The CTO Show with Mehmet - Week in Review: Dec 31, 2023

December 31, 2023

Welcome to the 47th edition of "The CTO Show With Mehmet" Weekly Recap Newsletter! If you're new here, a warm welcome to our dynamic community of 1580 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

-      Tips, Recommendations, and Trends

-      Episodes Recap

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

Weekly Startups Insights:

This edition includes content and data from:

  • Wamda: Covering a range of startup activities and investments in the MENA region. Wamda.com

  • BThaber: Offering insights into the latest in technology and business in Türkiye. BThaber.com

The investment landscape is seeing vigorous activity with significant movements in areas such as digitization, fintech, robotics, and venture capital expansion. The startup ecosystems in MENA, Africa, and Turkey are densifying with new ventures, investments, and expansions galore. 

Venture Capital and Expansion

1.   Golden Gate Ventures in Saudi Arabia

·       Singapore-based Golden Gate Ventures has launched its first MENA office in Saudi Arabia, marking a new chapter in the firm's expansion. With a track record of investing in over 90 companies, the new office aims to bolster the MENA startup ecosystem and forge strategic partnerships.

·       Source: Read More

2.   Riyadh Valley Company's Strategic Investment

·       Riyadh Valley Company, King Saud University's investment arm, has invested in IMPACT46 Fund III, focusing on tech startups in fintech, e-commerce, and SaaS. This move reflects Saudi Arabia's commitment to nurturing its local knowledge economy.

·       Source: Read More

Technology and Innovation

1.   Micropolis Robotics' IPO Plans

·       Dubai's Micropolis Robotics is gearing up for an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange to raise $37 million. Specializing in autonomous mobile robots, the company anticipates commencing commercial production by the end of 2024.

·       Source: Read More

2.   Lyvely's New Chapter with Phoenix Group

·       UAE's Phoenix Group PLC has acquired a 25% stake in Lyvely, a social networking and content platform. This acquisition strengthens Phoenix's footprint in social media and creator support.

·       Source: Read More

Startup Ecosystem and Innovation

1.   T-VenCubator Launches in Egypt

·       Egypt welcomes T-VenCubator, a new incubator and accelerator focused on investing in local startups. The initiative is set to bolster Egypt's digital landscape and local innovation.

·       Source: Read More

2.   TeklifimGelsin's Pre-Series A Milestone

·       TeklifimGelsin, a Turkish financial application, has successfully completed its pre-Series A round, valued at $14 million. The platform offers personalized financial services, enhancing user access to loans and investments.

·       Source: Read More

 🔍 Conclusion

Overall, the escalating investment trends largely reflect a rising interest in technology startups, especially in fintech and digital economy sectors. These developments indicate a positive investment climate in the MENA region, Africa, and Turkey, with growth opportunities in emerging tech-led sectors. An increased emphasis on local startups in these regions hints at the steady maturing of startup ecosystems and a strategic focus on technology to drive future economic growth.

Tips, Recommendations, and Trends

 Wishing everyone a happy new year 2024!

As we step into 2024, I extend our warmest wishes for a year filled with innovation, growth, and unprecedented success in all your endeavors.

 Episodes Recap:

Join me as I sit down with the ever-insightful William J. Raduchel , who makes a triumphant return to the show to reflect on the astonishing developments in generative AI over the past year 2023. We reminisce about technology's historic milestones and draw parallels with the current AI revolution, pondering whether society can keep pace with such rapid advancements. Bill shares his wisdom on the AI landscape, discussing potential legal skirmishes over training data, copyright intricacies, and the rocky road to AI regulation. Our dialogue ventures into the effects of AI 'hallucinations' and the trust we place in these burgeoning technologies.

In this episode, we were thrilled to welcome back Shashank Tiwari , CEO of Uno.AI, for his second appearance on the podcast. Shashank provided valuable insights into the ever-changing world of AI and cybersecurity, reflecting on the challenges and developments of 2023 and what we can expect as we move into 2024.

How can the very walls around us become warriors in the fight against climate change? Beth McDaniel , president of Reactive Surfaces, joins me to discuss this question and more, revealing how they're revolutionizing paints and coatings by adding biological molecules. These aren't your average wall dressings; we're talking surfaces that combat viruses like COVID and even help remove CO2 from the atmosphere with the help of algae. Beth's passion is palpable as she delves into the inspiration behind these innovations and the pivotal role they play in our environmental battle.

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Best, Mehmet