with Loulou · 2026-06-02 · 1h 2m
Abdullah Mutawi, Partner & Head of Corporate MENA at Taylor Wessing, and Kushal Shah, Private Markets Investor, join Loulou for a conversation (episode 103) on where opportunity really sits in the GCC today. They unpack angel investing, founder red flags, why many startups fail despite strong products, and the lessons that come from writing early-stage checks. The discussion also explores cash-generating businesses versus venture-backed startups, SME rollups, the impact of AI on investing, and why the region continues to attract founders, capital, and talent from around the world. Chapters 00:00 Three investors. One question: Where do you put your money? 03:24 Why angel investing is the highest-risk type of investing 06:23 The expensive lesson from a failed startup investment 09:41 What to look for in a founder before you write the cheque 20:15 Groupthink, red flags and why solo investors get burned 22:59 The pivot: why Kushal quit VC for SME roll-ups 30:30 1.2 million UAE SMEs: the opportunity hiding in plain sight 34:52 SaaS is dead. What's actually worth backing?
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