The CTO Show with Mehmet - Week in Review: Jan 28, 2024

January 28, 2024

Welcome to the 51st edition of "The CTO Show With Mehmet" Weekly Recap Newsletter! If you're new here, I extend a warm welcome to you, joining our dynamic community of 1628 subscribers across LinkedIn and Substack. 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.

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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!

 🌍 Weekly Startups Insights:

This edition includes content and data from:

https://disrupt-africa.com/

  • Anadolu Agency: 

https://aa.com.tr

This week, startups across select regions secured substantial investments for their businesses, primarily in the technological, financial, and agricultural sectors. 

1.    Egypt's Beauty Sector: Mira, an Egyptian beauty startup, has raised $200,000 from Wingoo Investment and Technology, with plans to expand into the UAE and Saudi markets. Read more

2.    Saudi Arabian Fintech Growth: Takadao secures an undisclosed investment from Adaverse, supporting Shariah-compliant blockchain-based financial services. Read more

3.   Vestel Ventures' New Partnership: Joining hands with Elevation Microsystems Inc., Vestel Ventures is making strides in automotive and power electronics. Read more

4.   EdTech Advancement in Egypt: Edura, an Egyptian ed-tech startup, secures pre-seed funding for operational expansion and tech team enhancement. Read more

5.    Innovations in UAE Asset Management: Akkrue Capital raises seed funding for advancing its DeFi and digital asset management solutions. Read more

6.    Qatari Fintech Milestone: Karty's $2 million Seed funding marks a significant step in its journey as an e-wallet application. Read more

7.    Copyright Management in Morocco: Crealo, a Moroccan startup, enhances its platform with a $1.42 million Seed investment. Read more

8.    UAE Agritech Expansion: Crysp Farms raises $2.25 million, advancing its hydroponic farming solutions across the region. Read more

9.    Boosting African Web3 Ecosystem: Core DAO's $5 million African Ecosystem Fund aims to empower local blockchain projects. Read more

10.  Omani Construction Tech Innovation: Innotech wins $500,000 on "Beban," driving forward the automated construction industry. Read more

11.   Cypher Capital's Strategic Investment: UAE's Cypher Capital leads a $2.4 million round in the German blockchain firm bitsCrunch. Read more

12.   Kenyan Agritech's Leap Forward: Shamba Pride's $3.7 million funding to revolutionize smallholder farmer connectivity. Read more

13.   AI Advancements in Egypt: DXwand secures $4 million for regional expansion and research in conversational AI. Read more

🔍 Conclusion

Overall, this week's investment trends display a strong focus on technology-driven and blockchain-based services in the financial and educational sectors in the MENA region.  Africa shows promise in encouraging local Web3 builders and projects. Meanwhile, Turkey's Vestel Ventures focuses on automotive and power electronics for its future vision.

 Global Tech Industry and Startup Trends & News This Week

 Funding and Investment:

  • Sector Focus: Defense tech, AI, and human productivity enhancement appear to be attracting investor attention due to their perceived societal impact and potential returns. This shift reflects a move towards more practical and profitable businesses compared to the narrative-driven approach of the past.

  • Regional Disparity: European startup funding dipped significantly in 2023, reaching only $45 billion compared to $85 billion in 2022. This highlights the varying recovery pace across different regions.

  • International Battery Company: This Indian startup developing lithium-ion battery cells for EVs raised $35M, capitalizing on the growing EV market and aiming to bridge the supply-demand gap.

 Episodes Recap:

Unlock the secrets of web design seamlessly with Kelsey Gilbert-Kreiling , who brings a tapestry of experiences from international relations to the world of fashion and finally to the art of creating dynamic websites. As the co-founder of Week of the Website and an author, Kelsey's path showcases the power of pivoting and the strategic embrace of Squarespace for its user-friendly yet sophisticated capabilities. This episode is a must-listen for anyone eager to understand how to make technology an empowering tool, breaking down the complex task of website creation into something anyone can handle with confidence and creativity.

I once believed that the pinnacle of success was a solitary journey, until I met Charles Vogl . His stories of connecting individuals and transforming communities revealed a deeper truth about the power of human bonds. As our special guest, Charles, an esteemed author and expert on leadership, shares his transition from documentary filmmaking to a beacon for community building, he unpacks the critical need for non-transactional relationships in leadership and the often-overlooked societal issue of loneliness. His insights offer a lens through which to view our own interactions, as we consider how to foster authentic connections in our personal and professional lives.

Child prodigy turned tech magnate, Denzil Eden , graces our airwaves, offering a treasure trove of insights from her remarkable transition to founding Smarty, an AI productivity startup set to revolutionize how we tackle our to-do lists. Our conversation takes us on a whirlwind tour through her academic exploits at MIT, her tenure at giants like Microsoft and Yammer, and even her eclectic endeavors in teaching and politics. Denzil's story is a vivid tapestry, illustrating not just the trajectory of a tech virtuoso, but how a multitude of experiences can foster the innovative mindset that drives the industry forward.

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A Big Thank You 🙏

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Best, Mehmet