EP 122: DEMYSTIFYING VENTURE CAPITAL IN THE MENA REGION WITH KHALED TALHOUNI OF NUWA CAPITAL

Episode notes

In this episode, we welcome Khaled Talhouni, Managing Partner, Nuwa Capital, who shares insights into his 17-year journey as a venture capitalist focusing on emerging markets, particularly in the Middle East. Khalid discusses the establishment of Nuwa Capital in 2021, its $100 million early-stage fund, and its significant investment in FinTech, which accounts for 30% of their portfolio. Khaled explains the unbanked nature of the region and the opportunities for parallel financial systems and showcases successful investments like the BNPL company Tabby. He demystifies Nuwa Capital's themes, including solving big problems like invoice ageing and consumer credit access. Khalid also touches upon the regulatory challenges of expanding FinTech across the GCC, the potential impact of technologies like AI and crypto, and the evolving socio-economic landscape in the Middle East. The conversation concludes with a discussion on how regional developments could foster future economic growth.

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