2024

Welcome to the 59th edition of " The CTO Show's MEA Tech & Startup Digest" Weekly Newsletter! If you're new here, I extend a warm welcome to you, joining our dynamic community of 1729 subscribers across LinkedIn and Beehiiv. Your presence, whether as a first-timer or a loyal follower, is the heartbeat of this platform dedicated to unfolding narratives in tech, startups, and entrepreneurship.

 

What is inside?

-      Weekly Startup Insights From Middle East, Türkiye & Africa

-      Global Tech Industry and Startup Trends & News This Week

-      Episodes Recap

 Let's not wait any longer and dive into this week's rich insights!

 This Week’s Exclusive Sponsor:

SLINGSHOT 2024, Asia’s premier global startup competition, is inviting you to showcase your solution in one of the following domains:

  • Consumer Media, Goods and Services

  • Environment, Energy and Green Technologies

  • Health and Biomedical

  • Manufacturing, Trade and Connectivity

  • Transformative Digital Technologies 

 🏆Prizes*: 

  • A pool of grant prizes worth over S$1.2 million

  • A sponsored trip to Singapore to participate in the Physical Immersion program

  • Eligibility for the EntrePass work visa for foreign entrepreneurs in Singapore

  • Network and collaborate with industry leaders and experts at Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH)

 *T&Cs apply.

 

🌍 Regional Investment Highlights & Startup Insights:

 

🌟 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia: The rise of women entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia is steering the economy towards diversification and gender parity, crucial to the kingdom's Vision 2030. With efforts overcoming challenges like financing and societal biases, these female-led startups are reshaping the national economic landscape. Read more.

 

🌟 Oman's Zameeli Boosts Freelance Economy: Zameeli's recent equity crowdfunding success on the Mamun platform signifies a leap towards enhancing Oman's tech sector, by bridging local freelancers with SMEs. Read more.

 

🌟 Barakah: Pioneering Foodtech in Saudi Arabia: German VC FoodLabs' investment in Barakah marks a milestone in the MENA region's foodtech sector, aiming to reduce food waste significantly. Read more.

 

🌟 Egypt's Pharmacy Marts Digitalizes Pharmaceutical Supply: With a six-figure bridge round from Acasia Ventures, Pharmacy Marts is set to revolutionize Egypt's medicine access, hinting at digital transformation in the health sector. Read more.

 

🌟 Fintech Innovation with Bahrain's Receiptable: Securing a pre-seed investment, Receiptable is ready to disrupt the fintech space by digitizing retail transactions. Read more.

 

🌟 HUBrica Acceleration Program Fuels Turkish Fintech Startups: A collaborative initiative by Halkbank and Yıldız Technical University, aiming to elevate the fintech ecosystem in Turkey. Read more.

 

🌟 ClusterLab's Pre-Seed Success for AI in UAE: Specializing in AI and NLP technologies, ClusterLab is set to transform Arabic content creation with its recent funding boost. Read more.

 

🌟 P1 Ventures: Investing in Africa's Future: With a newly closed $35 million fund, P1 Ventures is keen on nurturing early-stage African startups, demonstrating the continent's burgeoning tech landscape. Read more.

🌟 InCurA's Healthtech Innovation from Egypt: After securing pre-seed funding, InCurA is set to expand its bleeding control technologies, aiming for broader healthcare accessibility. Read more.

 

🌟 MBC Group and Anghami: A New Melody in MENA Entertainment: The strategic acquisition by MBC Group highlights the growing synergy between traditional media and digital streaming platforms. Read more.

 

🌟 Zone's Fintech Revolution in Nigeria: With its recent $8.5 million seed funding, Zone is set to overhaul Africa's payment systems through blockchain technology. Read more.

 

🔍 Actionable Insights From Mehmet

The latest updates reflect a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and a robust investment landscape across the MEA region. For entrepreneurs, the success stories of women in Saudi Arabia and innovative startups like Zameeli and Barakah highlight the importance of aligning with local and regional needs while leveraging technology for societal impact. Investors should note the burgeoning sectors—fintech, foodtech, healthtech—and the increasing cross-regional collaborations. The strategic move by MBC Group into Anghami underscores the growing synergy between tech and traditional sectors, suggesting a ripe opportunity for ventures that bridge these worlds.

 Global Tech Industry and Startup Trends & News This Week

 

 Episodes Recap:

 In this episode of the CTO Show with Mehmet, guest G. Kofi Annan , a brand strategist and technologist, shares his insights on improving company visibility, engagement, and revenue through branding. With experience working with large corporations like Puma and Pfizer, as well as emerging companies, Annan emphasizes the importance of storytelling and making meaningful connections with target markets.

 

 In this episode of the CTO show hosted by Mehmet, cybersecurity icon Wes Kussmaul shares his extensive experience in IT, starting from his early programming days in the Air Force during the 60s and 70s, to creating the world's first online encyclopedia and eventually venturing into social media. Wes discusses the evolution of his career, including the innovative creation and sale of his first business to Rupert Murdoch's News America Corporation, and his ventures into developing secure and accountable social media.

 

 Have you ever wondered why CRM systems, which are supposed to streamline business, often end up collecting virtual dust on the shelf? Michael Hudlow , CRM, CKM, CSPO, EU-GDPR , a maestro of CRM and author, joins us to implode the myth that CRM is just about organizing data. He brings a wealth of frontline experience from the CIO and CRM trenches, sharing why a well-implemented CRM is a game-changer, turning chaos into clarity and action. 

 Connect & Grow with Us

  • Share Your Story 🎙️: Got insights in tech, startups, or entrepreneurship? Reach out and let's feature your journey on "The CTO Show With Mehmet."

  • Support & Collaborate ❤️🤝: Love our content? Support us here and keep the insights coming. Interested in partnership opportunities? Let's talk collaboration.

  • Book Mentorship 🔍: Elevate your venture with personalized guidance. Book a mentorship session with me, Mehmet, and let's unlock your full potential.

  • Spread the Word 🌟: Know a tech & startup enthusiast? Invite them to our community for weekly doses of innovation and insight.

 

Thank You 🙏: Your engagement drives our shared journey forward. Here's to another week of innovation and growth!

 

Best, Mehmet