The CTO Show with Mehmet - Week in Review: Sep 24, 2023

September 24, 2023

Welcome to the 34th edition of "The CTO Show With Mehmet" Weekly Recap Newsletter! If you're new here, a warm welcome to our dynamic community of 1375 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:

🌍 Regional Highlights

MENAP Region

Fintech:

  • Lupiya (Zambia) raised $8.25 million in Series A funding to expand its neobanking business.

  • Emata (Uganda) secured $2.4 million in seed funding to provide loans to farmers.

E-commerce:

  • Ariika (Egypt) raised an undisclosed amount in a Series A round for its home decor platform.

 Africa

AgriTech:

  • Complete Farmer (Ghana) raised $10.4 million to revolutionize African agriculture.

  • 29 African healthcare supply chain startups received funding support from the i3 programme.

Creative Arts:

  • Anka (Ivory Coast) raised $5 million to support creative artisans.

Bioeconomy:

  • UVU Bio (Rwanda) formed a strategic partnership to transform Rwanda's bioeconomy landscape.

Türkiye

Software:

  • Turkish software startups are increasingly attracting foreign investors.

Investment Landscape:

  • Revo Capital becomes Turkey's largest VC fund with a final close of Fund II at €90 million.

  • Alibaba Group plans to invest $2 billion in Turkiye.

  • Hedef Girişim Sermayesi Yatırım Ortaklığı announced a new investment in Turkey, details undisclosed.

📈 General Trends

1.    Fintech Focus: Neobanking and agricultural loans are gaining traction.

2.    E-commerce Evolution: Home decor platforms are emerging as a new niche.

3.    Investment Landscape: Significant foreign investments are being planned in Turkey.

4.    AgriTech Advancements: African agriculture is seeing substantial investments.

5.    Creative Arts Funding: Artisans in Africa are receiving financial support.

6.    Bioeconomy Initiatives: Strategic partnerships are being formed to transform bioeconomies.

📚 Sources

  • Disrupt Africa

  • Google News

  • CNN Türk

  • Wamda

  • VentureBurn

  • Dünya

Startup Investments Opportunities Spotlight

I'm currently collaborating with several startups that are actively seeking investment. If any of these opportunities align with your investment goals, don't hesitate to reach out for more details.

  • A SaaS (Finance and Accounting) startup seeking angel investors or VC for 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.

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

Trends.vc: Dru Riley has put the best to build not just a trending tech report newsletter but with the team he built a startup founders community that aims to provide insights into emerging markets, technologies, and business models Each issue usually dives deep into a specific trend, providing analysis, data points, and actionable advice. I have a discount code for you to join, just reach out to get it.

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

Podpage: Join over 25,000 podcasters and automatically create a beautiful, listener-friendly podcast site from your RSS feed. Customize the design to create a professional look you'll be proud of in a few clicks. No coding or technical knowledge necessary.

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 218:

Ever wondered how the complicated wiring of your brain can be rewired to cultivate a champion mindset? Our special guest, Elizabeth Louis, an executive performance coach with a captivating story, is here to provide some answers. From a traumatic childhood to a purposeful journey of helping others, Elizabeth's story is a testament to resilience and the power of personal transformation.

Ever wondered how cybersecurity and identity management intersect to create a safer digital environment for businesses? Paul Querna, an accomplished CTO and co-founder of the cybersecurity start-up ConductorOne, joined us on the CTO Show With Mehmet to share his insights and his journey in the realm of cybersecurity. He shared how his experience with security incidents at his previous job sparked a deep interest in understanding how to craft a secure digital environment. He emphasized the significance of identity management in organizations, its role in managing authorization, and how this enhances productivity.

Get ready for a deep-dive conversation with Michael T. Baker, the dynamic CEO of Perception Content Media. If you've ever wondered how to pivot from one career to another successfully, you're in for a treat. This episode chronicles Michael's unique journey from the music industry to the tech and marketing world. His story serves as a testament to the transformative power of AI and the pivotal role it plays in business growth.

Get ready to step into the exciting world of AI Prompt Engineering with Ali Abassi from Vancouver, Canada, as we discuss his innovative approach to utilizing AI technology in our latest episode of the CTO Show. Listen in as Ali reveals how his fascination with AI and marketing led him to the discovery of a unique way to leverage ChatGPT in every aspect of the workplace. Ali not only enlightens us on what prompt engineering is but also takes us on a journey of his framework and how it provides users with excellent results.

Ever wished you could validate your innovative idea without spending time and money on coding? How about gaining customers even before your product is live? Buckle in as we welcome Donatas Jonikas, a renowned startup marketing advisor and the author of Start Revolution Curve, on our show. Donatas is here to share their knowledge, experience, and the revolutionary double sprint method that aims to revolutionize the way we think about startups.

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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