[PreMoney MENA 2015] Fares Ghandour Khaled Talhouni, Wamda Capital: "Fintech, Media & E-Commerce"

TL;DR

Venture fund investing in MENA tech startups, focusing on marketplaces, Series A to B stages, and disrupting legacy infrastructure.

Transcript

yeah my colleague and I fattest want to kind of give you a better sense of who we are and what we invest in and what we think is interesting in mena so hopefully what kind of get you a bit excited the opportunities out there so this is working can get the slides on i'll start by introducing while to get the slides up so my name is Faris on dude I'm... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤩 Marketplaces and sharing economy models are a key interest for investment.
• 😃 The fund focuses on filling an equity gap between Series A to B stages in tech startups.
• 😤 Geographic diversity in team presence facilitates access to a variety of MENA market opportunities.
• 🇨🇷 Disruption of legacy infrastructure by startups leveraging cost-effective software solutions.
• 🐕‍🦺 Shift in consumer behavior towards digital products and services in MENA.
• 😀 Rapid growth of e-commerce and marketplaces as success stories in the region.
• 🧑‍💻 Interest from global investors in MENA tech investments.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the focus of the fund on investing in MENA tech startups?

The fund primarily targets companies in the Series A to B stages, particularly in marketplaces and growth-stage ventures, emphasizing empowering business models in the region.

Q: How does the fund approach geographic diversity in its team presence?

The fund strategically spreads its team across multiple countries in MENA to tap into opportunities throughout the region, ensuring a wide range of deal flow and partnerships for investment.

Q: What opportunities does the fund see in disrupting legacy infrastructure in MENA?

The fund believes that legacy infrastructure in the region presents a significant opportunity for disruption, especially in sectors like banking and logistics, where innovative startups can leverage software cost-effectively.

Q: How does the fund predict the growth of the digital market in MENA?

The fund anticipates a rapid growth in the digital market due to increasing consumer adoption of technology, driving demand for digital services and products, providing a significant opportunity for tech startups in MENA.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Fund focused on MENA tech startups, with a strong interest in marketplaces and growth-stage companies.

• Emphasis on supporting startups at Series A to B stages and filling an equity gap.

• Geographic diversity in team presence across MENA region, targeting underserved sectors like fintech.