The CTO Show With Mehmet Weekly Recap 13 August 2023

August 13, 2023

Welcome to 28th edition of the CTO Show with Mehmet Weekly Summary Newsletter.

What is inside?

-     Weekly Insights & Updates

-     Recommended Resources and Tools

-     Episodes Recap

Hello everyone,

I'm thrilled to see our community growing, between LinkedIn and Substack – Thank you for the 1245 subscribers who are tuning in every week.

Each of you fuels my commitment and inspires my energy. Your support is making 'The CTO Show With Mehmet' a thriving hub for tech enthusiasts, startups, and entrepreneurs. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey.

Here's to an exciting week ahead filled with learning, innovation, and growth!

Now, let's dive into this week's updates…

Weekly Insights, Tips & Updates:

1- Startup Highlights: In the past week, the startup ecosystem across the MENA region has witnessed remarkable developments, reflecting a vibrant and diverse landscape. From Moove's $76 million funding that elevated its valuation to $550 million to Knife Capital's successful closure of a $50 million Series B fund aimed at African innovation, the investment momentum is strong. The UAE continues to lead in funding, with startups like XPANCEO pioneering smart contact lens technology, while Egypt's Grinta and Talents Arena are making strides in pharmaceutical digitization and AI-powered recruitment. The collaboration between Kenya's Lipa Later Group and Mastercard to expand Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solutions in Africa signifies a significant milestone in financial inclusion. These trends underscore a growing emphasis on technological innovation, cross-border expansion, and strategic partnerships, highlighting the region's potential as a hub for cutting-edge entrepreneurial endeavors.

2- Tip Of The Week: Embrace Agility in Decision-Making. In the dynamic world of startups and SMEs, agility in decision-making is key. Encourage a culture where information flows freely and decisions are made promptly without sacrificing informed judgment. Embrace flexibility in strategies, respond to market trends, and empower teams to act quickly. In a fast-paced business environment, being agile can help you seize opportunities and navigate challenges with efficiency.

3- A Shoutout To Our Vietnam Audience: The Show managed to make it this week into the top 200 charts this time in Asia! Till date I have been honored to have the show in the Top 200 in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UK, and today Vietnam!

4- The Community: Sometimes we seek perfection which slows us down and that isn’t good. This is why I am building this community in public seeking your feedback. I am happy to invite you to visit

signup for early access and let me know what you would love to see there. This might become part of something bigger in the future, if interested to join me, send me a direct message

5- Don’t Miss The Next Masterclass: This coming Thursday at 4 PM Dubai time I will be hosting a masterclass Work Smarter, Not Harder: The Ultimate Automation Masterclass for Startups. It will be a very interactive session, don’t miss it!

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

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 on your own today or get in touch for a consultation

InvoiceBerry: is a simple online invoicing software that helps you to create and send invoices and quotes, track expenses and payments and create various reports. The software was developed having small businesses, freelancers and sole traders in mind, and it is very easy to use.

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.

Episodes Recap:

This week, we had 5 interviews on different topics. Let us review what was on the air, all episodes are available on YouTube as well.

At the beginning of the week, on Episode 188:

Join us for a fascinating conversation with our guest Mark Graban, an engineer, thought leader, and MBA holder with a wealth of experience in different sectors, from manufacturing to healthcare and beyond. Listen in as Mark enlightens us on how principles, management practices, and lean approaches can be applied across various industries. We chat about the significance of transferring ideas and tools appropriately from one industry to another and how to ensure their correct application.

Promised to be a captivating discussion centered around the intersection of technology and agriculture, this episode features Alexander Kravchenko , Deputy CPO at EOS Data Analytics. He’ll walk us through how satellite imagery is revolutionizing practices across 20+ verticals, particularly in the fields of agriculture and forestry. Discover the magic behind the crop monitoring platform and how it serves farmers with tailored solutions to manage multiple fields efficiently, reduce costs, and tackle other industry challenges. We'll also delve into the company's contributions toward promoting sustainable business development in the forest sector.

Are you ready to challenge the status quo of education? Settle in for a riveting conversation with our remarkable guest, Manisha Snoyer, a seasoned educator and founder of Modulo. Together, we dissect the inherent flaws present in our conventional education system, most notably its steadfast homogeneity and rigidity. The ongoing global pandemic has further underscored the urgent necessity for adaptable and scalable education systems. We draw attention to a latent market of secular homeschoolers, on the hunt for the right tools and resources to tailor education to their children’s unique needs.

Picture a world where blockchain technology transcends cryptocurrencies and enables a myriad of real-world applications. This is the vision of our guest, Kyle Sonlin 🌴 , a forward-thinking entrepreneur with deep roots in the blockchain industry. Together, we unravel how blockchain could revolutionize traditional capital markets, create virtual economies and even mitigate fraud in the fashion industry by tracking ownership. Better yet, Kyle enlightens us on how blockchain could democratize investing by increasing access to real stocks.

On this episode of the CTO Show With Mehmet, listen in as I engage in a fascinating discussion with Asha Venkataramani, the CEO and founder of a behavior technology company that created a unique mobile application product called Sparkeey. A former investment banker and private equity professional, Asha shares her inspiring journey of transitioning into the world of innovation. We explore the concept behind Sparkeey, a digital calendar designed for the modern age, and discuss how it helps to alleviate some of the pain points experienced during the COVID pandemic. Asha also reveals the importance of building products that center around user behavior, highlighting how Sparkeey isn't just a functional tool but also a fun, social platform that could sit comfortably next to Instagram.

Join The Conversation: If you're passionate about tech, startups, and entrepreneurship and have a unique perspective or story to share, I'd love to hear from you. 'The CTO Show With Mehmet' is always open to new guests who can inspire and educate our audience. Don't hesitate to reach out if you're interested in being featured.

Support The Podcast: The continuation of our show is thanks to listeners like you. If you enjoy our content and want to help us keep producing it, consider showing your support here: Support the Podcast. Every contribution goes directly towards creating more engaging, insightful content for you.

Sponsorship & Collaboration: If your company aligns with our mission and is interested in sponsorship opportunities or collaborations, I would be thrilled to discuss potential synergies. Reach out directly to me, and let's explore how we can bring value to our community together.

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Thank you for being a part of our journey. Your support, feedback, and engagement are what keeps 'The CTO Show With Mehmet' thriving. Here's to another week of learning, innovation, and growth!

Best, Mehmet