The CTO Show with Mehmet - Week in Review: Nov 17, 2023

November 19, 2023

Welcome to the 41st edition of "The CTO Show With Mehmet" Weekly Recap Newsletter! If you're new here, a warm welcome to our dynamic community of 1512 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

-      Startup Investments Opportunities Spotlight

-      Recommended Resources and Tools

-      Episodes Recap

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

Weekly Startups Insights:

Fintech Sector

  • Saudi Fintech Lynk's Investment Round: Lynk, a Saudi Arabian fintech startup, has raised a new investment round to expand its payment solutions for businesses and consumers. Read More

  • Tamara's $250 Million Debt Financing: Saudi BNPL platform Tamara secures significant debt financing to expand operations and enhance technology, marking a milestone in MENA fintech. Read More

  • Mafhoom's $1.36 Million Pre-Seed Funding: UAE fintech Mafhoom raises funds to enhance financial literacy and savings, planning expansion into Saudi Arabia. Read More

Technology and Innovation

  • MediaTek Empowering MEA Businesses: MediaTek is driving innovation in the Middle East and Africa by providing cutting-edge technologies like 5G, AI, IoT, and smart device chipsets, supporting the region's digital transformation. Read More

  • WiCrypt's Web3 WiFi Hotspots in Nigeria: Nigerian startup WiCrypt launches decentralized Web3 WiFi hotspots in the Peaq ecosystem, offering affordable internet services and leveraging blockchain for transactions. Read More

Startup Ecosystem and Collaboration

  • BSH Türkiye's Startup Collaboration: "BSH Startup Kitchen" initiative aims to support innovative ideas in customer experience, new business models, and sustainable technologies, fostering collaboration with startups. Read More in Turkish

  • Yıldız Technopark at Web Summit: Yıldız Technical University's Yıldız Technopark aims to boost Turkish tech exports through global collaborations and showcasing local tech developments at the Web Summit. Read More in Turkish

Agritech and Food Security

  • uFarmX's Expansion to Senegal: Nigerian agritech startup uFarmX expands to Senegal, using blockchain to support farmers with finance, marketplaces, and data analytics. Read More

Education and Learning

  • Akhdar's Six-Figure Funding Round: Egyptian ed-tech startup Akhdar secures investment for Arabic audiobooks and digital learning content expansion. Read More

Insurance Technology

  • Pineapple's $21.3 Million Series B: South African insurtech Pineapple raises funds for US expansion and product enhancement. Read More

Mobility and Logistics

  • Wize's $1.6 Million Pre-Seed Round: UAE's Wize raises funds to improve last-mile delivery and fulfillment with AI-driven cloud solutions. Read More

Relocation and Mobility Services

  • Guideli: A Relocation Tool by Nigerian Students: Developed to simplify relocation processes for African students and professionals, offering personalized resources for a smooth transition. Read More

Visa's Fintech Accelerator Program

  • Visa's Fintech Accelerator Program in Africa: Four African fintech startups were selected for Visa's program, aiming to drive digital economy inclusion with innovative payment solutions. Read More

Venture Capital and Investment Trends

  • Saudi Arabia's Venture Capital Scene: Significant investments in diverse sectors, including AI-powered cyber defense and educational tech, boosting the regional startup ecosystem. Read More

Property Technology

  • Neighbourgood's Acquisition of Local Knowledge: South African prop-tech startup Neighbourgood acquires travel company Local Knowledge, integrating travel experiences into its community-focused services. Read More

Investor Focus

  • Meet the Investor: Atlantica Ventures: Aniko Szigetvari's Atlantica Ventures focuses on powering African tech startups, emphasizing sustainable growth and innovation in challenging funding environments. Read More

 🔍 Conclusion

Across all the regions, there is a clear trend towards digital transformation, with startups leveraging advanced technologies like AI, IoT, and blockchain in their solutions. A significant increase in startup activity and investments in Africa suggests that investors are positively recognizing the continent's potential. The focus on fintech, particularly in the MENA region, is another key trend and indicates the high growth potential of this sector. Furthermore, the efforts from larger enterprises to collaborate with startups exhibit a growing symbiotic ecosystem, fostering innovation, and supporting growth and expansion plans.

 Startup Investments Opportunities Spotlight

 Startup founders, do you want to list your startup with us? Signup here: https://yassiventures.com/startup-applications/

 Investors who want to see the full details can sign here: https://yassiventures.com/investors-application/

  • A SaaS (Finance and Accounting) startup seeking angel investors or VC for Pre-Seed Stage. Great traction and strong growth metrics.

  • XR/VR/Edtech startup in Seed stage looking for angel investors to expand their product profile. Promising initial results after MVP

  • Pre Series A-Stage Tech startup open to investors interested in tech. Big customers references acquired.

  • EdTech startup with pre-revenue and solid business model.

  • A Gaming Studio with traction and multiple products is raising funds for expansion in GCC region.

  • EdTech focusing on kids’ early learning with revenue is looking for a seed fund to take the product to the next level

  • An E-Commerce & Mobility startup with traction looking for a seed fund to expand operations.

  • A B2B Networking Platform in the early stage, with huge TAM, and with a great business plan raising seed round

  • A Web3 / BlockCahin related Deep Tech with a great business plan and GTM is looking for a seed round to build the MVP

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

 Unlock savings on your SaaS licenses with a free 1-hour assessment. Discover how much you can save and optimize your software investments. Contact me to schedule your assessment and start reducing costs today.

 Startups enhance your cybersecurity with Vsecant Digital's expert services in threat detection and network fortification. Ensure your venture stays protected in the digital world. For a tailored cybersecurity strategy that fits your startup's unique needs, contact me for specialized insights and solutions

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

 Episodes Recap:

 Get ready to unlock the knowledge of intellectual property law that could safeguard your brand or startup, with our guest expert, Karin Y. Coger, Esq. Karin's insights into the world of trademarks and copyrights not only unveil their critical differences but also stress their importance in protecting your unique venture. She'll guide you on when and how to file for a trademark, and share the best strategies for monitoring it. For companies intrigued by the potential of their source code, Karin also unravels the process of filing for copyright protection, ensuring your innovation stays rightfully yours.

 Ever thought about the untapped talent inside big corporations? Imagine the innovation that could be unlocked if employees were empowered to pursue compelling ideas without needing explicit permission or resources. Enter the Corporate Rebel Model, a fascinating concept that we explore in this insightful episode with Silicon Valley veteran, Jim Verquist 

 Ever thought about AI as a brand-new kind of material? How about the idea of a "prompt engineer," a profession birthed by the ever-evolving AI technology? In our enlightening conversation with Artem Koren, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Sembly AI, we unpack such thought-provoking concepts and more. Artem offers a revolutionary perspective on AI, articulating its potential to create unprecedented experiences like ChatGPT and reshape job markets. He presents a compelling argument for the power of AI, not just in driving productivity, but also in opening doors for those traditionally not associated with STEM fields.

 Join us in this intriguing discussion with Philippe Humeau , CEO and co-founder of CrowdSec, as we navigate the shifting sands of the cybersecurity landscape. Philippe lends his expert insight into how cybersecurity threats have tripled over the past decade and how the ongoing digital warfare between nation-states is shaping our online lives. We explore the pressing challenges businesses face, from DDoS attacks to the loss of private data, and the implications these threats have on potential IPOs and revenue streams. Philippe also sheds light on the advantages and potential pitfalls of open-source security platforms, highlighting transparency as a key benefit.

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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