The CTO Show with Mehmet - Week in Review: Aug 27, 2023

August 27, 2023

Welcome to the 30th edition of "The CTO Show With Mehmet" Weekly Summary Newsletter! If you're new here, a warm welcome to our dynamic community of 1286 subscribers across LinkedIn and Substack. Whether you're here for the first time or a loyal follower, your engagement is the lifeblood of this unique platform dedicated to tech, startups, and entrepreneurship.

What is inside?

-     Weekly Startup Insights From Middle East, Türkiye & Africa

-     Updates & Tips

-     Recommended Resources and Tools

-     Episodes Recap

Without further ado, let's dive into this week's multifaceted insights!

Weekly Startups Insights:

1- In Saudi Arabia, a $200 million fund aimed at early-stage investments in both local and international high-tech companies was launched last week. The fund is part of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) strategy, which aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 to diversify the economy and foster innovation in sectors like health, energy, and sustainable environment.

2- Turkish startups have attracted $79 million in investments during the first quarter of 2023. The funding will be used to fuel growth and innovation in the Turkish startup ecosystem.

3- The number of active fintech startups in Africa has increased by 17.7% to 678 in 2023 compared to 2021. The growth is seen across major African markets, including Egypt and Nigeria.

4- The edtech sector has seen a significant decline in funding, with no companies raising a venture round of $100 million or more in 2023. Factors contributing to the decline include market saturation and a shift in focus towards other emerging sectors.

5- UAE-based robotics solutions provider Maxbyte Technologies has secured a $5 million Series A investment from e& capital. The funding will be used to expand sales, refine go-to-market strategies, and scale projects across new industries.

6- Saudi Arabia-based traveltech startup FlyAkeed has raised $15.2 million in a Series A round. The funding will be used to expand its digital offerings and integrate fintech technologies to enhance the traveler experience.

7- UAE-based cryptocurrency exchange BitOasis has secured new investments from CoinDCX and Wamda Capital.

Updates and Tips

-     This week we celebrated the 200th episode! My gratitude to everyone who is supporting the show, my audience, and all my guests! I look forward to celebrating more with your support! We have a great lineup of guests, keep watching this space!

-     Launching A Regional NoCode & Automation Community dedicated to the MENA region next week! If interested in collaborating reach out to me

-     The Startup Directory Ventures Fabrika MVP received good feedback from a lot of founders and tech enthusiasts. I still need to have more tweaks before launching it fully. If you are interested in being part of this project don’t hesitate to reach out

-     The Next Masterclass will take place on September 4th. Full details coming next Monday.

Recommended Resources and Tools (Please note: Some of the resources linked in this section are affiliated links):

Softr: Enhance your business or build your MVP with Softr, the seamless platform for building applications without coding. Ideal for startups and SMEs, Explore this awesome platform and get in touch for assistance. 

Make(Formerly Know As Integromat) Streamline your workflow with Make a leading automation platform that connects your apps and services effortlessly. Startups and SMEs, start by your own today or get in touch for a consultation

Fliki: Create videos from scripts or blog posts using realistic voices in 2 minutes! Fliki helps users create videos and voice-overs from text with lifelike AI voices!

Fliki is best for:

  • People who are new to video editing/creation

  • People who want to create audio and video content at scale

Episodes Recap:

This week, we had 5 interviews on different topics. Let us review what was on the air:

At the beginning of the week, on Episode 198:

I sit down with Bruce Scheer, MBA , a seasoned consultant and best-selling author, who reveals the art of narrating a persuasive story that triggers buyers to take action. With a quarter-century of experience up his sleeve, Bruce shares his wealth of knowledge, dissecting the five key elements of a great story with his unique star model.

Ever pondered the potency of digital transformation in your business, and how embracing the world of tech could streamline your operations? Our recent chat with tech consultant, Kamran Rahman, unpacks this very mystery.

Do you ever struggle with striking that elusive balance between technology, product, and business goals? How do you navigate the jungle of entrepreneurship, especially if it’s your first time? If you're nodding, then settle in for a fascinating discussion with software developer and entrepreneur par excellence, Matt Watson. Matt candidly unpacks his 20-year tech journey, painting a clear picture of his evolution from a rookie to a seasoned CTO and startup founder.

We navigate the world of technology and innovation with Joseph Azar, Managing Director at Azar Consulting. Listen to the thrilling tale of how they mass-produced the first smart motorcycle helmet in the world. We discuss the significance of balancing vision, imagination, and the art of the possible in a startup environment.

Can you imagine transitioning from pharmaceuticals to blockchain? That's exactly what our guest, Bruno Calabretta, the Hub Manager and Co-Founder for ICP Hub Indonesia, did. Bruno's journey is one full of surprises and insights. He takes us from his early days in pharmaceuticals to his discovery of blockchain's potential, all the way to sunny Bali, where he spearheads his innovative projects.

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A Big Thank You 🙏

Your support, feedback, and engagement make this journey worthwhile. Here's to another week of learning, innovation, and growth!

Best, Mehmet