The CTO Show with Mehmet - Week in Review: Oct 22, 2023

October 22, 2023

Welcome to the 38th edition of "The CTO Show With Mehmet" Weekly Recap Newsletter! If you're new here, a warm welcome to our dynamic community of 1437 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

MENA

The Expand North Star conference in Dubai hosted over 1,800 start-ups from 60 countries. The event also featured hackathons and pitch competitions, which were aimed at fostering innovation and connecting start-ups with investors. I was there, and I can say a huge interest in the startup ecosystem is booming in our region.

UAE

  • AR/VR Xpanceo: Raised $4 million seed to launch AR contact lenses.

  • E-Commerce Share the Love: Secured seed funding for its gifting marketplace.

  • Startup Ecosystem Hub71: Offering startups a $204,000 new incentive program.

Saudi Arabia

  • Fintech Cashin: Acquired Cardless.

  • Takadao: Raised $1.6 million in pre-seed funding led by Draper Associates.

Egypt

  • Edtech Crafty Workshop: Raised $400,000 in seed funding from EdVentures.

Africa

Nigeria

  • InsuranceTech Treepz & Octamile: Partnered to launch an insurance program for travelers.

South Africa

  • Investment Sanari Capital: Raised $65 million in the 2nd close of its new growth fund.

  • Proptech LISA: Launched as a new proptech startup.

Kenya

  • Edtech Skizaa: Won a $25,000 prize.

Türkiye

General Startups:

  • This week's news was centered on startup growth strategy, attracting investors, and addressing environmental factors.

📈 General Trends

1.    Funding Rounds: Multiple startups secured seed and pre-seed funding this week, indicating a healthy investment climate.

2.    Diverse Sectors: Investments are flowing into various sectors, from fintech and edtech to AR and proptech, showing a diversified interest from investors.

3.    Regional Collaboration: Startups like Treepz are partnering with other companies like Octamile for broader service offerings.

📚 Sources

  • Wamda

  • TechInside

  • Disrupt Africa

  • VentureBurn

 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.

Startup founders, would love to connect with you to help secure funding.

  • 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.

  • 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

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

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 is necessary.

Apollo: Unlock a world of endless leads with Apollo.io! This powerful platform not only provides a treasure trove of business contacts but also equips you with intuitive tools to engage prospects effectively. Say goodbye to the tedious lead generation process and hello to a seamless sales journey. Ready to skyrocket your sales?

 Episodes Recap:

Join me as we venture into the world of entrepreneurship with our guest, Uzair Ahmed , whose tale of transforming a mobile mechanic business into a scalable venture using technology and automation is as captivating as it is instructive. We ruminate over the often misunderstood nature of automation and its role in customer-centricity, debunking the myth that it necessarily equates to impersonal service. The conversation further unravels the role of outsourcing as a leverage in business growth, a dimension worth exploring for every entrepreneur.

Want to turbocharge your business by enhancing the digital employee experience? We promise you'll acquire the keys to this powerful strategy in our enlightening conversation with Mark Banfield , CEO of 1E. Mark delves into how technology can monitor and improve the employee experience and how it can reduce digital friction while significantly increasing productivity. With real-life examples, he illustrates the dramatic improvements businesses have achieved by enhancing their employees' digital landscapes - think reduced production line downtime and a big boost in customer service.

 Are you prepared to unlock the power of AI in your career? This week, we've invited technology and HR veteran Ben Gold to shed light on the transformative potential of AI and chat GPT. Our enlightening exchange with Ben unravels how these technologies are revolutionizing job markets and how you can leverage them to navigate your career path successfully. We talk about the game-changing concept of an AI-first strategy and why staying updated with emerging technologies is no longer an option but a necessity.

Join us as we navigate the fascinating labyrinth of the corporate world with Victoria Pelletier, a seasoned stalwart with over two decades of experience in the B2B professional services sector. Her journey takes us from the humble beginnings of dreaming of being a lawyer to an accelerated ascension as a COO at a BPO organization at the tender age of 24. We dive into how she has continually deployed technology as a potent catalyst throughout her career and the ways she deftly maneuvers the ever-evolving corporate terrain.

 Ever wondered why talented employees exit your organization? Let’s reveal the answer with Ryan Englin , founder and CEO of Core Matters, the genius behind successful business scaling. Ryan brings his unique blend of experience and insights from his blue-collar entrepreneurial family to shed light on the often overlooked dynamics of job seeking and employment. He goes deep into the mantra "people don't leave jobs, they leave bosses," arguing that a job is more than just pay and benefits. Prepare to rethink your approach to hiring and leadership.

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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